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Joined: Oct 1999
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TOUR GUIDES AND OPERATORS ATTEND TRAINING FORUM
Tour guides and tour operators who use Goff's Caye are today attending a training forum. The event is taking place at the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute's Conference Room in Belize City. The workshop is part of an education programme being conducted by the Coastal Zone under the "Conservation of Goff's Caye and Reef Habitats" Project, which is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The training includes sessions on coral reef ecology, utilizing mooring buoys and proper anchoring techniques, reef behaviour and etiquette, proper use of the Caye, and garbage disposal. The session is being held by the Coastal Zone Authority and the Belize Tourism Industry Association.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,733
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frown The objection I have with Belize's approach to this is they are attempting to address the problem, this problem being the strain on the marine ecosystem from the over use by the cruise industry in this case, by developing training and programs to lessen the damage being done as opposed to first objectively determining the population density that this resource can withstand with proper programs put in place and then using the resource within those limitations. The objective of this government is to get as many tourists to use, rather abuse, Belize and its resources as it can. It is another example of their short term greed as opposed to long term responsible management of their resources. mad

Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,157
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ANYTHING is better than nothing, even if its done backwards according to North American standards.

On a lighter note: This just came in from the BTIA, thought it might interest you folks.

BTIA HOLDS CERTIFICATION LUNCHEON FOR TEN (10) ADVANCE MARINE TOUR GUIDES

The Majestic Room at the Princess Hotel & Casino was the venue for the certification and introduction of Belize's first ten (10) Advance Marine Tour Guides. The ten advance marine tour guides are Yovanny Leonardo of Punta Gorda, Shane Pech and Eloy Cuevas, Jr. of Monkey River Village, Elvis Solis of Placencia, Gilroy Robinson, Ian August, Giovanni Reyes, Dezerie Vernon, Aldo Perez, Alexander Edwards of Belize City.

Minister of Tourism, Investment and Culture, Hon. Mark Espat delivered the keynote address at this special occasion.

In addition to the ten tour guides, six Advance Marine Instructors will be certified as well. Another important part of this event was the official handing over of the newly developed "Advance Marine Tour Guide Training Program" from the Belize Tourism Industry Association to the Belize Tourism Training Unit (BTTU). On hand to accept the handing over was Director of Tourism Training, Dr. Vincent Palacio. This specialty course will compliment the diverse hospitality and tourism courses the Unit currently offers to the tourism industry.

In related news, the BTIA today presented a copy of the "Preparatory Course" for the National Tour Guide Training Program to the BTTU. The Preparatory Program was developed to help aspiring tour guides, who did not complete primary schools and those who left school over ten years or are not comfortable with the information at the level that it will be delivered, to make sure that they can cope with the rigor of the actual program when they enroll to take it.

For more information on the various courses and schedule of training, kindly contact the Belize Tourism Training Unit at telephone 227-1410 or email [email protected].

CZMA/I & BTIA PARTNERS FOR JOINT TRAINING VENTURE

BTIA's Executive Director, Mr. Andrew Godoy, yesterday presented forty-three (43) tour guides with certificates of achievement after they particpated in a one-day environment awareness workshop organized by the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (CZMA/I) with support from the BTIA. The workshop entitle, "Conservation of Goff's Caye & Reef Habitat (ConGREH) Workshop", was held at the CZMA/I Training Room located on Princess Margaret Drive. Funding was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The objective of the workshop was to increase the awareness of tour guides/tour operators using Goff's Caye about the ecology and the importance of conserving coral reef habitats. Participants covered information on Coral Reef Ecology, Reef Behavior/Etiquette, Utilizing Mooring Buoys and Proper Anchoring Techniques and Proper Use of Caye/Garbage Disposal. Instructor for the sessions was Ms. Luz Hunter.

