ACCSD lobbies stakeholders for support against Cayo Rosario Development

The Board of Directors for the Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development (ACCSD) held an informative luncheon on Tuesday, November 27th for key tourism and business stakeholders on the island. Hosted by Matachica Resort, more than a dozen individuals were updated on the progress ACCSD is making in preventing the controversial development of Cayo Rosario located within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

First to speak was ACCSD Board member and President of the San Pedro Tour Guide Association Billy Leslie, who reviewed the history of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and the part ACCSD played in expanding the reserve in 2015. "We saw that this area on the leeward side of the island, the shoals, the mangrove islands, and bajos were essential to the health of the Hol Chan ecosystem and an important area for the fly-fishing industry. We worked closely with other agencies on the island along with local and national government to make it happen. Our goal was to prevent unsustainable developments like the one approved for Cayo Rosario from ever happening. This sensitive area cannot support the proposed over-the-water structures, dredging, mangrove removal, and sewage system without irreparable damage," he stated.

Board member and marine biologist Miguel Alamilla was next to elaborate on the flaws in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that was contracted by the developer and problems within the entire National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) approval process. "Developers hire their own accessor to conduct their EIA, so naturally they will error on the side of the developer. In the case of Cayo Rosario, improper methodology was used along with inaccurate observations such as no sign of fish or wildlife in the area. In approving the EIA, NEAC failed to consider several laws and regulations, such as the fact that the developer only held one of the two public hearings required, and the illegal use/development of 'Queens Land' to name a few," explained Alamilla.

Elito Arceo, Board member and co-founder of ACCSD emphasized the impact the approval of such a development can have. He commented, "Is this the message we want to send, that it is ok to irresponsibly develop within a marine reserve? If we allow for this development to proceed what is next? There are other little mangrove islands throughout the reserve, if this happens will they all be exploited to this extent?"

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