Portico Threatens Legal Challenge Over Port of Belize Cruise Project

A legal battle may be looming between rival cruise port developers after Portico Enterprises Limited formally threatened to challenge the environmental approval granted for the Port of Belize Limited’s proposed bulk cargo expansion and cruise port development.  In a letter dated September 3, Portico’s attorney, Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith, gave Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai fourteen days to respond before judicial review proceedings are initiated. Portico is seeking to have the environmental clearance and Environmental Compliance Plan granted to the project quashed. The proposed multimillion-dollar development in Port Loyola includes the dredging of approximately 8.6 million cubic metres of seabed, the construction of a 448-acre engineered mangrove island and berthing facilities capable of accommodating four mega cruise ships.  Portico, which holds environmental clearance for its own Port of Magical Belize project, alleges that the Department of the Environment unlawfully approved a flawed development proposal. Its objections reportedly include claims of a deficient environmental assessment and a rushed public consultation process. The company has asked the department to suspend or withdraw the environmental clearance issued on June 22. It has also requested that the Port of Belize voluntarily halt capital dredging, land reclamation and road construction while the matter is being resolved.  The department had announced the project’s approval in April following a majority vote by the National Environmental Appraisal Committee. It said environmental risks would be addressed through monitoring and enforcement involving several government agencies.  Up to news time, to our knowledge, neither the department nor the Port of Belize has publicly responded to Portico’s legal threat.