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That 3-page letter outlined what the BTIA believes to be oversight or ignorance of the environmental laws. But, is it being taken seriously? That's what we asked Lisel Alamilla, the Minister in charge of Environment, this weekend at another event, and here's how she responded:

Hon. Lisel Alamilla
"On Friday the ministry met and reviewed the environmental compliance plan for the Harvest Caye development and so they have gotten clearance from NEAC and we are just now developing the easy peak."

Daniel Ortiz
"Now ma'am from what we've seen is that BTIA which we have to accept that they have their own agenda as well, but they have listed a group of things that they say the project falls short of in terms of the environmental laws and they are trying to convince the Belizean public that look this project is not environmentally sound and DOE and the NEAC should not have approved it."

Hon. Lisel Alamilla
"That is the opinion of the BTIA and we have to respect their opinion. All the concerns that they outlined were forwarded for review by NEAC and I am sure that they took that into consideration when they were reviewing it. I was not a part of that exercise of course. So we are proceeding with giving that project clearance and drafting up the ECP. We grant them the ECP, they have gone through the whole environmental requirements. After that then government has to decide on what economic terms they are going to engage with them. Remember that this is just the environmental component of a project. You have to look at the social and the economics aspects of it and that is not for my ministry to look at. It's something that Cabinet looks at once those recommendations are made to Cabinet."

As we told you, BTIA is giving Allegria until Friday to respond, and if he doesn't the association will bring judicial review proceedings in the Supreme Court.