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Another in the "late but not forgotten" category, in November 2008 ( last year), Caye Caulker's very own conservation legend, "Choco / Chocolate" Heredia, was awarded for being a "Reef Champion" by the International Year of the Reef (IYOR) Committee.

Below is a snippet of the press release from the Ministry of Natural Resources that we apparently missed.

Of the photos above, the first is of "Choco" holding his IYOR award, and the second photo below is of several other awards he has also already received. You might have to look good to see some of them as some of the awards are either of crystal or glass, but they are in the pic. Actually, all of the items in the second picture are either awards, trophies or plaques awarded to Choco.

Congratulations, Choco!

Snippet of Government Press Release dated November 15, 2008.

The International Year of the Reef (IYOR) Committee held a fundraiser and Reef Gala last Friday night, November 14th 2008 at the Radisson Fort George Hotel.

The Year celebrates the achievements of the International Year of the Reef 2008 and aims to encourage additional awareness and commitment from partnering private organizations, Government counterparts, and non-governmental organizations. It invites the public to react to the call for stronger conservation of the Barrier Reef and all other marine and protected natural resources of Belize.


In her welcoming remarks, Imani Fairweather-Morrison, Oak Foundation Representative for Belize highlighted that forty seven percent of the Barrier Reef is in poor condition and six percent is in critical condition as researched and published in the Reef Health Report Card conducted by the Health Reef Initiative, 2008. She urged the gathering to commit to supporting the initiatives and to understand that it is a "�a sense of urgency to do much more to conserve Belize."

Reef Champion Awards were handed out to the Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Ramon Frutos, Lionel 'Chocolate' Heredia, and Carlton Young. Mr. Godsman Ellis was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Reef Stewardship Award was given to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Government of Belize.



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