Last night, 7New told you about the mass concerns coming from the BTIA, environmentalists and private tourism interests in relation to the proposal from Norwegian Cruise Line to build a cruise port on Crawl Caye in Southern Belize.
As we reported, rumors spread that the Government committee reviewing the proposal intended to decide on a Memorandum of Understanding with NCL as early as next week. This caused the concerned stakeholders to start a letter campaign to torpedo the project.
Well, today, 7News got an opportunity to speak to Minister Godwin Hulse, the chairman of the committee looking at the proposal, and he discussed Government's position on the proposal at this current moment.
He also discussed the public concerns which have been ventilated via the media.
Hon. Godwin Hulse - Minister of Labour
"Here's the position - NCL has made a proposal. There's a committee of the cabinet which I chair made up of other ministers, Heredia (Tourism), Castillo (Economic Development), Alamilla (Environment) and of course Minister Contreras (Trade) and myself basically as Minister of Labour - those are the areas which government has concerns with any investment. Initially we met with NCL and out of that meeting came a requirement that the NCL technical people meet with our technical people to determine the technical parameters of doing a facility on the proposed island. That meeting took place - our technical people advised NCL's technical people of what may or may not be acceptable. They went back to their drawing board and have now come back with a revised proposal which apparently should fit within those parameters. The technical people are now sitting with that as we speak to see whether in fact that matches the proposals that the recommendations they have made. We will meet next week on Monday to discuss those at which time we will know whether in fact those requirements are met or not by the proposal that NCL has. Thereafter, we would have to then go to another level which is if we're going to move ahead we would need an EIA which then involves public consultation. After that stage then we would be looking at whatever Memorandum of Understanding we could do, we're not at that stage yet. Remember I had laid out clearly that there are 5 parameters for investment in this country that Cabinet has set. The first being that it should be socially economically acceptable and legally doable. Two, it should bring some revenue to the government of Belize. Three, it should bring some meaningful employment, I don't mean the minimum wage employment, I mean at the higher level. Four, it should bring some foreign exchange. Five, it should preserve the environment and possibly enhance it. If those criteria's and parameters are met then we are good to go."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, but the environmentalists are concerned that the proposal is even being entertained because they are saying that it has the ability for us to be de-listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site because of the particular island that is being proposed. Has that issued been addressed so far with the government and the NCL representatives?"
Hon. Godwin Hulse
"Well I hope the environmentalists don't think we are silly. Clearly I have laid out the five parameters and the last one I left specifically for last for emphasis that it enhances the environment or at least sustains the environment. So we're very cognizant of that and we're not reckless so we're not about to engage in anything that will our environment, that will destroy our relationships we have with international agencies and destroy the very essence of what Tourism in Belize is, so I hope they don't think we're stupid."
Hulse says that if and when the proposal reaches the Environmental Assessment stage, those in the public will be able to voice their concerns, and if the public is unanimously against it, then Government will respect that.
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