Senate Debates ‘Space Bill’  

Senators today debated the Convention of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) Motion. Belize signed the convention on May 7 in Mexico City. The ALCE aims to establish an international organisation to enhance regional cooperation in space technology, research, and exploration. This initiative is expected to benefit Latin America and the Caribbean in areas like agriculture, disaster management, security, oceanography, and urban planning. During the Senate session, Opposition Lead Senator Michael Peyrefitte questioned the government’s decision, citing existing infrastructure challenges and the high costs of space technology. In response, Senator Eamon Courtenay highlighted the benefits of joining ALCE, such as using space and satellite technology for disaster management, agricultural planning, and environmental protection. Here is a portion of the debate.

 

Michael Peyrefitte, Lead Opposition Senator

“Space? We going do that space? This government, Madam President, can’t even finish one road on the Coastal highway and we sign treaty to go to space and coordinate with satellite. Madam, President from what I’ve read space technology is like the most expensive technology you can get engaged in, right ahead of the oil exploration technology.  I would like to hear, Madam President, if I may, from the Minister of State, Senator Coye, exactly how much this will cost us.  Because nothing when you hear space cheap. Space expensive. And if you look at the agreement that was signed, when you look at article three, it talks about the financial obligations member states from this convention shall rule after his entry into force for each member state. But what financial obligations? How much will this cost the country every year for this so called space technology?”

 

Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Gov’t Business

“The purpose of this existing organization  is to use space and satellite technology to harness information  to enable people to plan, to enable people to avoid  disasters, to prepare for disasters, to collect  information on soil, on topography, to understand the  forests  that we have, to increase our ability to have higher yields in agriculture,  in order to protect our forests.  There is absolutely no harm in us joining, I’ll say.  Benefits will redound to Belize and Belizeans.  There is, at this time, no cost to Belize.  If cost is going to be incurred, it will be minimal.”