An unauthenticated document, namely a draft Memorandum of
Understanding between a Belizean company, a US investment group and the
Government of Belize (GOB), made its way to The San Pedro Sun this
week, revealing a scheme for the "Restoration and Development of
Caracol." Information contained in the document disclosed a development
plan for a geographic area including "five square miles around the
center of the site for excavation and development, and the immediate
surrounding area comprising 20 square miles for tourism and other
development." It further disclosed that the GOB would "grant exclusive
rights" (to the previously mentioned companies) for restoration and
development, "for a period of 99 years, subject to periodic measures of
performance and progress against agreed plans." Caracol is one of the
largest known Maya ruins in the world, and the "crown jewel" of
Belize's national monuments.
It should be noted that the document (an anonymous fax received
late on Monday evening), did not contain signatures from any of the
listed members of the alleged "commercial alliance," although a
representative of the Belize Tourism Board did confirm the document
exists. An attempt to contact Tourism Minister Mark Espat went
unanswered, as he was present at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, (June
29th, 2004) and could not be reached for comment. When contacted,
Director of Tourism Tracy Taegar stated she had no knowledge of the
document.
The document revealed three immediate objectives for the
restoration of Caracol and the development of the surrounding area: 1)
Conduct a feasibility study (estimated to take 120 days) and develop a
business plan, 2) Raise the public and private capital necessary to
begin an initial phase (GOB's role would be to cooperate and support
this initiative, as well as to consider "various forms of long-term
public financial instruments and sources"), and 3) Establish final
terms between the organizations to ensure that the joint effort is
viable financially, meets the Government's needs for economic
development and is scientifically/environmentally sound.
The document further listed three "very attractive" reasons in
favor of this agreement. They were: 1) Market demand. 2) Major new
investments - The major cruise lines, Carnival and Royal Caribbean have
committed a total of BZ$160 million to port/tourism facilities in
Belize. Carnival has stated that this commitment in Belize represents
the largest they have ever made. As a consequence of this investment,
they want expanded tourism activities - especially in the "interior of
Belize," to support the "dramatic increase in passenger traffic and
long-term stays." The third reason listed Caracol as the "Ideal
cultural/tourism site".
In a phone interview with The San Pedro Sun, Belize's Chief
Archaeologist, Dr. Jaime Awe, stated this document was "news" to him.
Speaking as the Director of the Institute of Archaeology, he
stated, "On behalf of the Archaeology Institute, we would never
entertain such a plan.this monument belongs to the people of Belize."
He ended by saying that, "none of our sites are negotiable for any
type of deal."
President Steve Schulte of the Belize Tourism Industry Association
told this reporter that he had "just learned of the document." He added
that nothing about the Caracol plan was mentioned at a Belize Tourism
Board meeting he attended last Friday. Schulte stated that BTIA had
suggested the idea of financial assistance from private enterprise as a
solution to the restoration of this site at one time, but that
no "exclusive" agreement was ever entertained. He further promised that
they (BTIA) would be "looking into this."
The Sun also attempted to contact President Yasser Musa of the
National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) but could not reach
him for comment.
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