Supreme Court Justice Courtney Abel on Wednesday handed down his decision on the case of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) versus the Department of the Environment (DOE) and National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC). BTIA’s suit, filed in 2014 and argued last year, accused the Department and the Committee of not following their own regulations regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), concerning proper public notice and terms of reference on supplemental information requested by the Department from Belize Island Holdings…Lead attorney for Belize Island Holdings…characterized BTIA’s lawsuit as “academic” at the time of arguments in court, in that even if successful it would not have any effect on the project. While that may be so, BTIA’s lead counsel…says that as a result of this case, large mass tourism projects now and in the future of tremendous importance to Belizeans must see the DOE must faithfully follow the nation’s laws if our future environment is to be protected. But…admits, BTIA cannot stop the project because an injunction would have seen BTIA risk liability for financial damages if the case was lost…