Dear Members,

The Minister of Transportation, Area Representative, Mayor, Town Board,
Traffic Committee, Transport Office have all agreed on the importance of a
complete "Re-Registration" census of all vehicles on the island.
Our Mayor, Elsa Paz, met with me yesterday and is willing to provide the
Transport Wardens, and secretarial help once this is planned and scheduled.

This is vital to be able to begin to limit size and number of vehicles on
our island.
There is much to be done to actually have this happen.

The Chamber has offered to provide the location, cost of census stickers,
taxi numbering labels, computer software, and money for extra manpower.
We desperately need:
1- Someone who knows Microsoft Access, and is willing to create a program
that will compile the data required on a vehicle title. Please contact me at
[email protected]
2- Someone with knowledge of getting non-removable labels (the kind used on
license plates that cannot be torn off and re-used).
3- Money for:
Buying the stickers for the re-registration.
Buying the stickers for taxi numbering and identification.
Furnishing a "Permit Title Certificate" that will permanently remain
with the owner.
Paying off-duty Policemen, Transportation Officers, Traffic Wardens to
perform inspections and recording.
Estimates of cost range from $5,000 to $7,000. Please note on
your check that it is for the "Census", so that it will be accounted for and
used for that purpose only.

For the many of you that have told me that the government should pay for
this, I agree. But anyone with any sense knows that it will only happen here
if we finance it, and help do it. So it is time for you to decide if you
really want to be a part of actually getting something done, or just want to
continue to sit back and gripe.
Please help us. Join the Chamber. Support our efforts.
Thank you,
Tom L. Vidrine, Chairman
Ambergris Caye Chamber of Commerce
011 (501) 226-3245
PO Box 148
San Pedro, Belize

I already pay an annual fee to the town board and to Belize (not to mention worthless insurance) each year to have my golf cart. In addition I paid to get the permit to have it. I also pay real estate taxes, and for a trade license each year. In return for these things I get back very little from the town board or the govt. of Belize. That is just a fact of life here and I accept it and just move on. Lets not encourage the issue by volunteering to pay for services that should be provided already. Having said that I also want to add that I admire the chamber for trying to make the changes we need. Lets not get all Gringoed up and try to throw more money at the problem to fix it, thats what we like to do in the states. I want to remind everyone that this is Belize and not America and nobody made us come down here. If you want to live in a place like America, go back there.

Deking

Your post may have a little more"weight" if people knew who you are.Hiding behind a silly handle is,in my opinion,pathetic -I have noticed that you live here and are full of recriminations/negativities but you would get more reception and maybe sympathy if you outed yourself,and actually say what businesses you operate or are you embarrased about what you do and who you are?
Peter

Good point, Peter.

As a practicing arm-chair psychologist, I can tell you it's well known that people say and do things in cyberspace that they wouldn't ordinarily say or do in the face-to-face world. They loosen up, feel more uninhibited, express themselves more openly. Researchers call this the "disinhibition effect." It's a double-edged sword. Sometimes people share very personal things about themselves. They reveal secret emotions, fears, wishes. Or they show unusual acts of kindness and generosity. On the other hand, the disinhibition effect may not be so benign. Out spills rude language and harsh criticisms, anger, hatred, even threats. Or people explore the dark underworld of the internet, places of pornography and violence, places they would never visit in the real world. On the positive side, the disinhibition indicates an attempt to understand and explore oneself, to work through problems and find new ways of being. And sometimes, as is my case, it is simply a blind catharsis, an acting out of unsavory needs and wishes without any personal growth at all.

The problems addressed by Tom's report from the chamber are a concern to many people of San Pedro. So what if these things are "supposed to be paid for by the govt". That's precisely why these problems exist-in Belize and every other country. You can't depend on the govt to fix everything that a community needs or desires, no matter how many taxes or fees you already pay. I applaud the efforts of the chamber in offering these items up to people who are concerned and want to fix themselves, with money, community rallying, etc. We have benefits for ambulances, fire trucks, libraries, etc. Its no different to raise money through donations for other types of infrastructure or community programs. Traffic is probably one of the biggest issues affecting both locals and tourists. I think the Chambers propos al is a capital idea. Pun intended.

Marty

I applaud the work of the chamber.My suggestion would be to offer every board member the chance to contribute say 20usd towards the chambers costs and for you or the chamber to collect the money(unless that is impractical)and distribute accordingly.
I am speaking for myself only and although a member of the CC I have not approached them with this idea but it would certainly mean that everyone has done a little to help what is becoming a major problem.

Hi Marty, I sent you an email about the database.

Please explain how a "re-registration" will solve any problems that can't be handled using the registration that presently exists within the Transportation Department. Every vehicle on the roads is registered and has license plates and annual stickers. In addition the San Pedro Town Council has issued annual permit stickers for each vehicle. Why does this need doing all over again?

Jesse
Perhaps you could attend or even join the CC-I think it is as plain as daylight why we need a system that works -the present one obviously does not,and yes lets see if we can make the system slightly less corrupt.
If you do not want to join I am sure that the chamber would let you sit in and listen to what is said in the meetings.
If everyone tries maybe we will make things 10% better,but if no-one tries nothing will surely happen.

Peter: Thanks for the invite but I'm still waiting for an explaination of how this will help. If you're looking for a way to reduce the number of vehicles, use the data already compiled by the Transport Dept. and SPTC.