Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4
#495772 09/17/14 05:20 AM
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
OP Offline
So, we've dealt with the environmental aspects of this proposed housing project. So, what about the social and economic concerns? One of the issues which immediately comes to the forefront is the fact that this housing project is within a wetland, which means that it is mostly lagoon and swamps. The fear is that because it is not planned properly, it will become the underbelly, the eyesore that San Mateo on San Pedro currently is.

Currently, the Government and the San Pedro Town Council are trying their best to fix the headache that San Mateo has been for over a decade. It's basically San Pedro's version of a slum.

Yesterday, we asked Mayor Daniel Guerrero about it, but it came up after a discussion about the new upgrades to the Ambergris Caye Road. 3+ million dollars is being invested to concrete this street, which feeds all the major resorts on the island, to improve the tourism value of the destination.

To properly put this discussion about San Mateo in the context of yesterday's discussion, we start first with our conversation with the San Pedro Mayor on the state of the Ambergris Caye Road. Here's how that went:

Daniel Guerrero, Mayor, San Pedro Town
"North Ambergris Road it's a 3 mile road that's coming from the north to the bridge. It's a road being financed by the government of Belize and its coming faster than what we thought, so we should have a nice road in the next 2 months. The first phase is the 3 miles and right now we are trying to work out with government to see if we can start putting the foundation of the second phase which should be 4 miles - putting it up to Blue Reef. What we want to do is we want to service the tourism industry, that's where all the hotels are on the stretch of the beach front. Definitely we are working hard to get it there because as you all know probably BWS has a big project - a $60 million Belize dollars - that's putting water and sewer for all the hotels there."

But, as we've told you, San Mateo has been institutionally neglected for over 10 years. It currently has no electricity or water connection with BWS. The Town Council has been working to improve roads, which used to be London Bridges.

We asked him if the funds used to upgrade the Ambergris Caye Road might not have been put to better use in upgrading San Mateo. He acknowledged that he's received tough criticism such as this on the allocation of funds:

Daniel Guerrero, Mayor, San Pedro Town
"San Mateo has been an eye sore and we came into office we are the ones fixing all the roads. We are filling all the streets in San Mateo. At the moment we are electrifying; we are putting the electrical post light, but I am great believe that we are supposed to first nurture the industry because it is the industry that brings the money in. Without the industry San Mateo and not only San Mateo, San Pablo and the other subdivisions that exist - maybe all this influx of people coming into the island will have to vacate because if we cripple the industry we are a total mess because this island totally depends on tourism. Tourism is the bread and butter of the islands so we have to nurture the tourism industry and that's something I was the one that decided lets go north. Together with the area rep. we decided lets go north and make sure we service all the hotels because these are the big hotels bringing in all the monies - they pay all the bills. Yes, I go to a morning talk show every Thursday religiously and I get call and people say oh why you never brought it to San Pablo, to San Mateo, to San Marcos - it's because first you nurture the industry because you want money to keep coming in. You have to realize that if we put that much millions there it takes longer to pay back, so these are things how I see it and I think that since we took office about 2 years, 6 months - we have done a lot when it comes to infrastructure because we have been purchasing a lot of hardcore putting on all the subdivisions, on all the streets. What we are doing we are building a foundation for paved roads to begin."

San Mateo, Where the "San" Sleeps Under A London Bridge

But in order to understand the fears of this housing project being put in the location, one has to see what its residents have had to deal with because of that institutional neglect. Our Jules Vasquez and Keith Swift encountered first-hand what the living conditions are like in San Mateo, San Pedro.

These stories are from our archives are over 8 years old and 4 years-old respectively, and we acknowledge that they are outdated, and a lot of progress has been made to make it hospitable.

Tonight, we revisit those stories to show you what San Mateo used to look like:

Channel 7


Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 5,563
Offline
The argument about serving the tourist is LAME!
The resorts that have been functioning for are doing fine. Overbuilding is the problem.
STOP building and developing until you can take care of what is already here.

Maybe do something about all the illegals squatters.

If one really cares about tourism then think of the tour guides and fishermen who will loose tourists when more of the wetlands are filled in.

IT IS TIME FOR ACCSD TO RISE UP AGAIN!


Harriette
Take only pictures leave only bubbles
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,050
Offline
If land is going to be given away it should be land - not knee deep or chest high under water. Giving free or cheap land to impoverished people simply enslaves them further because the costs to develop such property is so high. How about giving away lots after they have power and water services available? Give people a fighting chance at succeeding.

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 724
M
Offline
M
Originally Posted by Amanda Syme
If land is going to be given away it should be land - not knee deep or chest high under water. Giving free or cheap land to impoverished people simply enslaves them further because the costs to develop such property is so high. How about giving away lots after they have power and water services available? Give people a fighting chance at succeeding.


PERFECTLY STATED!!!

Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,267
Offline
ditto Amanda. 100% in agreement.

Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,267
Offline
ditto Amanda. 100% in agreement.

Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,191
Offline
They'd sell out their mothers and children if it meant votes. Selling off pristine wildlife areas, and with it Belize's future, comes easy to them.

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 842
P
Offline
P
It truly is disgusting. I thought we had moved away from this kind of thinking. I guess not. The BTB needs to be yelling. Oh wait, the minister owns that! I hope that other politicians will come out strongly against this and begin to organize the citizenry. Apathy will destroy the island as fast as greed. It is just so sad.

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 724
M
Offline
M
OK...so what do we need to do? It's going to take a solid plan. We'll all have to put away petty differences, and work as one solid, undefeatable force, not willing to stop nor take no for an answer. This is far too important for anything than 100% defeat.

Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 5,563
Offline
Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development needs to wake up and call a meeting of the people - we stopped South Beach and we CAN - no MUST stop this.

If Elito wants to defeat Herieda here is his golden opportunity.


Harriette
Take only pictures leave only bubbles
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

Link Copied to Clipboard
March
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Cayo Espanto
Click for Cayo Espanto, and have your own private island
More Links
Click for exciting and adventurous tours of Belize with Katie Valk!
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 307 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums44
Topics79,199
Posts500,011
Members20,460
Most Online7,413
Nov 7th, 2021



AmbergrisCaye.com CayeCaulker.org HELP! Visitor Center Goods & Services San Pedro Town
BelizeSearch.com Message Board Lodging Diving Fishing Things to Do History
BelizeNews.com Maps Phonebook Belize Business Directory
BelizeCards.com Picture of the Day

The opinions and views expressed on this board are the subjective opinions of Ambergris Caye Message Board members
and not of the Ambergris Caye Message Board its affiliates, or its employees.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5