Let's hope the 4000 yards of sand for the airstrip turns out not to be suitable. It would be better to bring this from outside because taking a lot at once is not a good thing for the marine life near the Caye.Local guys take it small boats with buckets. This is so slow nature can clear the water better and not smother the seagrass and small fish.

Yes you are true about digging a bucket at a time. But if common sense is employed there are ways to dredge where there is minimal water issues. The key is to find a company that knows how to do it the right way.

The island needs the airstrip. When i was last on CC the tourist trade was WAY down. Hard to make a living on tourists if there aren't any.

Good point

Quote from ad placed in October 17 2004 Amandala -- typos not corrected:

The Caye Caulker Village Council would like to clarify recent concerns brought by the Caye Caulker residents and the general public, subject the issue of dredging applications on or in the vicinity of Caye Caulker. The Caye Caulker Village Council does not grant dredging permits or licenses. Such permit/licenses are granted by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

To date various entities have approached the Caye Caulker Village Council for letters of support subject dredging in Caye Caulker. Whereas these letters of support are not a necessity for the approval of a permit/ license by the Ministry of Natural Resources such letters of support do assist in a smoother progress of such dredging applications. To date the Caye Caulker Village Council has received three such requests for letters of support. In view of the light that such licenses/permits may be obtained without a letter of support yet leave the local authority has agreed to assist these entities by granting such letters of support. This will allow for access to valuable materials that would have been unattainable if such letters of support were not granted.

The Caye Caulker Village Council would like to remind residents of Caye Caulker that the issue of dredging has been approached from viewing and exploring all possible avenues. The choice taken has indeed been difficult, but has gotten to a point where the local authority views that some resources to benefit the island must be obtained from such dredging activities.

Greetings,

How can i find the website where this article came from? Can you please post the site?

How is the airstrip coming along? When will it open again. This should be of major importance to the VC and the island for bring tourists to CC.

Regards,

Bill

This was a 1/2 page advertisement placed by Village Council in October 17 2004 Amandala.

Work has finally started on airstrip -- going slow -- but at least work has started. The 30 November date PROMISED by the government isn't likely.

A couple of months ago someone said that small planes were still landing on the island even without a paved runway. Is this still happening?

Not since the construction on airstrip started Yes planes were landing -- even BDF. Go figure?

Government planes and others may have landed on the strip before the final sand fill was being applied, but anyone in their right mind would not have landed with all the stones and such that tear up a prop. A new prop is BIG bucks. Not even talking about paint damage ... IMHO