The Belize Port Authority has announced new measures to ensure compliance with the Harbours and Merchant Shipping Marina Regulations. Marina operators and owners of over the water structures are now required to apply and pay hundreds of dollars for permits and inspections to meet safety, environmental, and operational standards.
But for the chairperson of Caribbean Sprinter, Todd Martin Stefaniak, he says that fees are outrageous and it's just a cash grab for the BPA. He spoke to us via Zoom last week.
Todd Martin Stefaniak, Chairman, Caribbean Sprinter
"This is a cash grab, just like the new Marina app, which is something that's been put into law to tax every single dock over water in the country. Not just commercial operators, but private ones as well."
"I've read it twice. Belizean laws are sometimes a little bit confusing to understand the way that they're written. But in, what I've read and what I've been told by the BPA is that is going to apply to every single overwater structure. The fees are pretty, pretty hefty as well. I believe that the application fee for, something that's commercial use is $500 for non commercial is $150. And then there's an inspection that needs to be paid for I think that within Belize District that's $300. But outside of Belize district the law calls for $700 to inspect the dock to for it to be able to be taxed. And then there's recurring annual fees, but that's just another money grab by the Port Authority."
The cost to owners of non commercial over the water structures is significant, and reports tell us that there is also community opposition to these charges in the islands.
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