What happened to SATIIM’s co-management agreement?

Greg Ch'oc

While that action is before the court, there is another matter with SATIIM and the Government of Belize which will need to be resolved sooner rather than later. The co-management agreement for the park has not been renewed because the parties cannot agree on terms, but SATIIM maintains that they have rights over their communal rights. SATIIM and APAMO claim that the government is playing games, especially since SATIIM has received a letter from the Forestry Department advising that it has been disallowed access to the park and in fact cannot undertake any management duties. And then there’s another letter to SATIIM in which the Forestry Department submitted its own version of a co-management agreement along with a deadline for SATIIM to sign. Greg Ch’oc is absolutely certain that government is playing bully because of SATIIM’s inflexible stance when it comes to drilling in the national park.

Greg Ch’oc – Executive Director, SATIIM

“In accordance with this decision SATIIM is being informed that it is no longer authorized to assess access to the national park and that it is to refrain from undertaking any negotiation or related business associated with the park and the usual park management. I want to make clear here the wishes of the communities that the park is indigenous land. As a people we have sacrificed we have been denied access to the very land that we own. We have recognized and we have always recognized the importance of protecting and safeguarding our natural resources. And I want to tell the forestry department and the government of Belize that SATIIM will continue to manage and protect the national park, because it is our interest and the interest of the Belizean people. Because of U.S. Capital Energy and the concession government have granted and our position to the way in which UY.S. Capital and government is proceeding with the oil drilling; they felt that by giving us a deadline and by the way SATIIM is the only organization that got this. I understand that now they are issuing this to the other organization but SATIIM is the only organization that got this. And I think that SATIIM is the only organization that got the second letter. So you can see the intent of forestry.”

In the legal action filed on Monday, aside from seeking to declare that the permit for oil drilling and road construction is unlawful, SATIIM is also seeking to strike down any permits and for a permanent injunction restraining any related activities in the National Park. The five defendants named are: the Attorney General of Belize, US Capital Energy Belize Limited, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, the Minister of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities and the Administrator, Sarstoon Temash National Park.