Enigma and Jim, thanks for expressing so well the trials and tribulations the island people face. These "investors" come here meeting lobster traps being pulled up on the beaches by the local fishermen, and then later want to lobby for rules that will ban fishing traps from the public view. They will come and meet small struggling mom and pop businesses, and then turn around and lobby for legislation to eliminate mom and pop businesses for one reason or another. One gets the feeling that the only folks that should be making a living should be the big businesses. Why should the local folks have to give up their $200 a week in favor of their $200 hr? I have no problem with anyone that buys a piece of this jewel paving their property and turning their little square piece into Disneyworld if that is what they choose. I have a real problem with them trying to force everyone else to also become Disneyworld. All the world does not want a paved street. Some of us like sand streets, some of us like the fishing industry and some of us mom and pop businesses need to be nurtured to grow, not legislated out of business in the best interest of big business.

When one stands up for his local culture, he is labeled racist and anti-foreigner. Yet, these same labelers are the biggest racists, they are all anti-locals. They are the only ones that do not seem to see it.

I have heard many of the big business owners on the island refer coldly and callously to islanders as "stupid, uneducated, etc. etc. etc. Yet, it is these same people that want you to believe that they have the best interest of the locals at heart, when the only best interest they have at heart is the fattness of their wallets.

Most of these big business owners if you spoke with them privately will tell you in no uncertain terms that they are here to make money only. If converting the island into Disneyworld is what it will take to bring more money into their pockets, then that is what they are prepared to do. Who cares about the local people and their way of life? That doesn't count to them in the big scheme of things.

Signed: deeply and passionately pro-local

First of all, thanks to everyone for a great overall discussion. We will be arriving in CC sometime the 30th of July for 4 or 5 days of rest and fun before exploring the rest of Belize. Your debates have increased our excitement and anticipation of visiting your community. Both of us have lived and done challenging volunteer assignments in several African Nations/Communites. I worked in a Black township in which I was the only white face living amongst 1/2 million people. I participated in a community health outreach/assesment program which sought to provide support for individuals dying of AIDS. Needless to say life became overwhelming at times. What stays in my soul was the experience of holding a young school teacher in my arms as she lay dying. Everyone was afraid to touch her for fear of contracting the disease.....so she was spending her last moments on earth alone and abandoned. She grabbed my hand and held it with a feirce grip and we looked deep into each others eyes......no words....just two human beings sustaining, comforting one another in the most profound and immediate of existential moments. Rascism is the fear of others and the fear of embracing the other. Whether my skin is a different colour is irrelevant because our hearts beat the same and we must all, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, face suffering in life. Is it not essential to cultivate and practise compassion for all living beings? We should celebrate the beauty of our colours, our cultures, our communties and take pride in our efforts to sustain justice and fairness in our communities. This desire to create a positive and healthy loving communtiy is obvious in the diversity and tension of your debate........we truly look forward to meeting some of you....thanks
Love and Peace, Tony and Myrna
Canada

you 2 should change your names 2 alice in wonderland.

you will understand once u get here and really talk 2 locals.

sorry...

No Thanks..statement is narrow minded. All locals consider tourist a pain in the butt in one way or another. Thats life. People just make the best out of it...as it should be.
Live and let live. As long as people talk there is a chance for peace.
Keep the faith and talk to your fellow neighbor...all will go well.
Regards,
Bill

Dear friends, please notice that we meant to say that it is important to TRY to practise compassion. Obviously we live in what might be described as an imperfect world. Injustice and inequality seem to be the reality for most of humanity. We have witnessed these injustices directly but that does not neccessarily mean that we should fall prey to cynicism or hoplessness. If we participate positvely and with determination in the struggle not only to defeat the injustices around us, but also the struggle for awareness and understanding within then perhaps we are walking the best of paths in this life. We are quite use to cynical reactions to our views.........our response to the cynical perspective is to issue you the challenge of actually trying to act positively and with insight in this crazy complex world. There is a vital and important place in this world for the idealistic perspective coupled with solid critical thinking. .......but maybe we could continue this debate over some beers in July? Iam sure we won't be hard to miss being the overly idealistc dreaded "tourists" that you seem to think we are.
Cheers from Canada........TONY