Blog

  • The People Must Decide

    Author: Audrey Matura-Shepherd
    Date: January 12, 2012

    Amelia M. Poornananda J.P., Administrative Officer at the Office of the Governor General signing to recieve Petition Signatures being delivered by Oceanas' V.P Audrey Matura-Shepherd and COLA's President, Moses Sulph.On December 8, 2011 Oceana in Belize on behalf of the Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage delivered to the Office of the Governor General of Belize boxes wrapped as Christmas gifts containing petitions forms requesting  a referendum to be held on whether or not Belize should allow offshore oil exploration and drilling in its marine areas.

    This is an issue of national importance, and of utmost delicacy, given the fact that Belize’s marine areas and resources are our number one tourist attraction and foreign-exchange earner. However, it is also our source of food, jobs, cultural identity and national pride. Our waters represent our patrimony and heritage and that is why the Belize Barrier Reef System is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, but it is now being placed on a danger list by UNESCO with threats of declassification.

     According to the Referendum (Amendment) Act of Belize, 2008, once the petitioners present the petition forms to the Governor General, he must forthwith turn these over to the Chief Elections Officer for verification.  This therefore means that each signature will be scrutinized to ensure it was provided by valid registered voters.  This process should be done within two months, but not beyond.

    Presently, this is the process that is ongoing and which should be concluded by 9th of February 2012, the latest.  Sources within the Election and Boundaries Office indicate that additional scrutinizers have been hired but that very tenuous grounds, signatures are being disqualified to ensure that the 10% threshold is not met.  Oceana delivered 18,500 signatures and under the law the Coalition needed to have 17,620 valid signatures to meet the legal obligation of 10%.  If this is achieved then we move on to the next step.

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  • Victory! Belize Bans Trawling

    Author: Emily Fisher
    Date: December 8, 2010

    A huge win out of Belize today: All forms of trawling have been banned in the country's waters. And we’re proud to say that our colleagues in Belize played a crucial role in making it happen.

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  • Belize's Reef Fails Health Class

    Author: JessicaW
    Date: November 22, 2010

    Last week in Belize, reef scientists, conservationists and managers gathered at the Belize Reef Summit to discuss the impacts of increasing ocean temperatures and ocean acidification. 

    Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world. The 2010 Belize Reef Report Card, which was released at the meeting, reveals that 60% of this protected reef is in poor to critical condition with only 8% considered in good condition. This staggering statistic is unfortunately the case for many coral reefs worldwide.  

    On the final day of the summit, hundreds of Belizeans and international supporters gathered on an island on the Barrier Reef off of Belize City to create a living work of art to raise awareness about the effect of climate change on the oceans. This striking photograph was a call for world leaders to take strong action against climate change and ocean acidification at COP 16, the UN Climate Talks in Cancun that begin November 29th.

    Our very own marine scientist Ellycia Harrould-Kolieb was a keynote speaker at this important summit, and was a part of this stunning living art display - she’s hiding in the “H”.

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