7 News Belize

PACT POLICY RIFT?
posted (June 20, 2016)
So while the PACT is moving forward, the reality is that when the Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives last year it was met with opened hostility. Especially on the part of NGO's who claimed they were being left out of the conversation.

So did PACT manage to get all those differences settled before coming today to present its plan for the future? Dr. Collin Young the CEO in the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology who also sits on the PACT board as the chairman spoke to us about these rifts among stakeholders.

Dr. Collin Young, Chairman - PACT
"Of course, unfortunately there was quite a bit of unease or in some cases perhaps dissatisfaction depending on which group of stakeholders you were with the PACT amendment bill. However, it is now the law and while everyone could probably if they had the power to tweak certain parts of it, the board and the government believes that it is a piece of legislation that can actually achieve the goals of the protective areas system which is to protect them in perpetuity for the benefit of all Belizeans."

But is everything as good as the PACT board wants us to believe? One of the organizations who came out swinging against the bill back in October last year, was APAMO. However when we spoke to their executive Director today he did seem optimistic that they can at least move forward on a positive note.

Jose Perez - Executive Director. APAMO
"It's law, it's an ongoing process. The ministry has to go through their own transitional process, never the less at the same time I know the CEO has tried his best to put in place the necessary policies in line with the legislation, so that management of protective areas can continue. but we feel that its initial stages, we are a partner sitting around the table and one could never tell, maybe down the road there might be a need to tweak some things and I think that the good thing this time around as I said is that we're sitting there. I think we have that communication were we are a partner and we look forward to continue working closely with the ministry."

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