I'm glad the BTB is fighting for what belongs to Belize!

Don't know if this is the correct place to post this, but here goes...

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For Immediate Release
Belize City, Tuesday, May 30th, 2007

BTB defends Belize’s Patrimony – THE BELIZE BARRIER REEF

It has been brought to the attention of the Minister of Tourism and the Belize Tourism Board that on May 28th, 2007 during the live television broadcast of the 2007 Miss Universe Pageant in Mexico City, to some 1 billion viewers worldwide, Cozumel, Mexico was positioned as “… home to the second largest barrier reef in the world….” This deliberate misrepresentation of the truth has stirred strong local disapproval and international disgruntlement. The Belize Tourism Board shares the expressed sentiments of many Belizeans on such a blatant disregard for the people and country of Belize and is appalled by this gross distortion of the facts.

The Belize Tourism Board is the public-sector organization responsible for the marketing and promotion of the Belize tourism product. We are committed and determined to educate and share with potential visitors and friends, the rich diversity of our culture and the many natural and physical attributes that provide for a truly authentic Belizean experience. We recognize that the 185-mile long Belize Barrier Reef, hugging the entire coastline of the country of Belize is one of the country’s most valuable natural attractions. Offering world class adventure to divers, sports fishermen and snorkel enthusiasts alike, the Belize Barrier Reef has set us apart from our competitors and has served as the foundation for Belize’s vibrant and growing tourism industry. Due to the tireless efforts of the Government and people of Belize, in 1996, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized and designated the Belize Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site.

These and other facts have been shared with the Organizers of the Miss Universe Pageant in a letter addressed to them earlier today, expressing the collective views of the Government and people of Belize. The letter addressed to the Ms. Universe Organizing Committee and copied to the Ministry of Tourism in the host country, requests a formal retraction of this erroneous statement and clarification of the facts to the viewers of the Miss Universe Pageant. Additionally, an international press release will be disseminated to our media partners in the United States and Canada, later today, via the BTB’s Public Relations Agency based in New York. The Ministry of Tourism has made contact with the Embassy of Belize in Mexico City in an effort to secure diplomatic support as well as to formally register the Government’s grave concern on this matter.

‘We are disappointed that the proper protocols were not exercised in this case”, commented the Minister of Tourism, Godfrey Smith. “We will remain vigilant and steadfast in our effort to ensure that Belize receives a formal apology from those who were involved in this most unfortunate incident.”

For more information on development and events in Belize’s tourism industry, please contact the Marketing Department at the BTB at 223-1913, e-mail: [email protected] or visit our website at www.travelbelize.org and www.belizetourism.org

The Miss Universe Pageant is owned by Donald Trump.

If only the Gov't cared as much about what the PM is doing with the money! Or the bandits! Or the stray dogs! Or keeping the reef pristine! Geez! Focus people. It was a beauty pagent and not a infomercial on Belize.

Anyway, it's the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System and not the Belize Barrier Reef for many years now. It does make it up to the Cozomel area as well. Not such a huge mistatement.

I agree with SIN. The last thing we need is a diplomatic fracas with Mexico because some politician decides to go for a few extra brownie points here in Belize.

The reef extends the whole length of the Yucatan Peninusla. Mexico has the right to say that it is "the home of the second largest barrier reef in the world" just as Belize does.

Belizean politicans should save the mudslinging for incidents like "Mexican Army massed on Belizean Border ready to invade over "2nd longest Barrier Reef" gaffe by Belizean politician."

Yep, what they said, I agree wholeheartedly.

Hey now. The BELIZE barrier reef is a world heritage site. They don't call it the MEXICAN barrier reef.

The reef is one of the main things BTB markets (although not enough) and having someone say its really in Mexico completely contradicts all their work. Damn right they should defend what they have worked to establish.

For DOGs sake, all their asking for is a retraction. I hardly believe it will lead to political animosity.

MBRS (Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System) = World Heritage Site (Home to = Mexico, Belize, Honduras)

Like saying Colorado is home to the Rockies to a Canadian.

The time and effort spent on getting a retraction will serve only those who don't need the enlightenment, people familiar with Belize! I'm sure the other 99% of the population didn't even catch it.

The Belize Barrier Reef RESERVE System (a series of areas) are together referred to as a World Heritage Site. These 7 particular sites are in Belize, however the actual Barrier Reef extends past Belize -to the north - Mexico and to the south past Honduras.

Our Barrier Reef is described on a NASA site as "A very large barrier reef that is visible off of the eastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef in size, it spans 180 miles from the northern tip of the Peninsula south into the Gulf of Honduras, and is home to over 35 different species of reef-building coral.

I am a Patriotic Belizean, but even I have to admit that we are not the only nation that claim a piece of the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world. But hey, we do have 3 of the 4 spectacular atolls to boast about.

JZB, you are lovely but you're also wrong on this one.

This is nothing more than political posturing against our powerful and gentle neighbour to the north. It's most ill-advised.

The BTB is a million light years away from marketing Belize properly mainly becaue they're part of this Government of Belize which spends little or nothing in actually IMPROVING Belize. Case in point, I'm lucky, I'm in England for the next 2 weeks or so...how are the roads there in San Pedro right now.....???

how are the roads there in San Pedro right now.....???

Starting to suck and Boca del Rio has no water.

Welcome to Belize...