Oceana Speaks Out on Proposed Bridge to Mexico

Questions have been raised since the Prime Minister announced that his latest trip to Mexico entailed a discussion with Mexican authorities about the possibility of building a bridge to link Ambergris Caye with Mexico. Some conservationists are concerned over the impact such a project could potentially have on the Bachalar Chico Marine Reserve, located at the closest point to Mexico, separated only by a channel. While the proposal seems to be in its early stages, since there has been no further word on the plans, today reporters asked the Communications Director at Oceana Belize, Alyssa Carnegie, about their position on the possible development.

Alyssa Carnegie, Communications Director, Oceana Belize

“As many people as we heard being excited, we also heard a lot of people who are absolutely surprised saying this is the first time we have heard of this. We haven’t heard of this before. We haven’t been consulted. We haven’t been engaged. And, that is one of the primary concerns we do have with all these projects that come up. It is more of a systemic issue, as opposed to a project by project position, which is often the position we are taking. Decisions are made as a project comes in. What we are asking for is the same thing I am sure all investors are asking for, predictability, understanding what is required, and what the processes are. And, that is what the Belizean people are asking for. The San Pedro community wants to be consulted, deserve to be consulted, as does the Seine Bight community with the gas stations that are being built. And so, it really is then about making sure that these situations don’t occur over and over again, as numerous members of OCEANA have told you before, have said before. We are often painted as this anti-development institution. So many instances, because its airport on the reef yesterday you know, its port proposal today, which has different components to it. It can’t be that everything is subjective, or individualized to each proposal that is coming in. It has to be some sort of systemic adjustment. And that is what we are asking for; the system needs to be fixed to give Belizeans the opportunity to understand what is happening in our country, to support it , or to also raise their concerns.”