Editorial:

By Omar Silva

Editor, National Perspective Bz DIGITAL 2024

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

 Belize City, Thursday, 17 October 2024

As Belize grapples with the realities of its economic limitations, a critical question emerges: Who really controls the trajectory of the country’s development? In recent years, foreign organizations like OCEANA have wielded significant influence over Belize’s policy-making, particularly in the area of offshore oil exploration—a sector that could potentially transform Belize’s economic landscape. But is this influence truly in Belize’s best interest, or does it serve the agendas of foreign donors who prioritize conservation over economic development?

Belize, like many small nations, has been the subject of external pressure when it comes to balancing environmental sustainability with economic growth. OCEANA, an environmental group backed by powerful international foundations like the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, has led a successful campaign to prevent offshore oil exploration in Belize. Their argument is that Belize’s marine ecosystems, particularly the Barrier Reef, are too valuable to risk.

On the surface, this seems like a noble cause. After all, Belize’s Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a crucial part of the country’s tourism-driven economy. However, a deeper look reveals a troubling pattern of foreign influence dictating the country’s economic future. While Belize is being blocked from exploring its offshore oil potential, neighboring countries like Mexico, Guyana, and Venezuela are forging ahead with their own oil exploration projects, with little to no international protest from the same organizations.

This double standard begs the question: Why is Belize, a country with clear economic potential in offshore oil, being singled out by organizations like OCEANA? And more importantly, why is OCEANA not focusing its protests on larger countries with more significant oil projects that could pose a far greater risk to marine ecosystems?

The answer lies in the nature of foreign influence. OCEANA, while presenting itself as a champion of marine conservation, is ultimately beholden to the interests of its international donors. These donors, who have little to lose economically from blocking oil exploration in Belize, have placed conservation above the economic well-being of the Belizean people. This is particularly troubling when considering Belize’s need for economic diversification and the opportunity that oil exploration could provide.

Belize’s discovery of oil in the Spanish Lookout area in 2005 should have been the start of a new chapter in its economic development. Yet, with OCEANA and other foreign organizations holding sway over policy decisions, the country has been denied the chance to fully explore this potential. Instead, Belize remains overly dependent on tourism—a sector that, while important, is far more vulnerable to global economic fluctuations and environmental changes.

The irony is stark. While OCEANA campaigns against Belize’s offshore oil exploration, the world watches as Guyana, just a short distance away, experiences an economic boom following one of the largest oil discoveries in the Americas. Similarly, Mexico and Venezuela continue their offshore oil projects, free from the pressure that OCEANA has placed on Belize. Why the double standard? Why is Belize being held back while others prosper?

At its core, this is an issue of sovereignty. Belize must have the right to make decisions about its own resources—decisions that take into account both environmental sustainability and economic development. Foreign organizations, while valuable allies in some respects, should not dictate the country’s future.

Belize’s policymakers must critically assess the impact of foreign influence on national decisions, particularly in critical sectors like oil. The country’s economic future cannot be held hostage to the interests of foreign donors who have little stake in its long-term prosperity. Belize deserves the chance to explore its offshore oil potential responsibly, using the revenues to build a sustainable and diversified economy that benefits all its people.

The question we must ask ourselves is this: Who controls Belize’s future? The Belizean people, or foreign interests with their own agendas? It’s time for Belize to reclaim its sovereignty and make decisions that prioritize the well-being of its citizens above all else.