In September SATIIM won a decisive victory over U.S. Capital Energy in the Supreme Court. The victory was not complete, but it was enough to stall seismic testing in the Sarstun Temash National Park and force government to form a ministerial subcommittee to resolve issues between the U.S. Capital Energy concession and SATIIM which manages the park.
It was an uneasy truce, but one that was holding until yesterday when SATIIM claims U.S. Capital Energy personnel arrived in Midway Village and told the Chairman that they were starting work on an environmental impact assessment.
Now, according to SATIIM that undermines one of the principal thrusts of the ministerial subcommittee which proposed community involvement in the EIA process and community oversight of the process.
And that's why SATIIM's Executive Director Greg Choq today sent a letter to the Prime Minister warning him that SATIIM will use whatever means necessary to protect the national park, even if it means physically restraining U.S. Capital Energy from entering. Choq explained his position to us today.
Greg Choq, Executive Director - SATIIM:
"SATIIM has no choice but to take all actions, as I indicated to the Prime Minister, we will take all actions to prevent any of the agents of U.S. Capital Energy to go into the park. I have asked our rangers to be in the park and to prevent the access to the park."
Jules Vasquez:
Do you foresee a confrontation with U.S. Capital Energy or its agents?
Greg Choq:
"I hope not. I don't believe in violence Jules but one has to take a position. If that means confrontation then it will happen. We have become the custodians of that park. In the national interest we will protect it at all costs."
Jules Vasquez:
Do you regret that it has come to this?
Greg Choq:
"Its unfortunate Jules. I honestly felt that the lawsuit had settled the need for us to proceed with confrontation and adversarial position but unfortunately it seems that U.S. Capital Energy has no regards for the process that we have established with the government."
It's a volatile situation and it's unclear if U.S. Capital Energy will proceed in the face of this threat. We were unable to reach country representative, U.S. Capital Energy Alistair King for comment. We have confirmed that APAMO - the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations an umbrella group which represents 19 protected area management organizations has also written to the Prime Minister in support of SATIIM's position.
From 7 News Belize, April 10, 2007
