Road Building Project In South Belize

EDM number 345 in 1996-97, proposed by Lynne Jones on 12/12/1996.

That this House requests the Government to confirm that no British aid funds will be disbursed for the paving of the Belize southern highway until the Overseas Development Administration is satisfied that such social and environmental safeguards as are necessary for the protection of the rainforest and of the Maya peoples of Toledo District are in place, having particular regard to ensuring that the Maya peoples are accorded full legal rights to their traditional lands and resources, and that those rights shall take precedence over all other economic interests including those of logging companies; further asks the Government to confirm that the British executive director to the Inter-American Development Bank will maintain an approach consistent with that of the Overseas Development Administration; and believes that the British executive director to the Inter-American Development Bank should oppose the disbursement by the Inter-American Development Bank of any loans or grants for the project until the Overseas Development Administration is satisfied that all above criteria have been met.

This motion has been signed by a total of 41 MPs.