Posted: Thursday, December 3rd, 2015. 2:30 PM CST
By Aaron Humes: Belize’s government has won plaudits for its decision this week to ban oil exploration from the various marine reserves and parks that make up the Belize Barrier Reef System, after many years of agitation by the environmental community.
Many, if not all, of the reserves now under the ban are prominent tourist destinations that would have otherwise been in peril. Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Manuel Heredia Jr states that the ban is being done in the interest of the country and in consultation with all partners and will thus benefit the industry, now the second largest contributor to Belize’s economy.
The Minister also revealed that there is a subcommittee of Cabinet that is dealing specifically with the issue along with other partners. As he is not a part of that committee he referred all questions to it.