APAMO Clashes with Ministry Over Protected Areas Legislation Revisions

Tonight, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO) remains at odds with the Ministry of Sustainable Development. Last Thursday, the entity claimed it was not consulted over GOB’s intent to revise the National Protected Areas System Act and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) Act. The NGO alleged that for almost two years co-managers of protected areas were not provided with any money. However, the Minister of Sustainable Development argued that the group was not adequately leveraging its funds and not looking at the act’s revision as a means to increase accountability and investments. Well today, APAMO struck back at the ministers’ comments and called them inaccurate. Jose Perez, APAMO’s Executive Director, spoke about the concerns. 

Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO: “We just feel that it’s important since it was said publicly to also publicly clarify two or three key things that were said. The membership feels that the comments really touched on integrity of them as co managers. When it comes to being accountable as NGOs all who may be familiar with non governmental organizations know that you have to obtain good standing every year and so despite your size you have to conduct yearly audits. That’s one when it comes to accountability of every money spent, every income and what it’s spent has to be accounted. Secondly it’s no secret that NGOs primary function by mobilizing project funds from donors. And so every donor has its own set of policies and guidelines that hold the beneficiary accountable and PACT is one of them of course that had it’s own criteria, international policies and standards and so those monies were well accounted for and even the returns, the investment returns were assessed on a yearly basis and at the end of three years as I said it was noted that that it was moderately success. The other point of concern is that a second strategy was developed in 2023, in fact it was launched in 2023 but up to this point no monies have been dispersed. We understand that the plan was changed and the whole implementation mechanism has been changed. As we said again we’re here waiting as partners to be involved, to be engaged and while we wait on monies to be dispersed for management of these protected areas to be undertaken the threats continue.”

Perez added that, while the situation is contentious at the moment, APAMO is hopeful that the relationship between the organization and the Ministry can be renewed for the good of conservation work in Belize.

Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO: “APAMO is a network organization. We’re comprised of 16 members and we represent them. We speak on their behalf. And if they feel that they feel disrespected, if they feel that their integrity is being questioned then it is our obligation to voice their concern. And so it is just that. Unfortunate we’ve had to reach this point of coming out publicly trying to get his attention. For us it’s no ill will. We still continue committed in good faith and we look forward to that engagement. We are partners, we have been partners for decades and we can only continue the good work of preserving our natural resources through a strong partnership. And so we look forward to that engagement. And if you could call it the renewal of the relationship.”

APAMO consists of sixteen NGOs.