Area Rep Perez Says He’s Impartial on Fuel Depot Project

In mid-December, residents of an upscale ex-pat community in Caye Caulker voiced their opposition to a proposed fuel depot in their neighborhood. But just as quickly, a group of tour operators on the island came out in support of the project. The Caye Caulker Tour Operators Association even issued a press release and a ‘No-objection’ letter backing the depot, proposed by Petrol Alliance Group Holding Company Limited. If approved, the depot would be located on parcel nine-fifty-seven, Block twelve, on the northern side of the village. When News Five spoke with Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez today, he said he’s staying neutral on the issue.

 

On the Phone: Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“ It’s a small community, right. However bearing in mind that the huge contribution of this community contributes not only to insect, but to the economy, you know. And it’s a, it’s an excellent location. It’s still we have to be mindful of the, of the community in terms of how nice and laid back it is there. When you go there, I myself, when I go there, I enjoy myself to spend overnight. You know, it’s a different experience as compared to San Pedro, right? So it’s important. We have leaders that we preserve that, that type of, um, you know, ambience and atmosphere and environment. But, of course, mindful of the feelings of the, of  the community and I say community. We’re not only talking about the voters or the local, right? We’re talking, of course, that there’s a community of experts who chose or choose to be their home every time and home far away. I mean, from home they come, but in terms of development up north, the development is happening up north of is coming up quick and the vast majority. In fact, most of the land is privately owned already. Right. It is privately owned. There’s no such land as any public lands out there, except for a piece that is reserved. Right and that is actually held as a reserve by the government as an agreement. No,  as not developed, you’re seeing more resource going up high rise buildings going up. You’re having more the added of water, which is the reaching the area there and eventually also electricity coming from the southern point of Burgess. You could join the northern part of and hook them up to the grid. So,  as development happens, I mean, there’s no way that we’re stopping to putting a gas station there. I don’t want to say I’m in favor of it, but certainly I believe, and I think what we need to do is consultation and that’s what they have been following the entire, um,  everything to the books they have reached out to the council requesting the no objection support there. And they are doing all their compliance as far as I’m concerned, what they’re doing is they’re following everything as per required by law. So, with that said, um. That that remains a weather consultations  to be done and let the people speak about it as well. Although it’s a sensitive part of speaking about the gas station. But then again, let’s not forget the other side about the necessity of it. I didn’t need to serve the community because as a speaker, I don’t have 1 gas station. So, we have to be fair  with, and I remain impartial. But in the end is the will of the people, uh, in Cocker. That it’s in their interest there, whether they want to support you or not.  And, um, and I know the council are receptable receiving and having a discussion with the, with the interested, uh, people who want to invest there.”