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Joined: Jan 2010
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Seems like the first priority is to get the emergency transportation off the island regularized followed by getting the GOB to allow all you good people to help us. Get our 24/7 EMS going while we put together the hospital project. That includes all the things mentioned, health care professionals with practical experience in less than first world conditions certainly have a lot to offer. Jr has implied that he will work on getting the hours extended and more doctors. That would be a great start.

Joined: Apr 2009
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In addition to a good local EMS system and a central place to use as a base for emergent care it would seem to me that locating a helicopter and crew at the main hospital in Belize would be a good option. Presumably they would serve the whole country as we must not be the only place isolated and in need of emergency medical transport.

I admit my lack of local knowledge on all this but I assume there is a procedure in place to take people their from all over the country and hopefully a procedure to get them to tertiary hospitals outside of Belize if necessary (Mexico, US, etc).

And of course if a fixed wing transport was ready to go I would use that. My point was having the ability to pay and not having to depend on the government or some other entity to guarantee the cost. I assume you can't just call up Tropic and say I have a sick person that needs to get to the mainland without them asking you to pay?

Last edited by CaptOneIron; 05/02/11 04:57 AM.

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Letter to Hon John Briceno

May 4th, 2011
Hon. John Briceno
Party Leader
People's United Party

Dear Hon. Briceno
The residents of Ambergris Caye are still in shock following the death of a child due to the lack of an adequate medical facility, and the unavailability of an emergency transportation off Ambergris Caye. I am humbly asking you to raise the issue in the next sitting of the House of Representative scheduled for Friday May 13th, 2011 for and on behalf of the people of San Pedro Ambergris Caye.

It is my humble option that one of the basic needs of any human is to have access to adequate health care. In this time and age, there is absolutely no excuse for a mother to lose her child due to the lack of an appropriate health facility. In the past, BATSUB would transport patients from San Pedro and Caye Caulker at night to Belize City. In August of 2010, those services were discontinued and since then the residents of both islands have been left in the cold and are forced to find other alternatives to get their loved ones off the island in an emergency. The Area Representative of Belize Rural South Hon. Manuel Heredia has indicated in two separate instances that the matter would be raised in Cabinet; there has been absolutely no solution or indication that Cabinet is treating this matter with urgency.

This matter needs URGENT attention because the life of over 12 thousand residents of Ambergris Caye is being gambled with. It is unfair that at this point, San Pedro Ambergris Caye has made no substantial progress to its only public health facility since the inauguration of the Poly-Clinic. The residents of this island do not have a certified and equipped child birth and emergency facility on this island. San Pedro is the number one tourism destination, one of the communities that generates the most in revenues but yet is neglected with a basic necessity such as an adequate health facility on the island.

The only available transportation off the island during a night emergency is via a chartered plane from one of the commercial airlines, which cost over $3000.00. The marginalized, working class and the poor people of this community, which is the majority, cannot afford such an option. The death of the baby belong to the Narvaez family could have been prevented if there was the adequate facility or a quick and practical emergency air transportation off the island.

While the death of the baby is irreversible, it emphasizes the urgent need and should serve as wake-up call for our elected officials to put our country and people first. However, it seems no-one has awoken. Hence, I am writing you to kindly raise the issue and lobby to the government for us the residents of Ambergris Caye.

Looking forward for a response in regards to such important and urgent issue.

Yours truly,

Jorge Aldana
San Pedro Town
Ambergris Caye, Belize

Resident of San Pedro Ambergris Caye

Joined: Jan 2010
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The solutions are very simple:
#1. I have spoken to Wings Of Hope and if emergency lights were installed at Municipal they could and would be able to serve San Pedro at night. It would take less than a week to do that. It does not require committees or cabinet meetings. If emergency lights were installed at Caye Caulker they could receive the same service, also Placencia. This very simple. Our lights here were donated by Wings of Hope. The lack of runway lights at Municipal is the ONLY thing that keeps them from supplying the service at night.
#2 There are several doctors and international medical groups that would be very very happy to set up a 24/7 EMS facility on the Island. This has been proposed to the Town Council and Area rep and they have refused to take any action.
#3 Given the fact that Johnny Briceno sold out all the land on North Ambergris Caye I find it extremely unlikely he would do anything that he did not profit from. Johnny's help is the last thing we need, what a joke.
Some of our politicians are too greedy for words while others just dont care at all.
Hope everyone is following the deal with Guat money going into the PUP. I have heard no denials. After Narda Garcia's involvement in the Social Security scandal she was rewarded with a large piece of Free Zone land. This is the kind of government we do not want nor can afford to have. We must fight corruption not reinforce it. Johnny only became party leader by the favors he passed out in San Pedro but I doubt that many knew he had sold us out so badly. If they did and still supported him it speaks tons about their characters as well.

Joined: Sep 2004
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Lights would be nice at TZA, CKR and PLJ except that it would be extremely hazardous to have night ops into these airstrips.

Joined: Jan 2010
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Not really, I have about 600hrs of night time and I would not hesitate. After speaking to Wings of Hope they said they would for sure do it. There are some times when it would not be feasible. Not much difference in landing with runway lights and landing in day time a little difference in perception in the last few seconds but you get used to that quickly. Besides that no problems except weather. The GOB has refused to allow the lights to be installed at Placencia, they think the drug traffickers would take it over or something like that. Wings of Hope actually donated the lights on request of the Village Council but they were never installed for the reason mentioned.

Joined: Sep 2004
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Yes really,
the nature of these 3 strips, departing over water, no horizon, loss of reference at night is an invitation for something bad.
And, the WOH Cherokee 6 is not a very well IFR equipped acft, which is a necessity if contemplating this service.

When TZA is expanded, night operations into the city will be feasible and safe.

Drug trafficking had nothing to do with not installing lights at PLJ.

Joined: Jul 2008
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@ Mike CAmpbell - The issue of the land is not here nor there. This is not a political issue, its something affecting all of us. If you had any knowledge of our political system, issues such at what the letter state should be raised by a member of the opposition. But again what can be expected about Mike. Just prove to me that if i had any slightest intention of voting for you, you just turn your opportunities off. Best to just close your mouth and you may benefit plenty.

Joined: Oct 2001
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My two cents worth - we need the following:

1. In San Pedro - 24/7 emergency room capable of minor surgeries

2. Runway lights on all government runways in the country - for health and safety for everybody all the time - don't turn the lights on unless they are needed

3. Air-ambulance(s)

4. Improved pre-natal care with high-risk mothers being advised to be close to an appropriate care facility in anticipation of issues at delivery


Joined: Oct 2003
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Diane's point #4-I have had pregnant women from both Placencia and San Pedro move into my house in Belize City up to 3 weeks before delivery date. Have had people with illnesses further from better medical care also park themselves at my place, till they were out of a danger zone.

I stand by my suggestion a committee meets with Dr Peter Allen, who studies health modules, for reasonable suggestions on how to move forward, what you will need and how to procure. Talking to each other on this board doesn't make anyone safer in case of..


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