The Great News is that we have reached the 17,000 signatures needed to trigger a referendum on oil exploration offshore and in protected areas. Now the real work begins.  We need to get the voting population of Belize out to vote.

 The Belize Coalition is embarking on an outreach campaign to inform the voting population of the negative impacts of oil exploration in Belize.  The Belize Coalition are planning  public presentations throughout the country.  The Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development is working together with them on their first presentation here in San Pedro.  We take this opportunity to invite you to attend this presentation on Tuesday,  June 14th, 2011 at  the Lion's Den at 7 PM.

1. Our law does not allow for class Action only the Attorney General can start a suit on behalf of a class of people who are all injured by environmental damages;
2. The petroleum companies have more right over our land than we do yet they pay only pennies and acre (seen in the schedules to the Regulations which is apart form the Act)
3. The process of awarding contracts is not transparent – Sec. 13 of the Petroleum Act
4. The law requires relinquishment of areas – who is monitoring to ensure compliance?
5. We DO NOT have an independent regulatory Board , the Pollution control Board is not Constituted and there is no Common Fund prescribed by Sec. 15 of Petroleum Regulations

Stop Offshore Drilling

Mayor Elsa Paz of San Pedro made a call to the Island's Reef Radio during a talk show hosting members of the coalition, to express her support for the initiative. A day later, Vice-President of Oceana, Audrey Matura-Shepherd is praising Mayor Paz's declaration of support and calls it a bold and decisive action that will give important momentum to their cause. Matura-Shepherd says the Mayor' backing is already reaping benefits for the coalition in a petition drive to collect signatures.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Vice-President, OCEANA
"We know that there are about 147,000 voters in this country and we know that if we want a referendum we would need at least 10 percent of that so with 15,000 if it was the petition to seek a referendum 15,000 would be a good figure. So our minimum would be 15,000 signatures and of course we would want the whole 147,000 voters out there to sign this petition. But we are already in the thousands and we're not releasing our figures yet because we are just amazed at the amount of people who call in and they are asking us why don't we have a website where they can download the forms in our area and get signatures. So very soon as we start tallying we'll let you all know."

Jim McFadzean
"And now this weekend it's the Lobster Fest in Caye Caulker and Placencia, those are the only two places where you all will be collecting signatures?"

Audrey Matura-Shepherd
"Well also we have been told that in San Pedro our affiliates are trying to organize a "hands across the sand" in San Pedro but what we were told after we had our meeting in San Pedro on Tuesday night and after the Mayor gave her interview last night on the TV station, our counterparts called us this morning and say they cannot finish stop photocopying the petition forms. Even the businesses are collecting it because they say they are so proud they their Mayor has heard their voice and is taking their stand and so everyone on the island who has some kind of influence or connection is trying to get petitions signed as well."