Email

Print

Yesterday, we reported on the new agreement the Government of Belize signed via the two Ministries of Natural Resources and that of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Environment and Sustainable Development with Turneffe Atoll Trust.  The Trust will now manage the remaining 17,000 acres of land on that Atoll, majority mangrove and wetlands.  Some concerns were raised yesterday as to how the agreement came about, and the surprise of key stakeholders who reported not having knowledge of its genesis or process. Concerns were also raised as to the identity of the Trust and its principals.  Critics says that because of Cahirman Craig Hayes, it's basically a foreign trust.  

But, today, we chatted with one of the Trust's Board Members, Wil Maheia territorial activist and former Executive Director of TIDE.  In a rare moment of government praise, he declared the agreement a true example of what can be achieved for the best interest of people, environment and country when government Ministers and public officials listen to advice and the people: 

Wil Maheia - Board Member of Turneffe Atoll Trust
"Well, first of all, especially the guys in the CEO and the Minister in Fisheries I want to congratulate them for really listening to TAT and working with TAT.  I don't do this often congratulate those guys. I think this is definitely something that is worth congratulations for understanding the big picture of the whole Turneffe Atoll.  How I got on TAT's board's first of all is my experience I brought in from TIDE in getting these same areas established like here in Toledo, we have a similar area where we bought when I was at TIDE we bought 33 thousand acres of land some of which was from the government as wellâ€Â¦ a similar situation and that land is not for TIDE, it is for the people of Belize, it is being managed by TIDE.  It is the same thing out at Turneffe and this land that was recently put into that Trust is not for Turneffe they are just the co-managers."

Channel 7 Reporter
"If that is that is the case, some people may ask why was the 2 million US dollars necessary? What was that for?"

Will Maheia
"Well, I think that that sets the foundation so that you can have some foundation, so that you can have some management of the land.  I think that that money will go back into the management of that lands."

Maheia clarified that since the trust does not own the land and it still very much belongs to the government and people any income derived from the operation of the Trust will go back into the management and preservation of the area.  When asked about the way forward to operationalize the Trust and involve existing varied stakeholders like the fisherfolks, tourism operators and the co-managing organization in the area TASA, he said collaboration is key:

Wil Maheia
"I think that as you know that TAT also works a lot with the stakeholders out there.  The stakeholders know who are TAT and will continue to work with them and as far as TASA who is the co-manager out there, TAT has no problem working with TASA to ensure that they do joint operations ad to ensure that also TASA carries out its duty. I myself was once a Board Member at TASA. So I believe that the relationship can only get better. There will always be challenges where will be a little ego here and a little ego there that will try and rock the boat.  But I think in the long run for the benefit of all Belizeans and future generations this is my main concern.. future generations that we have a responsibility to leave this country and this planet in a better situation than we found it when we got here."

Maheia said he has been a board member for more than 5 years, but could not recall when was the last face-to face meeting of the Board but mentioned that due to the remoteness of Turneffe and distribution of Board Members across large distances, the meetings are usually by phone or internet.   He informed that the organization is planning to bring the Board Members together for a face to face meeting in March.