It is been two weeks now since Sunday Wood Village, the Mayan community within the buffer zone in the South openly declared their support for US Capital's continued oil exploration within the Sarstoon Temash National Park. They joined Barranco Village in loud opposition to SATIIM and the other communities who want to stop the oil company from operating.
Well they went a step further on last week Thursday and requested that members of the Government of Belize go down to meet and consult with them. Their request was granted and Ministers Wilfred Elrington and Joy Grant visited the community along with other representatives within their ministries.
Present also were personnel from the oil company, and with the community of Sunday Wood, a 2 hour meeting was held. It started from 6:00 in the evening where all parties got an opportunity to speak openly about the concerns of the oil company's continued presence.
Courtesy the press office, here's but a short excerpt from Attorney General Elrington explaining that Government is trying to look after the best interest of all the buffer communities:
Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Attorney General
"The Government of Belize is responsible for looking after the best interest of Belizeans. We were elected by the people of Belize to look after the people of Belize so that the people of Belize can get the best that this country has to offer. We want to make sure that the same practices that are followed in Spanish Lookout is followed here. You could go to Spanish Lookout now and they are drilling oil there for some years, not months and you will know it - you will see the drilling thing because they are so clean. They are so well regulated. They are so developed. They are causing no harm to the people in Spanish Lookout. But at the same time every year the people in Spanish Lookout collects millions of dollars, so drilling the oil properly is not going to cause any real harm - if it is done properly. The oil belongs to all Belizeans, so let me tell you this: when US Capital Energy finds oil and I am hoping they find oil, I will want my share too, just like how you want your share. I will not only want my share, I will want my fair share and so in government, in the cabinet, we make sure that we enter into agreements whereby the country gets its fair share and I can tell you that in this case if oil is found here you here in the village - all of the Mayas here will be better than we in Belize City because the Prime Minister says clearly that he is going to set aside a special amount for you all over and above what the rest of the country will get."
Acting Solicitor General Nigel Hawke also explained the government's interpretation of the ruling from Justice Michelle Arana.
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