7 News Belize

Government Backs Off On Offshore Appeal, OCEANA Praises Barrow
posted (May 27, 2015)

In April of 2013, OCEANA Belize and other claimants won a major victory against the Government of Belize in court, when they fought against off-shore oil drilling. In that case, Justice Oswell Legal declared 6 offshore oil drilling contracts illegal. Those contracts were issued by Government between 2005 and 2007.

Well, the Government filed notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, meaning that they did not intend to let the judgment from Justice Legal stand. That would have been a complex and costly legal battle, but, in a surprising turn, the Government attorneys filed a notice today to say that they are withdrawing the case.

That means that this big win against offshore oil drilling stands, and in a press release from OCEANA's Vice President, Janelle Chanona, it says, quote,

"We view the decision by the Government of Belize to withdraw its appeal as a demonstration of the…Barrow administration's commitment to safeguarding the country's marine resources. Oceana Belize is in the process of proposing language to formalise the moratorium on Production Sharing Agreements for offshore areas which would ensure the protection of our economically important marine environment and outline clear benefits to Belizeans today and for future generations."

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