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Member Belize Association of Belize Tourism Coalition to Save |
PCSD learned on 6 December 2010 that the Belize Department of the Environment (DOE) approved the Panther Golf Course without requiring the developer to do an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and without any public consultation. DOE refuses to release the environmental compliance plan (ECP) for the golf course to PCSD or to private individuals, even though ECPs are public documents. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request has been filed with DOE. The Ministry of Natural Resources also did not respond to an appeal of DOE's failure to respond to the FOIA request. As required by law, an appeal was then made to the Belize Ombudsman, and we are awaiting her response. If she does not respond, we will seek funds to file a legal action against DOE to obtain the document. According to promotional materials, Panther Golf Course will be an 18-hole golf course on the Placencia Lagoon. The overall golf course development will include a hotel, condominium development and residential development - also bordering on the Placencia Lagoon. The developer is owned in whole or in part by Marco Caruso, who also owns, in whole or in part, Copal Beach, Rendezvous Caye, The Placencia Hotel and Residences, the Placencia International Airport and the Placencia Marina developments. |
Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development General Delivery Placencia, Belize info@pcsdbelize.org www.pcsdbelize.org 011-501-610-4718 |