Commissioner of Transport Phillip Brackett and Chief Executive Officer Sandra Hall of the Ministry of Transport accompanied the Minister.

    One of the first things on the Minister's agenda was a meeting with the Ambergris Caye Traffic Control Committee (ACTCC). Attending the meeting were Transport Officer Baldemar Alpuche, SP Town Mayor Elsa Paz, SP Town Police Department Officer-in-Charge Sergeant James Moreira and Officer David McDougal as well as AC Traffic Control Committee Chairman Milo Paz Jr., Secretary Merlene Spain and members Gerardo Reyes, Alberto Nuñez Sr., Felipe Tun and Abel Guerrero Jr.

    Chairman Milo Paz updated the Minister and all attending on the events that had transpired over the past year. He first referred to a draft Statutory Instrument that had been prepared regarding importation of vehicles to the island. The Chairman explained the Committee's decision to issue a moratorium because of the increasing traffic problems and to allow time to study the number of existing vehicles.

    The Traffic Committee Chairman stated that there are currently 134 new vehicle permit applications, citing the special needs of the people who reside on the south side of the island. He added that the ACTCC has recommended a moratorium continue on large vehicles and that other permits not be given for six months or until an accepted and fair method for issuing them could be found.

    Several challenges that had arisen between local government and the ACTCC were discussed. The Transport Minister and his CEO made several suggestions, most importantly that the ACTCC should meet with the Mayor and San Pedro Town Councilors. The CEO agreed that the committee has tough decisions to make. Minister Hyde interjected that as a Government, the people in Belmopan should not tell you what to do, but advise.

    Minister Hyde and his colleagues agreed that the ACTCC should first take the proposed SI regarding traffic on the island to the people, before submitting it to government. Hall stated that she, the Minister and the Commissioner would go through this draft SI.

    Other suggestions were to continue the moratorium on large vehicles, to always encourage importing smaller forms of transportation and to find a system whereby, if disapproved, the applicant who was rejected could re-apply. Minister Hyde agreed the island appeared to have too many vehicles, and only golf carts and motorcycles should be accepted or there will only be more and more. The Minister stated the ACTCC should decide how many vehicles should be allowed on the island.

    The CEO noted that Mr. Alpuche has a two-man job and suggested since the Town Council collects fines, they should consider hiring a person to work with Mr. Alpuche. In respect to this, Sergeant Moreira offered to assign one of his new police officers to the task.

    Regarding other differences, Minister Hyde asked ACTCC Secretary Merlene Spain and Mayor Paz to arrange a meeting between the Traffic Committee and the SP Town Council. He urged them to come to some type of an agreement for the betterment of San Pedro.

    Before leaving Ambergris Caye, the Minister and his entourage were given a guided tour of the island, stopping at several locations to meet with the people of Ambergris Caye.