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MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact:     Joel Torres joel@bntoa.org 

                  Ed Turton secretary@bntoa.org

                  Tel 227-1144 or 624-0765 / Fax 227-8710 

"Thousands of Jobs at risk"

 BELIZE CITY, BELIZE (April 15, 2008) – The Belize National Tour Operators Association (BNTOA) expresses its concern regarding the recent Supreme Court Ruling calling for the removal of the walls at the Fort Street Tourism Village (FSTV).

The removal of these walls infringes on the requirements of the International Shipping Port Security (ISPS) for all cruise ports throughout the world.

The BNTOA is therefore deeply concerned that without an ISPS certified terminal in Belize, Cruise Ships will no longer be able to call on Belize, resulting in the closure of the Cruise Ship Industry in Belize.

The BNTOA calls on all concerned parties to find a quick solution to the potential breach of ISPS safety measures at hand and thus work to ensure that Belize remains a calling port for International Cruise Lines.

For more information on the removal of the walls at the Fort Street Tourism Village and its effect on Belizean operators, entrepreneurs and other service providers, please contact the BNTOA at telephone 227-5717 or 624-0765, E-Mail: joel@bntoa.org or visit our website at www.bntoa.org.

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