WHALE SHARK PROPOSAL WITHDRAWN

BTIA members from southern Belize will be pleased to note that the proposal for the sale of the whale sharks to the Georgia Aquarium has been withdrawn. At a recent Board of Director's Meeting held in Belize City on January 22nd, 2004, the concerns of several members from Placencia were discussed at that meeting and the National Board is pleased that the proposals were withdrawn.

For more information on the proposal for the sale of the whale sharks to the Georgia Aquarium, contact Shalini Pech at Friends of Nature 523-3377.

PLACENCIA ANNOUNCES DATES FOR LOBSTER FEST 2004

Placencia BTIA would like to inform the general BTIA membership and industry stakeholders that Lobster Fest 2004 will be held from Friday, June 25 to Sunday, June 27, 2004. Additional information and updates about this spectacular event will be sent to you in the upcoming months.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,733
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"Anything is better than nothing". That is the kind of irresponsible thinking that created the problem in the first place. Responsibly managing a resource starts with identifying the extent that resource can be used given the procedures that are in place to preserve the resource and then using the resource within those limitations along with creating continuing procedures to insure its future. I don't consider that to be a "North American" way of doing things. I consider that to be the responsible way.

I would feel much better reading some news reports about how Belize is managing its tourist industry with growth mentioned in the same sentence as preservation instead of how many hundreds of thousands of more tourists the government predicts will visit Belize and how great that is.

Addressing a problem by training tour guides to carry garbage bags and putting porta potties on the island is not a substitute for responsible management. And, accepting that "anything is better than nothing" is the kind of shallow thinking that will insure a dim and limited future for Belize, its resources and its people. It is another example of greed at the expense of responsibility.

Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,157
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The barn door is already open and the horse is already out. Now, the barn is on fire and we have a small bucket brigade forming. Don't kick them in the knees. Wha wha wha, its easier to complain and criticize than to get involved in change. Oh, btw, that last comment was directed right at you Bywarren, in case I wasnt clear enough.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,733
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If you are refering to your comments about criticizing and complaining being directed at me, I plan on continuing doing that when I see things that need to be addressed. Lack of doing so and accepting the status quo leads to just that, accepting less than what is needed. Do not be so condesending to think that those that complain are not involved. If there are enough barns that catch on fire, sooner or later someone comes along who tries to figure out why the fires are starting and not just how to get the horses out of the barns and put the fires out. Some people think that preventing fires is just as important as putting them out. Of course some call that complaining and not being involved. Wha, wha, wha (whatever that means} must be bucket brigade lingo.

Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,157
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Enlighten us Bywarren on how you are involved, other than complaining.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,733
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So Silkpainter, I see you are one of those that subscribes to the theory "if you don't like the message, shoot the messanger". I am quite satisfied with the "involvement" that I have engaged in over my 35 years in Belize and do not feel that my contributions over that time is of issue. When I see what I feel is a detrement to Belize, the cruise ship issue in this case, I do not consider voicing my opposition to that as just complaining. You are like some on this board that attack or try and discredit others when you do not agree with their positions. I stand by what I wrote and will let others read my words and form their own opinions. And, I am very pleased to be living in Belize, enjoying my retirement and not "involved" with business and relying on attracting more tourists to Belize so that I can make some money. I will leave that to the messanger shooters. :p

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,733
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Well, I woke up this morning thinking I should take Silkpainters advice and get "involved". My first thought was to use my diving skills and former military training and put some underwater demolition charges on the cruise ships. Then I had my first cup of coffee and decided that might be too much "involvement". I had my second cup of coffee and decided that to enjoy my life and well deserved retirement in Belize I would limit my "involvement" to voicing my oposition, just complaining as Silkpainter calls it, to what I consider to be detremental to Belize. I had my third cup of coffe and am trying to decide whether to go diving or fishing today knowing that Belize will be well taken care of with Silkpainter being "involved", doing her silk painting. :p

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,035
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I Support Bywarren -I have not yet had a cup of coffee.

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