UDP Says Causeway Did Not Get Approval on Their Watch

The United Democratic Party also weighed in on the proposed Stake Bank Causeway project. This afternoon the party issued a release saying under the previous administration the only port -related project which received environmental clearance limits development to Stake Bank Caye itself. They say there was never any permission given for the construction of a causeway and question allegations made by the current Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, the two causeways associated with Stake Bank/Port Coral Cruise Project were granted environmental clearance in 2019. The party insists that the UDP Cabinet at that time had taken a firm position that any potential approval of these causeways would only be considered after the revision and update of the EIA which would include a robust round of public consultations on this specific component. They say if there exists a signed ECP of 2019 for the construction of these two causeways, it had neither the knowledge nor the input of the Ministry responsible for the Environment and would have gone against the recommendation of the Cabinet Sub Committee on Investment, the Ministry of Environment, and the clear directives of the then Cabinet. The UDP says if it exists, this document should not only be made public but also revoked immediately since it was executed without following due process.