Belize's International Year of the Reef Launch
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| Honourable Gaspar Vega Deputy Prime Minister of Belize and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment |
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| Welcome Remarks from Ms. Beverly Wade, Belize Fisheries Department Administrator |
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| Closing remarks from Mr. Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director of the Protect Areas Conservation Trust |
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| The Delille Academy performing the National Anthem in english and garifuna the latter a local culture |
The evening commenced with the Master of Ceremony, Mr. Ernesto Vasquez, who kindly donated his services to the IYOR Belize Launch. This was followed by a welcome address by Miss Beverly Wade, Fisheries Department administrator and an inspiring key note address by Hon. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment. Mr. Jack Young, a fisherman and national celebrity introduced the first-ever screening of the long-anticipated PACT Challenge Documentary. The documentary was greeted by grand applause. It covers recent efforts of Belizeans to analyze and quantify the challenge that lies ahead of us in reference to sustaining the complex reef diversity of the Belize Barrier Reef, which makes up 75% of the Mezo-American Reef Complex.
It was followed by the announcement of the IYOR Photo Competition, which was sponsored by Discovery Expeditions, Healthy Reefs Initiative, and The Marine Photo Bank. Prizes were given out live by Melanie McField from the Healthy Reefs Initiative. The evening came to a close with a live performance by The Delille Academy, one of Belize's premier young choirs, and remarks by PACT's Executive Director, Valdemar Andrade. Guests were then invited to stay for food and drinks donated by PACT Belize, and organized by Reagan International, IYOR Belize Coordinator.
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