AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye 40+ Over the Water Cabanas Approved at Cayo Rosario

I have tried to stay current on this issue but must have missed the announcement of a meeting of ACCSD. Looks like a good slate of officers but when was the election held?

As the press release stated: "Last week, the ACCSD convened and elected a new board representing many different sectors of our island."

Chief Environmental Officer says dredging poses no threat to reserve

The Government of Belize has approved dredging at Cayo Rosario and the concern is whether it will pose a threat to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Many organizations including the San Pedro Tour Guides Association oppose the project. Martin Alegria, Chief Environmental Officer, told Love news that the dredging doesn't pose any threat.

Martin Alegria - Chief Environmental Officer: The judging that I know that was approved at the site was the two access lanes for the barge and the boats to access during construction material and supplies and when operational it will be where the peers will be to bring in clients and so on so those are the two areas I recall given the go ahead to judge but its minimal and hopefully it is done manually. The bigger sourcing of material is what I think you are concerned about, that has been already clarified to them that has to be sourced outside the immediate area of the key because it is a marine reserve but not only that but you have conservation zone area that is a no no to do certain activities. There are general use areas which certain things are allowable and then in Southside the reserve and such, where you know it's not as legally binding through the Marine protected areas laws.

Cayo Rosario is located on the leeward side of Ambergris Caye.

LOVEFM

He hopes will be done manually?

Is the Proposed Cayo Rosario Development Massive?

In another tourism development, two months ago we reported on the proposed development at Cayo Rosario in San Pedro. Tourism stakeholders, fishermen and residents are opposed to the development of the small caye because it falls within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.  The National Appraisal Environment Committee has gone ahead and approved the plan despite widespread outcry from the San Pedranos.  The first plan proposed some ninety over-water structures and several other buildings, but the developers were told to scale down. Small changes were made and over water structures were cut down to fifty-four. But there will also be fifty more structures on the island, as well as a club, spa, restaurant and two docks, among other construction.  Now, according to the redesigned plan, there will be beach reclamation and dredging, which stakeholders are objecting to because it is within a protected area.  Mike Huesner, the B.T.I.A rep on NEAC, confirmed the project was approved, but he also strongly objected to the development within a reserve.  On Monday reporters caught up with Minister of Environment Omar Figueroa and he was asked about the proposed development. The minister says the project is by no means a massive construction. Here's how he puts it.

Omar Figueroa, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment

"There was a proposal to develop Cayo Rosario. The initial proposal called for quite a few over the water structures. I believe NEAC met a few weeks ago and the level of development was scaled down completely, scaled down significantly. And so it might be important, you know, you see you question about massive development is already misleading in so many ways. It is important to get the facts when we talk about massive. There is a proposal there to develop. It does involve over the water structures, whether it is massive or not, you will really need to look at all the details. I know for a fact it was scaled down significantly from the original proposal and a series of measures were put in place to protect the environment out there."

Figueroa told the media that he couldn't comment on the proposed dredging because his Ministry is not responsible for that kind of work.

Channel 5

RE: dredging "manually"

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project calls for 55,000 cubic meters of dredging (over 80,000 metric tons of sand) - to fill in and around the island.

RE: "massive" granted, it's a relative term.... if one's comparing the proposed development to say Jupiter, no it's not massive. If you are comparing it to any/every other development in this country however, it is. The proposed development would be one of the largest in the COUNTRY.