I would consider being part of it but once the committee got together and developed their plan, they would choose their own leader. I did bring it up, though, and that is a start in and of itself. Let's see where it goes.

Now you have gotten my attention. You mean to tell me that some idiots decided to build a school where it will cost over a million dollars just to fill in the land – not to mention the destruction to the marine environment that it will cause in order to do that. Unbelievable is right. Why don’t they just give the kids a scholarship to Harvard and save some money and the environment?

It is my understanding that the government donated the land for the school. I don't imagine the school had much choice in the matter; 8.6 acres of beachfront was likely out of their reach.

Not exactly Warren. My understanding is this road will be the new road north and that the old road was temporary. So truly the school should not have to absorb all the expense. It is only a light duty wooden bridge now. To make it passable for all traffic it should be filled and or a bridge. I don't know where you came up with millions but the span is less than 40 feet. A decent bridge could be built for the price of a small concrete house foundation or filled properly for much less. The map I saw showed the road going around Reef Village on the west side and passing sweet basil's back side. Fill, fill, fill. By the time they dredge and fill all around the isle's mapped out past Tres Cocos to the west you should be able to bring a decent size boat back there.

The figures are from Tacogirl's response on this thread.

"Please get this part clear as to the cinco de mayo money that was raised.

The "friends of Holy Cross" are doing the deciding they raised the money for land fill and ultimately they are the ones handing it over to pay for the fill.

The board that makes all the major decisions for the school is the Anglican Diocese. They can answer any questions that people want to know regarding the school itself.

Here are some numbers to better explain landfill and what it will take. (please note the information below was from April 27 and the friends of holy cross has since given half the money raised towards landfill for the school)

The school 60,000 cubic yards of fill for the property. There was an engineer who was here several weeks ago who took out a little boat and did water depths all over the property. That's the figure he came up with.

Currently the school is paying $140 for 7 cubic yards (one truck load) or 8,571 loads costing $1,225,149BZ That's to fill the entire 8.6 acres UNBELIEVABLE!!! They are talking with some folks who have a dredge (Johnston International) that could do the fill for half the price of dump trucks - that's only $612,574.00"

Here is the history as told to me by Vernon.He also told other people at the same gathering. The Wilsons put in a permit request with the previous planning board to build a 4 plus story condo development right on the point across the Boca Del Rio.The plan for the development is on a poster at the bridge for anyone to see. . 4 plus stories was beyond the usual height limit for the island at that time. (he has set a precedent and now there are others) He said that in exchange for an exemption to that height restriction, he would , with his own funds, build a school for the San Mateo area. According then to Francis, for some reason that I have no knowledge of, the condo development was delayed and the town had been counting on that school they were promised and asked the Wilson's to build before the condo development was complete. The idea being that the profit on the top, unusual floor, would pay for the school. So instead of paying to build the school from their own funds for whatever reason, they began to fundraise. I am not sure if the lagoon property is theirs or the towns but all the dredging and build up of land is a environmental disaster.Any land that the school is on or expanding on to will be dredged lagoon. They fill with garbage and put sand on top of the garbage. They are not the only group doing this just the only one asking for us all to fund it.The town sort of got screwed because now that fundraising dollars are unexpectantly being used to build up the school, they are being diverted from other charitable institutions on island with equal or greater need. All the information that is here is from either Vern or Francis except the opinion.

I guess nobody wants to touch this one. It sounds so convaluded. My first question would be how can the town expect them to make a dollar to extend toward the school if they cannot develop? I would assume the school being conected with the Diocese and the development not, they are only married by the trade off. So far the town seems to be coming out ahead in my opinion. The perminent school is to be constructed elsewhere I'm told and this site will become Teachers quarters later. No doubt the now depressed swamp land will by then be worth much more as something else. I hope the trades continue to benefit the town. Call me an optimist.

The truth will set us free.

A perfect example of the peter principle.

This should be taken as an outrage by the people of Belize, and especially the people of Ambergris Caye in this instance. It is an outrage that the town council would give a “sweet hart deal” to a developer that deviates from their original planing in order to provide a school that is the responsibility of government. The people of Belize, through government , have the obligation to educate the children. It is also an outrage, if these allegations are true, that the developer would turn to private donations to fund a personal commitment that he made.

Now my friend Chris has often, in the past, pointed out the fault of the Government of Belize in not funding the needs of the country especially the needs of AC based on the tax dollars AC generates. So what does the elected government of AC do? They neglect their responsibility and attempt to solve the problem by giving a sweet heart deal that deviates from the original planing that one would assume was developed in the best interests of the island and it’s people.

What should be done is realizing that the Government of Belize is incapable of meeting this obligation and therefore the people of AC through their elected government should step up and solve the problem. That needs to be done by the people of AC and not by searching for funds from others. It is the people who live on AC responsibility, and the people like me who own property on AC, to meet this obligation to the children.

What I pay for property tax is ludicrous. If AC would tax the real estate value that exists on AC at a more realistic amount, their would be ample funds to pay for the needs. For those of you who are not aware of the tax structure let me give you an example. A condo that is valued at say $300US pays around $500BZ in tax. That same piece of real-estate if located anyware in the US where services were provided would pay what? Say anyware depending on location from $5000 and up for taxes. I am not suggesting that taxes need to be raised that much, but only a small increase would provide much needed funds.

Now I know all of my friends living on AC are going to come back and tell me they pay enough in taxes now through GST, import duties, etc. Well that might be, but it aint solving the problem. So quit bitching and quit sticking your hands out asking for donations and get together as a community and solve the problem.