Environmental Threats
and Challenges

Update:  The Ontario Securities Commission has now brought an action against Canyon, HEIR, Marco Caruso, Brent Borland, founder and CEO of Canyon, Wayne Robbins, President of Canyon, Placencia Estates Development, Ltd., Copal Resort Development Group, Rendezvous Island Ltd, The Placencia Marina, Ltd and The Placencia Hotel and Residences, Ltd. for violation of  Ontario's securities laws.  A hearing on the charges was originally scheduled for 27 April 2011, but has been delayed several times and is now scheduled for September 2011.  The defendants face possible penalties of up to $1 million in fines per entity and person, to disgorge all amounts received as a result of noncompliance and such other orders as the Ontario Securities Commission deems appropriate.

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.