Even when the government disqualified almost half of the 20,000+ signatures collected for "poor penmanship" on a petition to demand a national referendum to allow offshore oil drilling, the people of Belize still got their day in court. The Belize Supreme Court ruled in favor of environmental groups opposing drilling on the Meso-American reef, the world's second largest barrier reef. The Court invalidated lease contracts issued by the government saying it had failed to assess the environmental impacts of oil exploration off the Belize coast, nor had the contracting companies demonstrated the ability and means to drill safely. When the government invalidated the 2011 referendum petition the conservation organization Oceana organized a "People's Referendum" in which 29,235 people voted or about 10% of registered voters. 96% voted against offshore oil exploration. The ruling party almost lost its majority in the national election following these displays of greed. One company, Princess Oil, began as a casino operation before being granted a license to explore for oil in the area of Lighthouse Reef, the location of the Great Blue Hole [photo credit: ambergriscaye.com], a world-renowned diving site featured by explorer and filmmaker Jaques Cousteau.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Belize Court Protects Barrier Reef
Even when the government disqualified almost half of the 20,000+ signatures collected for "poor penmanship" on a petition to demand a national referendum to allow offshore oil drilling, the people of Belize still got their day in court. The Belize Supreme Court ruled in favor of environmental groups opposing drilling on the Meso-American reef, the world's second largest barrier reef. The Court invalidated lease contracts issued by the government saying it had failed to assess the environmental impacts of oil exploration off the Belize coast, nor had the contracting companies demonstrated the ability and means to drill safely. When the government invalidated the 2011 referendum petition the conservation organization Oceana organized a "People's Referendum" in which 29,235 people voted or about 10% of registered voters. 96% voted against offshore oil exploration. The ruling party almost lost its majority in the national election following these displays of greed. One company, Princess Oil, began as a casino operation before being granted a license to explore for oil in the area of Lighthouse Reef, the location of the Great Blue Hole [photo credit: ambergriscaye.com], a world-renowned diving site featured by explorer and filmmaker Jaques Cousteau.