Government agencies visit to monitor enviromental compliance
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Following is a copy of the report filed by the Department of the Environment summarizing their review for compliance of various activities affecting the environment:
Date of Visit: 14th and 15th May, 1997
Location: San Pedro, Ambergris
Caye, Belize C.A.
Purpose of Visit:
A team of officers from different environmental agencies conducted a
two-days monitoring visit to San Pedro to investigate into the following
matters:
We met with Dr. Lala, Owner/Manager of the Caribbean Villas, one of the dozens of persons who have expressed concern regarding the barge operation in San Pedro. He claims that he and several other hotel owners in the area are losing customers due to the air, water and noise pollution coming from the barges operations. He claims that Caribbean Depot Shipping Co. Ltd., one of the shipping agencies in San Pedro, was not abiding by the guidelines set out by the San Pedro Town Board in 1995 (see copy of letter with guidelines attached). Editor's Note: (The letter was published in the San Pedro Sun, Vol. 7, Issue 21, dated May 16, 1997 titled Caye Chapel water barge goes uptown).
We were then taken to the site, which we were made to understand belongs to one Mr. Blake, who has also been trying to get the said operation off his property. Upon reaching the area, we saw that there were a few rusty containers and equipment stored on Mr. Blake's property. Unfortunately there were no barges nor tugboats at the docking facility, where, according to people reporting: when these are operating, they create plumes which could be seen going all the way to the reef.
We then visited the proposed site for the new docking/barging facility on the west side of San Pedro Town, where the Town Board is attempting to establish an agreement to get a private contractor to dredge/fill the new canal for the docking/barging facility (copy of agreement attached). It must be mentioned that this area is the same area the Town Board has approved to be the official docking area for barges and tug boats, etc.
Subdivision:
We visited the area immediately north of the San Pedro
River, where a subdivision has been approved by the San Pedro Lots
Committee. Upon arriving at the site we saw lots where the mangroves
have been cleared all the way to the river's edge. From a short walk and
a boat tour around the area it is obvious that most of these properties
are waterlogged. According to some reports a number of these lots may
have as many as fifteen (15) feet of water.
Road Construction:
Later that day we conducted a site visit near the
Bacalar Chico Reserve to pinpoint the area where according to reports
received at the DOE, Mr. McDermot had started the construction of a
road. From our observations we saw a road constructed all the way up to
the edge of the beach, goes a few yards inland and then goes north.
In San Pedro Town we met with Mr. Bill Campbell, a pilot who took us in his plane to get a better view of the road constructed by Mr. McDermot. During the flight it was observed that the road, approximately ten (10) miles long, started near Punta Azul (just south of the southern border of the Bacalar Chico Reserve) and continues mainly along the coast (within the 66ft reserve). It must be noted that almost the entire road passes through the Bacalar Chico Reserve.
15 May, 1997:
The following day we visited several properties for which
the Ministry of Natural Resources had received applications to construct
seawall and/or pier.
From our observation of a map of the sites, it was evident that most of the properties were adjacent to each other and that there were signs of considerable erosion in the area. The areas that showed massive erosion were those areas adjacent to a groin or an existing seawall.
The sites visited were the properties of Ann McGlaun, Shirley Nelson, James Patterson and Mary Stephenson. The construction of a series of adjoining seawalls would have minimum impact on the scarce mangroves in the area.
Barges:
With reference to this particular issue, the DOE recommends that
the San Pedro Town Board, the Coastal Zone Management Unit and the
Central Government, namely the Ministries of Natural Resources, Tourism
and the Environment and Agriculture and Fisheries, view this matter as
URGENT, as further continuing of this activity can have a devastating
impact on the Tourism Industry in San Pedro and the Belize Barrier Reef
itself.
Various alternatives should be considered, reviewed thoroughly and decided upon as to the most suitable for the people of San Pedro, the environment and the business operators. The Town Board should write these barge owners of their intentions to make null and void the agreement if they do not begin to abide by the stated conditions IMMEDIATELY!
Subdivision:
As for the subdivision, the Department of the Environment
has yet to see a plan and with respect to past and the recent site
visits, the DOE would recommend that the Chairman of the San Pedro Lots
Committee be asked to stop the subdivision until all aspects (including
social and environmental concerns) of such activity have been properly
discussed/addressed. Therefore, a "Stop Order" should be immediately
submitted to the San Pedro Lots Committee by the Ministry of Natural
Resources.
Road Construction:
It is recommended that both the Ministry of Natural
Resources (MNR) and the DOE take legal action against Mr. McDermot, who
has constructed approximately ten (ten) miles of road through a legally
established Reserve, through the sixty-six feet reserve and without
written permission from the MNR or any other relevant agency. Such
actions should be dealt with and an example set for other developers in
Belize, who may have the perception that they are above the law. The DOE
and the MNR should start looking into the issue of gathering evidence so
as to start the legal actions in court for this particular incident.
Seawall Construction: With reference to the construction of seawalls in
San Pedro, due to the extent of erosion in the area, the DOE can only
agree that a seawall is necessary but would like to mention that
considerations should be given for the construction of the seawall to be
one "a continuous seawall" and that the design be one that will prevent
any further erosion of the other neighboring properties.
The property owners should also be made aware that the portion of land filled behind the seawall and the survey posts are public property and not their private property.
Date report written: 19th May, 1997
Signature and title of officers:
Albert Roches
Environmental Technician
Department of the Environment
Another letter was forwarded from the Mayor's office to Caribbean Depot (the main user of the south jetty/pier) as follows:
San Pedro Town Board |
