October 14, 2009
Dear Editor
What a good thing we have NGOs. It seems that no one else cares about the environment. Is Martin Alegria so overworked by groups in San Pedro and Placencia that he has no time for BELPO? (Amandala, Oct. 11, 2009) What is he CEO for? The Department of the Environment should be the body that we turn to first when we have worries and queries concerning the environment, and the people in charge should be capable of responding to all of us at all times.
We never had any explanation of why they did not attend the meeting in San Ignacio on September 3 called by concerned citizens. Was Mr. Alegria too overwhelmed by his work? Are people’s worries not part of his work?
While on the subject of non-explanations, we don’t recall seeing any apology from the San Ignacio town board for our “lockout”. We attended their own meeting at the Cultural Centre on September 30 to discuss town centre improvements. What a difference —well over 80 chairs set out and UB40 music to listen to while we waited for presentations by the tourist board and others.
Although tour guides were present, the state of the river was not raised; this was a meeting about “Town Center Enhancements,” to quote the press release in this week’s Guardian. A questionnaire distributed at the presentation indicated an overwhelming 96% support.
Were we the only ones to point out that it is necessary to have something worth visiting when you construct a visitor’s centre? A woman who wanted to raise the question of the river was told she would have to wait until the end of the meeting, so she left.
So, the question remains what is anyone — apart from BELPO — doing to improve the environment of the river? We actually tried checking on the warning system. Little has been done.
Sally and Leonardo Caretella
Esperanza Village