By Belize Live News Staff: The Opposition Parliamentarian Caucus is calling on the Department of the Environment (DOE) and the Chief Environmental Officer to immediately release all documents related to the Silver Palms mega development on Ambergris Caye, one of Belize’s most environmentally sensitive areas.
In a statement issued today, the Opposition claims the project was approved in December 2024 under a Limited Level Environmental Study (LLES), a fast-track process that bypassed public consultation.
The group is questioning why the development was not subjected to a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), why non-governmental organizations on the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) were allegedly not informed, and why formal objections from the Fisheries Department and the Ministry of the Blue Economy were ignored.
“The Belizean people deserve transparency, not secret deals that endanger our fragile marine ecosystems,” the statement read.
Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar Panton is demanding a moratorium on all construction activity until a full EIA is completed and made public. She also urged the Chief Environmental Officer to explain how the project was approved under such limited scrutiny.
“The environment is not for sale,” said Panton. “We insist on accountability. We deserve disclosure. We will continue to defend Belize’s fragile ecosystems.”
