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These two developments are seeking the necessary approvals, and are to be joined to the mainland and to each other by a causeway.
While we, the undersigned recognize the need to generate income for Belize City and the country of Belize and we certainly
support the need to create jobs and tax revenue, the plan troubles us deeply and motivates us to ask for an alteration of
the development plan.
Namely, we are concerned about the magnitude of the plan and of the causeways to join the cruise ship port at Stake Bank to
the development at North Drowned Caye by causeway in addition to the causeway from Belize City to North Drowned Caye.
The one causeway mentioned in the Stake Bank proposal, will go through the heart of and effectively destroy the Swallow Caye
Wildlife Sanctuary, an absolutely unique area of the planet. Within the Sanctuary's boundaries flourish one of the hemisphere's
largest concentrations of manatees protected under CITES.
Jacques Cousteau, National Geographic, Animal Planet and numerous other television productions from around the world have
filmed here, recognizing the absolute uniqueness of the place.
Manatee watching is a significant generator of income in nearby communities and constitutes a memorable feature in the holidays
of thousands the world over.
The economic and aesthetic success of the cruise ship port and the North Drowned Caye developments is in no way compromised
by not building a causeway that would be fatal to Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary. There are other economically viable ways
that the two developments can be reached from the mainland.
Friends of Swallow Caye urges you to help us save the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary. We hope for a scaling back of the magnitude
of these developments, the elimination of the causeways, the strict adherence to Sanctuary regulations, and special measures
to protect manatees at each stage of construction and operations even of the scaled down development.
In so doing, Belize's image internationally will be enhanced as a defender of the natural environment so critically required
for the survival of the manatee species. Communities will benefit and a world-class natural resource will be saved for the
benefit of Belizeans and visitors to Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary.
Sincerely,
Lionel Chocolate Heredia
President
Friends of Swallow Caye
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