Environmental Consultancy Requests Details on Port of Magical Belize’s Environmental Clearance

The Environmental and Engineering Consultancy (NEXTERA) has fired off a letter to the Ministry of Sustainable Development informing him that through the Freedom of Information Act, they are requesting the details surrounding the Port of Magical Belize’s environmental clearance and Environmental Compliance Plan. The letter, addressed to the Chief Environmental Officer, states, quote, “It has been 2 years and 2 months since the Department of Environment (“DOE”) issued environmental clearance to Portico on 9th April 2021, subject to compliance with “all the terms and conditions within the ECP”. End of quote.  Nextera further explained that Portico’s EIA stated that Site Preparation, Fencing, Temporary Routes, Preparation of the Peninsula and Dredging of the access channel were projected for the first year after approval was granted. However, a recent visit to the proposed project site confirms that the works identified in the EIA’s implementation schedule have not commenced in contravention of Clause 3.1.4 of the ECP. The letter goes on to request documents such as, the Water Quality Monitoring Program, the Manatee Management Plan, the Emergency Management and Response Plans, and the approved REA along with any supporting data/plans/designs submitted by Portico. The letter also requests information on whether a cruise line has received environmental clearance from DOE and entered a contract with Portico? The letter was signed by Allan Herrera on behalf of Nextera, and our newsroom reached out for comment, but Herrera stated that he acted on the behalf of a client and would have needed to seek permission to provide such comment.