Philip Marsteller said he is being pursued because he reported irregularities in Barcelos

On Tuesday (2), the American Philip Marsteller, who is responsible for the hotel Rio Negro Lodge, in the municipality of Barcelos, in the Amazon, denied to keep a clandestine laboratory in that hotel. Ibama has been investigating the involvement of that luxury undertaking in biopiracy since an inspection operation found there, in April, a laboratory equipped with instruments for the research of biological material.

During a public hearing at the Committee on the Amazon, National Integration and Regional Development, Philip Marsteller informed that he only keeps at the hotel lodging for members of the National Institute for Researches in the Amazon (Inpa), who performed studies on the tucunaré, a fish from that region. He could not inform, though, if there is any document proving the partnership of that institute.

Marsteller’s explanations did not convince the author of the request for the hearing, Deputy Vanessa Grazziotin (PCdoB-AM). “It is a well-equipped research center. He informed that there is an agreement, then he said it was verbal; but we know that it is neither verbal, nor Inpa develops that research line”, she stressed.

Marsteller said he is being unfairly pursued: “I am here to answer for biopiracy, but I am not guilty of that; I have been fighting for the preservation of tucunaré and of that area. Much of that pressure is due to reports I have been making to the Federal Public Prosecutor Office on illegalities of this municipality – there have been five indictments because of children’s sexual tourism, and I have been seriously fighting against that.”

Clues
In April, a joint operation of Ibama, the Navy and the IRS found several irregularities at Rio Negro Lodge, such as problems with the equipment’s import; lack of environmental license; irregular operation of a wood shop; possession of timber without documentation on its origin; and maintenance of wild animals in captivity. The undertaking was seized and fined in more than R$2,000,000.

According to the inspection director of Ibama, Luciano Evaristo, consistent clues of biopiracy were found there, such as two beetles threatened with extinction packed to travel. “We will deepen investigations”, informed Evaristo.

Next steps
The Committee on the Amazon should hold a secret meeting on that case on June 16th, to receive more detailed information from the IRS and from Ibama. Congresspeople should also schedule a visit to Rio Negro Lodge.

Report - Ana Raquel Macedo/Rádio Câmara
Editing - João Pitella Junior
Translation - Positive Idiomas Ltda