07/03/2009

Ministry of Natural Resources Statement on Mapp Caye Surveying

Belmopan - 03 July, 2009
Reference is made to recent stories in the media about Permissions to survey three parcels of land on the Northern End of Mapp Caye within the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.

The Ministry is grateful to the media and the general public for their continued vigilance and support of the Government’s pledge for transparency and accountability.

The Ministry regrets that these surveys were not caught initially by internal checks; however, we wish to assure the public that no leases for these three parcels have been issued and would not have passed final approval for issuance.

The public is advised that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has initiated an assessment of the integrity of all Protected Areas within the country. It is anticipated that this process will be concluded shortly.

**************

Ministry of Natural Resources
Belmopan
822-0730

06/11/2009

Minister of Natural Resources assist in water upgrading project

Belmopan - 11 June, 2009
Official ceremonies were held yesterday morning in the village of San Antonio, Cayo District to launch the San Antonio Rudimentary Water System Upgrading Project.

The project will upgrade the water system which had once functioned effectively with two water wells that have now ran dry for nearly ten years now. The project is being funded by the Government of Belize through the Caribbean Development Bank at a cost of nearly one million Belize dollars.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Hon. Gasper Vega gave the keynote address at the official launch. He personally gave his blessings on behalf of the Ministry by mentioning that the project will make use of Oak Burn Creek forest reserve in the Mountain Pine Ridge to provide water to residents of San Antonio Village. “The project… will entail the installation of a 31,000ft transmission line from the proposed intake source at Oak Burn Creek in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve to San Antonio Village.”

Minister Vega also made mention of the current situation with the water system wells in the south after the 7.1 earthquake experienced a few weeks ago. “Several water wells in the southern part of the country and one water system well in the central part of the country were affected as they started producing turbid water after the earthquake; however these wells have returned to normal on their own.” Apart from the wells, seven water reservoirs sustained significant damages, six reservoirs located in Hopkins, Placencia, Monkey River, Seine Bight, Sittee River and Sarawee; the worst being the one collapsed reservoir in Independence.

He ended by reiterating the fact that the Government of Belize maintains their commitment to provide Belizeans ultimately with a better standard of living. “We pledge to work hard to provide Belizeans with a better standard of living and this commitment remains unshakeable.” “This project is yet another example of your Government working for you the people.”

The San Antonio Water system upgrading Project is being implemented by the Social Investment Fund. Assistance will be provided by The United Nations Development Project and the operations and preventative maintenance will be managed by the San Antonio Water Board.

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND U.S. CAPITAL PERMIT

Belmopan - 21 April, 2009
The Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has, since late 2006 and early 2007 engaged Satiim on the matter of the U.S. Capital Permit to enter and conduct Seismic Testing in the Sarstoon-Temash National Park. The Department has made available to Satiim copies of all documentation U.S. Capital has provided in its request to enter  the Park. In addition, the Forest Department has written to Satiim on several occasions and these correspondences were faxed and hand-delivered.

To date, the Forest Department has received only one official response from Satiim in which they objected to the granting of the peemit to U.S. Capital and warned the Forest Department not to issue the Permit since it would precipitate court action.

The Forest Department has followed due process in makng information regarding the U.S. Capital Pemit available to Satiim, even though their Co-management agrement has expired. The Forest Department is satisfied that it has reasonably consulted with Satiim on this matter.

The Government of Belize, as per the Supreme Court Ruling, has the responsibility to chart the best way forward, and in this case, has granted U.S. Capital permission to enter the Park to conduct seismic testing. The Forest Department is confident that with regular monitoring, there will be minimal damage to the systems in the Park, as stipulated in the approved Environmental Impact Assessment.

Furthermore, mindful of the Supreme Court Ruling, the permit excludes the Communal Lands claimed by Conejo Village.

04/20/2009

Launching - Natural Resource & Environmental Policy Sub Committee

Belmopan - 20 April, 2009

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, today launched the project:  “Strengthening Institutional Capacities for Coordinating Multi-Sectoral Environmental Policies and Programmes” in ceremonies at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel.

This aim of the workshop, according to Hon. Marco Pech, Minister of State in the Ministry, is to “educate and sensitize us all on the objectives and goals of the Ministry, which is necessary in order to improve on where we are and where we want to go.”  Today’s activity sought to instill in the stakeholders the need to work together, hand in hand, in order to provide an improved service to Belizeans by specifying practical measures to protect our resources and our environment.

Hon. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, in his keynote address, pointed out: “This launch commemorates the start of joint action, or shall I say, Joint Intelligence. It is the start of a new wave of collaboration amongst Governmental counterparts, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, and other stake holders who have long been working with little or no coordination towards the same goal: towards better management of our jewel’s natural resources and environment.  It is a daunting task when working single-handedly, but together, we can divide the work and multiply the success”.

For her part, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry, Beverly Castillo, remarked, “In keeping with our commitment to working across Ministerial borders, and our commitment to inclusiveness in decision-making, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is proud to launch the Natural Resource and Environmental Policy Sub Committee, NREPS.  The mission of NREPS is to design, implement and adjust policies that will facilitate the management and sustainable development of Belize’s natural resources in a manner that will benefit all stakeholders”.

NREPS will facilitate the establishment of national policies in major sectors that will assist in the negotiation of country positions to ensure that multi lateral agreements are negotiated in a manner that assures Belize benefits from the decisions and policies adapted regionally and internationally.  NREPS will also serve to monitor and analyze the effectiveness of policy interventions (programmes, plans and projects) that have a direct bearing on the implementation of the multi lateral environmental agreements.  This ensures our global responsibility is met, while guaranteeing our local needs and goals are addressed.       

04/20/2009

Ministry of Natural Resources Principal Planner Completes course in the Republic of China (Taiwan)

Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan) - 20 April, 2009
On April 18, Mrs. Carren A. Williams, Principal Planner in the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, returned to Belize after completing a six-week training course on Infrastructure Development and Planning in the Republic of China (Taiwan).

The primary objectives of the training course were: (1) to introduce the participants to the basic tools used to analyze the economics of infrastructure investment, (2) to acquaint the participants with the impact of infrastructure investment on urban environment; (3) to sensitize the participants with alternative mechanisms for financing infrastructure development, and (4) to teach the participants the process necessary to complete projects on time and within budget.

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Gaspar Vega, this training on infrastructure development and planning falls in line with government’s 2008-2013 Manifesto to establish a National Infrastructure Project Management Authority that will provide oversight during the implementation of publicly-funded projects to ensure that the people of Belize get value for money.

The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Taiwan-based International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training sponsored the training course, which ran from March 7 to April 16.

For further information on Mrs. Carren A. Williams training in Taiwan, please contact the Belize Embassy in the Republic of China (Taiwan) at email novelo.efrain@yahoo.com.