7 News Belize

APAMO: No! To Offshore Oil Exploration
posted (May 11, 2010)
And APAMO - which is the Association Of Protected Areas Management Organizations also held its AGM today. The umbrella group endorsed a resolution to - among other things - place a ban on offshore oil exploration. Chairman Edilberto Romero told us more.

Edilberto Romero Chmn, APAMO
"The risk that is being posed by oil exploration the oil concessions being given I think it's just too much. APAMO is of the opinion that it's too much of a risk to lose it and so APAMO is calling for a ban on oil exploration in the offshore. The conclusion we reached is that the characteristics of our marine systems, atolls, barrier reef system, it's too important a conservation system and it is very important for our tourism industry, our fisheries industry and for the protection of Belize as a whole from natural disasters. The risk posed by oil exploration is very high."

Jules Vasquez
"You can't put the toothpaste back into the tube. Agreements have been signed these are enforceable sovereign agreements. it's not like you can just wake up and say, 'well we will cancel all of them.' The Government will obviously be liable if it chooses to do that which will end up in another truncated series of international litigations."

Edilberto Romero Chmn, APAMO
"We are aware that there are countries like Costa Rica that has revoked concessions on oil explorations in the offshore. Concessions are very important for people in the oil industry. If a country like Costa Rica can do it, I think Belize can also do it."

Jules Vasquez
"It might be argued that you all are standing in the way of progress and development because there may be untold riches in Belize's undersea, some undersea oil reserve...should we just leave it untapped?"

Edilberto Romero Chmn, APAMO
"The companies doing oil exploration have become rich. They are sending their people to the best most, expensive universities in the world, while the people from those countries are even poorer because they have received the worst of the impact on contamination of their waters and contamination of the destruction and damages to their activities."

Oceana also sent out a statement today taking a strong position against offshore oil exploration and COLA is expected to do the same in a letter to the Prime Minister tomorrow.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize