Caye Rosario Public Consultation October 27
As you all know, one of the major reasons we are opposed to overwater structures at Blackadore (aside from habitat destruction) is that it sets a precedent to allow overwater structures in a marine reserve, which is an explicit violation of our laws. This endangers the integrity of all our marine reserves nationwide. We have just heard that John Turley and the Cayo Rosario Development Group are proposing 60 overwater cabanas in the SAME marine reserve that Blackadore is located in. Attached is an image of a flyer which was at the San Pedro library. They have a meeting on Thursday which they are calling a "public consultation" and claiming to be part of the EIA. This CANNOT be a public consultation for their project. There is no EIA available at the library or on the DOE website, which is required two weeks in advance of any public consultation. They are breaking the law, just like they plan to with overwater structures in a marine reserve.
John Turley - where is the EIA? why was the EIA not released two weeks prior to the public consultation as is required by law?
We will not allow our marine reserves to be undermined.
If you can, please attend this meeting on Thursday, 7PM, October 27th at the Sunbreeze Hotel Conference Room and ask why there is no EIA and why they are proposing overwater structures in a marine reserve. If you would be willing to livestream the presentation, please comment below.
Defend Blackadore Caye
Response from Alfonso Avilez:
would just like to shed some light on this issue. What we are doing is holding a public consultation for stakeholders as part of the EIA process. We are writing the EIA, and all EIA's have a "SOCIAL CHAPTER". in this chapter we need to put information on the social issues that the project might cause, whether positive or negative. The only way to do that is to meet with the stakeholders. Thus the reason for the consultation with key stakeholders. We are not presenting the EIA because we have not completed it as yet. This consultation is for us to get feedback and information that we will include in the EIA. Again, this consultation is not the general public consultation, that will be done and controlled by DOE. After that consultation, then the NEAC (National Environmental Appraisal Committee) sits and reviews and decides the fate of the project. Please understand, we have not reached that stage as yet.