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#406110 04/25/11 11:21 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
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I HAD A DREAM - actually a nightmare!

Last night I dreamed that I was walking along a beautiful beach here on Ambergris Caye with two women. I glanced over my right shoulder and saw a big sign that said WAL*MART. I said "Oh my god, they are going to build a Wal*Mar here! One of the women said "Going to?" I looked over my left shoulder and there was the biggest Wal*Mart I have ever seen.

When I mentioned this to my yard man this morning he said "Good! More jobs for us." Where upon I regaled him with stories about geese and golden eggs (he had never heard that one).

So what triggered this? I have been composing a response to Chris Alnatt's editorial about street lights from the bridge to Journey's End. I have to ask Chris why he moved up here recently? And now that he's here why does he want to change the way all the rest of us live? And, at the same time we are being disregarding, asked to finance this frigging foolish destruction of our environment.

I know Chris and know him to be a rather good business man. However, does he see the north end of the island like a goose who lays golden eggs? Does his desire to sell property taint his otherwise decent perspective?

Let's look at "PROGRESS." First a bridge, then four-wheel drive vehicles, taxis, large construction equipment, soon street lights - - -tada! WAL*MART! When San Pedro residents can drive to Mexico (their dream) what will the area they drive through look like?
Their homes will not only have burglar bars, they will have beautiful fences and walls. They won't have to put up with waving at their neighbors as they speed by in their automobiles. Heck they probably won't even know the names of their neighbors. No more dogs wandering through their yard. Their beloved pets will be CONTROLLED and kept in the house beside them.

No more dog poop on the beach - heck there may not even be a beach as everyone has built a big sea wall to keep their property from eroding. That also enables everyone to extend their property out into the sea. MORE IS BETTER - especially if it is MINE is the mantra.

Then everyone will need jobs at Wal*Mat, Home Depot, Starbucks, Taco Bell because the reef will be DEAD! The fish will be gone so they will be happy to have Burger King Hamburgers. They will no longer need to eat ceviche, lobster, conch fritters, and fish and chips. Now they will be able to eat great processed foods like the RICH PEOPLE on TV do!

Those who recognized golden eggs when they saw them have bought up all the swamps (actually wet lands) and filled them and sold the shoddily built structures to other greedy fearful people. At last they are safe and secure inside their private fortresses - heck it looks just like _____________, __ (fill in the blank - city and state - that you escaped from to come live in paradise.)

AND - you won't have to put up with those stinking tourists - they quit coming



Harriette
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Excellent post Harriete! So many times I see people wanting to move to foreign countries for the peace from commercialization and then ask where's the nearest Mickey D's? Over the last few years I have been nearly all-consumed with a home in paradise and fear the Cancunization/Americanization of AC before we can get there. While I understand some locals wanting faster progress and more jobs; I also see the ruin of paradise.

"And now that he's here why does he want to change the way all the rest of us live?" I'm not speaking to Mr. Alnatt specifically, but don't you find this sentiment to be all too common? I want to live in paradise, but I want my quick and easy too? In the future I just hope that people begin to better define themselves and their motives for moving, before they choose a place such as San Pedro/AC.

Last edited by kmsqrd; 04/25/11 12:51 PM.

"Earth is an insane asylum, to which other planets deport their lunatics" Voltaire
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Your sentiments are well understood, however you completely ignore the original reason for putting the lights in in the first place.
The spat of muggings that have occurred on that dark unlit road at night have forced the issue. The road north needs to be lit to protect the increasing number of people that are traveling north and the people that already live there. There are plenty of underdeveloped places with low growth forecast to retire to. Ambergris Caye is not one of them. The island has changed dramatically in the last ten years and will continue to change as rapidly if not faster in the future. Its just how it is.

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There are many, many ways to handle crime sprees- better lighting only being one of those many. As far as the rapid change of the island; shouldn't much of that be left to the residents to decide? Especially if they will be required to pay for the changes?


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I agree with you. The pace of progress should be decided by those that live there. I think the majority of residence want to see more growth because growth equals more oportunities. There are many ways to handle crime sprees and more lighting is definetly part of the equation. Personally I think its sad the way the island has gone, unfortunately pandoras box has been opened. One example is the world class casino opening up just up north. More businesses will follow. Lighting is an element that is needed to accomidate the increase traffic. It is needed and it is coming.

Last edited by deepseadetective; 04/25/11 04:03 PM.
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Thank you for an excellent post, Harriette! We are moving to AC (north of the bridge) to escape from Wal-Marts, traffic, Mickey Dee's, and so many other parts of the US cultural experience that we dislike. We are looking forward to the slower pace of life, less focus on consumerism, and less commercialism. I pray that AC does not turn into another Cancun. Although I understand the concern about crime, I hope that if lights are installed, they will not be blaringly bright and will be focused downward so the beautiful night sky and stars can still be viewed.


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Why I decided to move north of the bridge is none of Harriette Fisher's (ScubaLdy) business. Thank you.

Now let's look at the history of Harriette in Belize: She came to the island a few years ago and bought a.....gulp!!!.....CONDO, north of the bridge. After a couple of years she decided she didn't want the condo and wanted instead to buy a plot of land and build a house. This she duly did. I think she sold the condo, presumably to another visitor to our shores. Or maybe she didn't sell it and is renting to holidaymakers/tourists. Progress, I suppose.

Now, I want Harriette to answer the following questions:

1. Is anyone forcing you to help pay for the street lighting project?

2. Do you not think you might be chucking stones in a glass house when you curse development North of the bridge but were directly complicit in the construction of a condo, which could not possibly have been built without people like you visiting and buying? What about your subsequent purchase of a lot, clearing of the land and construction of a home? You came here as a single woman a few years ago. One person. Imagine if every man, woman and child on our island was directly responsible for the construction of TWO residences within a 10 year period on Ambergris Caye? That'd be 20,000 condos and 20,000 houses assuming a population of 20,000. But, that's you, isn't it, Harriette? Progress is not OK unless it's yours, is that not the case?

3. Do you not also think that your criticism of efforts to try and make the road north a bit safer for our tourists, residents and your remaining dogs is looking a bit hypocritical given your (justified) complaints about crime on this message board and elsewhere?

It is unfortunate for you, Harriette, that when you bought your second place of residence here on Ambergris Caye you didn't have enough cash to ensure that no-one else could follow you.

In one of your posts you called me a decent sort of chap. Actually I don't need you to like me. I'm really not that nice. But I have pledged $2000BZE (at least) to the street light project. Each light will cost $528BZE for the first years power. After that we hope (and believe) that the government will pick up the tab. 2012 is local elections year. Supply and installation of the lights is free. I am now pledging another $528BZE for a street light that I will dedicate to Harriette.

We need about $75,000BZE to power 140 lights for one year. BEL will do the rest.

Thank you.


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WOW, Chris ! Pretty harsh response.

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This is better than Jerry Springer!

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laugh laugh laugh laugh laugh

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