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Joined: Oct 1999
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San Mateo Road Construction Project Receives Financial Boost






    On Thursday, March 18th 2010, residents of the San Mateo Sub Division proudly gathered at the site where the long awaited road was initiated. The project is spearheaded by Ms. Kim Shackelford of the University of Mississippi, and originally put into motion by volunteer students from the University of Mississippi, along with the Executive Committee of the San Mateo Empowerment Project.

    The first leg of the project is the construction of a one and a half mile road with the width measuring 12 feet, through the areas of San Mateo that are in highest demand. The San Mateo road construction project is now in its 10th week of construction. So far, local volunteers have been working diligently and have managed to complete close to 400 ft of road. This leaves an estimated 7,000 feet for the completion of the first phase of the project.

    At present the project has raised approximately $10,500. Instrumental to the cause is nine-year old Ms. Gigi Harris, who on April 17, 2010, won a National Award in the USA for "Young Film Maker Documentary" for her film depicting the living conditions of the residents of San Mateo. Mason Elementary School near Kansas City, Missouri - Gigi Harris' School; has managed to raised $1436.US in their second fund raiser; in their first, they managed to raise a little over $380.US.

    Ms. Kim explains that everyone that has received the opportunity to become acquainted with the San Mateo project have taken it to heart and has been instrumental in the donations that have been collected thus far. All moneys collected have been used for rocks and sand hauling. The work being done is completely on a voluntary basis.

    Gigi Harris, Kim Schackelford and the students of the University of Mississippi in Oxford, have been working continuously to get the message of San Mateo out to the public and raising awareness. "Every single time we have an audience, I try to bring the topic around to something that pertains to San Mateo." A fun way of selling the project is the "GIMME - DALLA" approach that Ms. Schackelford employs. Using this method, she explains that a portion of the road may be purchased for as little as a dollar - $1.00 purchases you a cubic foot, $36.00 per linear foot and $108.00 per linear yard. Kim estimates that the first phase of the project will be completed within two years - depending on monetary contributions.

    Ms. Shackleford informs that the organization has applied for a non-profit status in the United States - with this status, the project will be able to acquire pledge cards which will allow for a monthly donation by individuals wishing to use the project as their charity of choice. As a non-profit organization, Americans will donate more freely; as every penny donated will be tax deductable.

    The San Mateo Road Construction project recently learned that they will be the recipients of a huge fundraising effort under the efforts of Mr. Corry McDermott and his son, Broadway talent, Sean. The McDermott's, along with the Paradise Theater, are presenting "an evening with SEAN McDERMOTT" Star of Broadway's "Miss Saigon, "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Grease" and TV appearances in "Desperate Housewives". Sean is scheduled to give two performances; on Thursday June 10th 2010 and Saturday June 12th, 2010. All proceeds from his performances will go towards the San Mateo Road Building Fund. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $50. This is your chance to enjoy an evening of top-notch entertainment while showing your support for the residents of the San Mateo Sub Division.

    The community of San Mateo and the project leaders wish to thank the North Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch for their generous contribution of $400 and to all of the individuals and business that have donated either in time, kind or financially. The Project wishes to extend a heart-felt "Thank You" to all and reminds the public that donations are still welcome and encouraged.

San Pedro Sun


Joined: Sep 2002
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This made me smile.

Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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San Mateo Road

The community has built the first road that connects to the main bridge!! To everyone who has helped this to happen: The group from the University of Mississippi is so proud of the work that the San Mateo community is doing and our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed and been a part so far...so we have more to build! We always knew this could happen! Just takes a little faith! and a lot of sweat!













Kim Shackelford in the San Pedro Daily


Joined: Jan 2010
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This is all well and good but I don't see how it in any way addresses the problem of good people living in standing water with there being no way to provide sanitary sewage disposal as there is absolutely no way to handle effluent from any septic system. I am curious if there was any research done concerning the road blocking what little water flow may exist through the swamp. Are we creating a dengue/malaria reserve? It would seem likely.
If you urinate in the shower and have hepatitis or many other diseases it will pass directly into the water and will risk infecting everyone. This combined with creating mosquito breeding grounds is a recipe for disaster.
How can we allow anyone to live in such conditions, much less make them think we are helping them.
Substandard environmentally unsafe projects should be closed and the residents relocated to good land.
I have learned that there is a new project supposed to go in behind Castillo's new store. It is planned on 250 acres of standing water/swamp. We must find another way to provide lots rather than trying to develop land that is basically not habitable. Sugar Caye is another example, I wonder who will think it's sweet? It is another San Mateo but located next to our water supply.
It is unfortunate that the DOE does not preform as well in San Pedro as in other parts of the country where there seem to have a more meaningful role in development.

Joined: Oct 2001
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These bad lots institutionalize poverty and put people's lives at risk.

We still don't have enough jobs for the people who lived here BEFORE the last few hundred acres of swamp land was subdivided.


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Some people estimate that 50% of these govt. lots pass into the hands of party faithful who acquire them in multiples to hold for resale (mini-land speculators). Hence the pressing need for more lots.

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Heartwarming to see that you are supportive of those families that are trying desperately to survive under terrible conditions...admittedly created by slippery politicians but not of these peoples making

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That's right Jesse we are trying to get something done about it. As far as free will is concerned they all knew what they were buying. It is the job of the government to not allow such a thing to happen much less make it happen. Ideally they will have their lots replaced with good livable land and be able to have healthy lives or we can leave them there and be very sympathetic to their plight and be prepared for the health risks. Which would you prefer?

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They are too far invested in San Mateo to vacate it..unless GOB would completely resettle them..an unlikely happening.
You say they knew what they were buying so should have avoided it...only an arrogant gringo would ever make such a statement..Shame on you!

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I think most expected the govt. to "fix" the place and did not intend to have to raise their children in a sewer/swamp.
The vacating of San Mateo is being considered and at least one town councilor is in favor of it, I am not brave enough to go it alone on this one.
They have been trying find a septic system that will work in those conditions and it's pretty darn hard as they all have effluent except for composting and incinerating toilets. In San Mateo you could install a good 3 stage fiberglass tank but still the effluent would go into standing water which is an obvious health issue as the soak-away is an integral part of the septic system.
Really any ideas you may have to get those folks sanitary living conditions would be appreciated. To properly fill each lot would cost $12-15,000 each.
When you build a development with roads higher than the lots you have flooding problem during storms. When you do have lots lower than the roadways such as in Vista Del Mar you must have some kind of drain dug on either side of the road so the water can run off.
It is very sad that the GOB does not send Ministry of Works and sort it all out as they should. We get zero from the national Ministry of Works budget and those in power dont seem to push hard enough for our fair share.

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