Hi Barbara, sorry for the delayed response. Our power was off for 30 hrs and I am just getting caught up.
Arthur Saldivar, a Belize City attorney, approached me with his idea of building a toll road connecting Mexico and Guatemala with wind farms and industrial zones included and asked me to research it and flesh it out. He named it after his grandfather.
I, of course, put in the stuff for Ambergris Caye as it is the same as the master plan recommendations and I would not have been involved unless I could get something for San Pedro included in the package. I also added the Western Super Highway as it is sorely needed. The writing is mine.
I have researched costs and tolls, traffic etc. and believe that, on first blush it should work, money-wise. I researched tolls across Mexico and the Us and looked at the types and volumes of goods crossing at Chiapas and it would seem the project could be feasible.
The estimated total cost all in is $750 Million USD. Toll roads are usually financed by private sector. In the US investors buy into tolls roads based on a value of 60 years revenue in France it's 12.5 years.
It is an enormously ambitious project but it is the only idea I have heard that even has a chance of changing our sorry state so I have gotten even more sold on the idea as I have been writing and researching.
I have changed the part about our border crossing and the new text follows: "An agreement with Mexico has already been signed expressing agreement to build this road although no public consultation has been held on the subject. The suitability of this crossing should be decided by the people of San Pedro through public consultation."
This has been given to both San Pedro papers and Mr. Saldivar has given it to the Belize City press as well.
It was presented on PlusTv in Belmopan last Sat afternoon with myself, Arthur Saldivar and Hubert Elrington but I dont know when it will air in San Pedro but it will be discussed on PlusTV on alternate Saturdays at 2-4pm.
The proposal has been circulated around the legal circles in Belize and is well received.
Boils down to the fact that nobody in government has a plan. Private sector must come up with a plan to save the country as the GOB does not have one.
I doubt that a plan any less ambitious than this would have much of a chance to make a difference.
Last edited by Mike Campbell; 08/04/10 09:12 PM.