Hear me out!: Offshore Drilling

Offshore Drilling in Belize Will Go to Referendum

Posted Mon, Feb 7, 2011 by emily to belize, belize barrier reef, democracy, offshore drilling, referendum

English Caye in Belize. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Oceana made great strides last week in our fight to stopoffshore oil drillingin Belize’s crystal blue waters.

First, last week the Belizean government decided not to re-issue the offshore drilling concessions previously held by the Taiwan-based Overseas Petroleum Investment Corp. (OPIC), an offshore oil exploration company. In October, OPIC relinquished its permits to approximately 1.14 million acres off Belize’s coast.

And second, in response to a letter from Vice President of Oceana Belize, Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Prime Minister Dean Barrow agreed to put the matter of offshore drilling to a public referendum.

“It’s going to be historic either way it goes because it will be the first time we will be testing our referendum legislation and that government has actually stepped back and give their mandate for the people,” Matura-Shepherd said. “For that I really applaud the government.”

Oceana has become a leading voice in Belize against offshore drilling. Belize is home to the magnificent Belize Barrier Reef, and as such, offshore drilling would be devastating to the country’s tourism and fishing industry. What’s more, the people of Belize stand to gain very little from any oil exploration because the bulk of the wealth from oil extracted does not remain in the country.

While these developments are excellent news, Oceana will continue pushing hard in its campaign to stop offshore drilling in Belize

I admire the position that OCEANA is taking against offshore drilling. Many people have seen its devastating effects. Im all for progress but progress with less damage to the environment. One thing that i hope is that all Belizeans are aware of both outcomes before choosing whether to allow the Taiwanese to do offshore drilling exploration. Remember that many people live from Tourism and our Fishing Industry. These are the industries who are more to suffer. How about us Belizeans... do you guys want to go swimming in dark oily water? What do you think... IF PICTURES CAN TALK..