Senator Janelle Chanona Rejects Claims of NGO Silence on Portico Predicament

Despite reports of the NGO community being silent on the Portico predicament, Senator Janelle Chanona countered by saying that the statements are unfair and untrue.  Following the leak of the Portico Definitive Agreement, there have been reports that the port’s proposed construction will negatively impact nearby manatee travel routes and the surrounding ecosystem. It is one angle of the Portico saga that many expected the NGO community to be vocal on, but that has not been the case, at least not in a public platform.  Yesterday, however, Senator Chanona rejected that narrative and says the group has been doing all it can to speak out.

Janelle Chanona, Senator: “I believe those statements have already been called uninformed because they are. At the end of the day, the NGO community worked the process and wrote letters to the National Environmental Appraisal Committee, copied to the Department of the Environment in some cases, the ministers were copied to that. We also did various press interviews, social media. Our sentiments on that is unquestionable. It is also matter of fact that in calling for all EIA processes to be paused until there was a comprehensive overview of that there was a commitment and I even think there was a appointed subcommittee of cabinet to look at updating that cruise policy. So I don’t think it’s fair to say that the NGO community has been silent, it’s more that those in a position to present those updated cruise tourism policies and other relevant policies  have been inactive, if not silent, about their work. And we continue to reiterate that call. It is important nationally, again, public resources, public assets you’re talking about a fundamental thing like changing the profile of the country. It is imperative that be taken very seriously and that all the concerns expressed to be meaningfully addressed. And we continue to reiterate that position.”

It was back on June 8, 2023 that Waterloo had written to Senator Chanona telling them that their silence is deafening as it relates to the Definitive Agreement, and the Port of Magical development.