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Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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Plans for Infrastructure Designed For Tourism Boost in Belize

We have told you of the announcements made yesterday by the Prime Minister when it comes to health, salary increases for public officers as well as moves being made in the public utility companies.� Another area touched on by Prime Minister Barrow was the plans for infrastructural developments around the country.� Barrow first spoke of accomplishments made around the country.

DEAN BARROW

“For truly, the nine months between January and this day, saw social and infrastructural advances in our country that took us to the summit of those heights we have been scaling since 2008. I want to point out that I had said earlier this year that we were going to roll out PetroCaribe to the rural areas and we have done so with a vengeance. Since March we have spent around $20 million in village constituencies and we are not done yet. We have reached every single constituency, if not every single village and this Government of Belize transformation phenomenon is now truly countrywide, truly national.”

The way forward in infrastructure, according to the Prime Minister, is being planned around the tourism industry which is one of the largest revenue earners for Belize. Among those plans is the establishment of an international airport.

DEAN BARROW

“Tourism remains our single largest driver, I’ll and talk a little about our plans to continue encouraging its star turn. These include additional marketing and quality improvement efforts but they also include destination infrastructure improvement and there are three projects in that connection that I wish to highlight. First, there is the continuation of the North Ambergris Caye Road Project; we have just signed a contract for the construction of another 4 miles of the road providing land access to the premier resorts on North Ambergris, making for a total of 11 miles that we have already funded. When this next phase is completed we will sign for the last few miles to take us to the Basil Jones airstrip, which we will re-develop, re-design and expand into an international airport. I am also happy to announce that Basil Jones will be renamed the Efrain Guerrero International Airport in honor of the eponymous, recently deceased San Pedro patriot. With this, we expect a phenomenal new opening up, a veritable tourism explosion, in Ambergris Caye, which is of course already our market leader. We are also constructing a new road to Lamanai via Bermudan Landing and Lemonal. That contract has also been signed, and this will mean that Lamanai will now form part of the day trip circuit for cruise passengers and provide increased tourism opportunities to Orange Walk and to the Belize Rural North villages along the route. Finally, and this really will constitute a new jewel in the tourism crown, we are going to do a paved highway to Caracol, with two points of origin from Georgeville and Santa Elena. We are funding locally, and have already signed the contract for, road rehabilitation from Cristo Rey to San Antonio and thereafter to the junction with the Georgeville Road. Then the OPEC and Kuwaiti Funds will partner together to take us the 40 plus miles from the junction to Mountain Pine Ridge and then to Caracol. In addition to the huge tourism boost this will provide, it also carries tremendous implications for a quantum improvement in our security protection arrangements for the Caracol area.”

LOVEFM



The Basil Jones Airstrip is located west of the Punta Azul (Latitude: 18°4'59.99″ Longitude: -87°52'59.99″) area and was the first airstrip on the island, with its terrain being three meters above sea level. No time line was given as to when the airport project will materialize.


Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 18
J
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J
What does the prime minister mean by international airport? Does he mean American Airlines jets will fly directly into north San Pedro from the us or does he mean tropic and maya will fly into this new airport.....confused.

Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,267
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My understanding is the later. Economics and airline route costs just dont support two big-plane airports in such a tiny country. And realistically this is more long term planning than a project ready to be materialized.

It is remarkable that somebody in Belmopan finally realizes how important this island is to the economic health of the country.

Please also note the ramping up of these projects and announcements just before the announcement of general elections. If you are a voter, probably plan to stick around until Christmas.

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 18
J
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J
Totally agree. Why hurt your own countries airlines ability to make money flying from Bze to San Pedro with direct routes into San Pedro. The logical answer would be tropic and maya would fly into this north airport from Bze and maybe have a few direct San Pedro to cancun/ roatan flights or something along those lines.

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 18
J
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J
I guess it's possible that it could happen though. US airlines fly direct into San Pedro Sula Honduras and also fly directly into Roatan.

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,461
K
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K
Previous govt inked with the current mgmt of PGIA aq deal which made them the only intl airport in Belize, so any other will have to litigated to compensate PGIA. Or just ignore or change the contract or, govt take over of the airport, ie btl, bel, immarbe, etc.


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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 178
M
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M
If they say International, i would think that would mean jets, not Tropic or Mayan Air.

Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,160
P
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P
Doesn't the PUP awarded Private PGIA contract that had a monopoly clause in it run out in the next five years (or perhaps just the monopoly part). So this is just UDP lining ducks in a row in preparation, or probably just as a bargaining chip.

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 462
C
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C
pipe dream, logistical and of course financial nightmare.....

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,537
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An international Airport on the Island would draw additional tourists, as many charter airlines / touroperators like TUI don't allow air or boat connections from the airport where they land to the hotel and now simply don't come to Belize. I don't think it would hurt PGIA or the local airlines at all. Contrary, I think it will create a suction effect on tourism to Belize.

Financially and logistically I agree with cracked up. On the other hand, there was talk about the bridge for decades before it was actually built, as the road north, many (including myself) never thought it would happen and now, here it is.

Time will tell.


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