The President of the Bar Association says that not enough is being done
to enforce Belize's environmental laws. Michel Chebat made the comment at today's
seventh annual Bench and Bar Summit. It's the annual gathering of the legal
community where attorneys, magistrates, judges, and others in the legal fraternity
come together to share thoughts on a pressing legal matter. This year it's the
environment, and Chebat told us the laws are there but they're not being enforced.
Michel Chebat, President - Bar Association
"We believe that it is a very current topic. We have many environmental
issues in Belize. It is timely and we believe that the public needs to be sensitized
about the environment and attorneys and judges also need to be sensitized about
the issues concerning environment. I think as a public we need to adhere to
the laws concerning the environment and the use of the environment and I think
what it should do is to send a clear message that these laws will be enforced
so that the concern for the public is that they must abide by the rule of law."
Keith Swift,
As an attorney do you think those laws are being enforced?
Michel Chebat,
"I don't think they are being enforced to the extent that they ought
to be."