While controversy has subsided in the respect of the Norwegian Cruise Lines Project on Harvest Caye, opposition is mounting on the Puerto Azul project. Since its over-the-top unveiling a few weeks ago in the French Riviera, with all the bells and whistles to boot, the Puerto Azul development has come under scrutiny from the public, as well as, from the conservation community. If it gets the green light, the proposed development will see the transformation of Northern Two Caye and Sanbore Caye near the Lighthouse Reef Atoll into an exclusive island resort. It was launched by Italian developers at a glamorous event hosted by actor John Travolta on the French Riviera during the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Invited guests included Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia and Minister of Trade and Investment Erwin Contreras who were photographed with celebrities giving the impression that the development had government backing. As pressure builds up, a joint release by seven leading NGOs, including the Belize Tourism Industry Association, OCEANA, Healthy Reefs, World Wildlife Fund, Mar Alliance, APAMO and the Belize Audubon Society was issued today. The statement calls upon government to make a formal announcement on the status of the Puerto Azul project and provide answers to as many as seven pertinent questions, such as: (Quote) “Does the presence of the Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia and Minister of Trade and Investment Erwin Contreras at the project’s unveiling in Cannes, France indicate an official endorsement of the project by the Dean Barrow administration? Who paid for Ministers Heredia, Contreras and their entourage to attend the European event? Were taxpayers dollars used or were the project’s developers able to purchase the perception of a governmental green light by hosting the Belize delegation? And, how can Belizeans be assured that the exorbitant money being spent on promoting this project is not an attempt to legitimize a highly speculative venture.” (Unquote) This afternoon, News Five spoke with Executive Director, Amanda Acosta, of the Belize Audubon Society.
Amanda Acosta, Exec. Dir., Belize Audubon Society
Amanda Acosta
“Belize Audubon [Society] is very concerned about the proposed Puerto Azul development. We do not feel that a mega-development of this nature is best suited for out in Lighthouse Reef Atoll.”
Isani Cayetano
”Now it would seems as though the environmental community has come out strong against a number of proposed developments where it concerns tourism and the hotel industry and that sort of stuff. Have you guys looked at what the dangers would be, so to speak, with regards to this fragile ecosystem and that particular location where this proposed development is to be done?”
Amanda Acosta
“The concerns out at Northern Two Caye and Sandbore where the development is proposed are numerous actually. Sandbore is a prime turtle nesting habitat, it’s also the reef wall very close to there has spawning aggregation of Nassau grouper. We also have high biodiversity of shark species. The saltwater crocodile actually is housed within the, we have a couple of them living within the context of Northern Two Caye. Northern Two Caye is largely a wash over mangrove habitat so it in essence is not hard land. A portion of the island is and I would think that that portion is suitable for development, however, it’s not the entirety. The proposal in its speculative form is looking at development of the entire thousand acres, however, the entire thousand acres is not land per se. It is largely mangrove and so that is also a major component of the concern. 
There’s not only ecological concerns though, we also have socioeconomic concerns. There are roughly two hundred fishermen who utilize the Lighthouse Reef for both conchs and lobster. Lobster fishery in particular is very close or adjacent to the Northern Two Caye and Sandbore. Actually, the main habitat where these fishermen free dive, there is also navigational concerns that we have. It’s in proximity so if you’re talking any kind of dredging, filling, you have to ask and beg what will happen to these lobster fishermen or conch fishermen. They are dealing with invertebrates that are very sensitive to siltation, to any kinds of dredging and in addition we have tour guides. If you can see BTIA is also adjoined on to our press release and our concerns, it’s because there are tour operators from Caye Caulker who use Blue Hole and the atoll to set up tours, in particular, the tour operators from San Pedro and Caye Caulker use that as one of the premier. Blue Hole, as we know, is a World Heritage Site, it’s a desired destination for diving so it’s a full composite of concerns and issues.”
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