Illegal Logging Continues in Absence of Forward Operating Base

In addition to the temporary closure of the Forward Operating Base, there is also the issue of illegal logging. Maheia spoke on this as well.

Wil Maheia, Belize Territorial Volunteers: “We were just informed yesterday that over in Machakilha that’s in the Colombia Forest Reserve that they’re extracting logs, this is the time of year they do it and it’s right there and our government knows that that is happening and nothing is being done. While if a Belizean tried to do that now you know that Belizeans would be put in jail. So it’s not fair for the Guatemalans to come and build pastures in the Chiquibul, destroy our watershed, extracting our logs from the Colombia Forest now they’re taking over the Sarstoon what is going to happen next ? Our government needs to get serious about dealing with this Guatemalan issue. We cannot continue to be the little kid on the block that they continue to abuse.”