Opposition Leader Johnny Briceño has called on the Government of Belize to put a stay on existing offshore petroleum concessions, so that the country can re-evaluate them in light of a recent call from the NGO community for a ban of offshore oil exploration.
The heightened debate comes following a fatal oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico that continues to wreak environmental havoc, as an untold amount of crude continues to seep into the ocean, endangering fisheries and wildlife and causing major economic losses.
“As a government, as a people we should always sit back and reflect on decisions that we have made. I believe that now with what we are seeing that’s happening in the Gulf of Mexico, I believe that we should put a stop to everything that’s taking place there, and to revisit, re-look – take a hard look – before we take a decision, whether we should go forward or not,” Briceño commented.
While the Opposition People’s United Party has yet to declare its formal position on the issue, Briceño gave his personal viewpoint. Briceño himself held the portfolio of Natural Resources for nine years under the PUP administration, and had over the course of his tenure approved a series of those concessions.
According to Briceño, when the matter was put to Said Musa’s Cabinet, there was no issue with offshore exploration at the time. We note that the NGO community has only now, in light of heightened international concerns over the issue and the continued stresses on Belize’s Barrier Reef system, formulated its position on the matter, though some of the concessions are several years old.
Last week, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO), Oceana, and Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) declared a united stance, and the parties indicate that they will continue to insist on a ban of offshore drilling.
COLA had written Prime Minister Dean Barrow on the matter. In his reply to COLA, Barrow commented that while COLA, in his view, does not speak for a majority of Belizeans, the concerns raised are worthy of consideration.
Minister of Natural Resources, Gaspar Vega, has told Amandala that he would consult with his technical staff and formulate a paper for Cabinet. Prime Minister Barrow said that while his administration had not considered making certain parts of Belize off-limit to petroleum exploration, it is something his administration could consider going forward.
As it stands, the entire country of Belize can be parceled off into Petroleum Exploration Concessions.
With regard to existing contracts, Barrow said that they are legal and above board agreements he is not willing to break. However, he and Vega both indicated that they would, through the environmental clearance process, ensure that nothing happens that is detrimental to Belize.
Still, both Oceana country rep, Audrey Matura-Shepherd, and COLA VP, Geovanni Brackett, have said publicly that the risks are just too many to take in light of the socio-economic value of Belize marine habitat and the Barrier Reef. Their view is that costly and devastating accidents are in the long run not preventable but inevitable.
Matura-Shepard said that the Government, which did not undertake consultations before the concessions were sealed, should listen to the voice of the people.
“There were never consultations for people to say what they want on this issue, and I don’t think it’s too late to have the consultations and do the petition drive so that the Government hears the voice of the people,” she commented.
(Note: This story was based on the Tuesday, May 19, 2010 edition of The Adele Ramos Show, simulcast on KREM FM and KREM TV.)