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On May
26th, 2004, the
Government of Belize (GOB) announced the official closure of the Caye
Caulker airstrip for a period of six months, effective June
1st, 2004. This action
comes following notification from both of the country's major airlines
that they would no longer land on this deteriorated runway.
This is not the first time Tropic Air and Maya Island
Air have expressed their uneasiness about landing on this particular
runway. Reportedly, both airlines addressed these concerns again, via a
letter dated May 6 th,
2004, to the Government of Belize, the Civil Aviation Department and the
Caye Caulker Village Council.
The Caye Caulker airstrip has deteriorated greatly
throughout the years and since 1991, has only seen patchwork repairs to
this frequently-used runway. In a phone interview with
The San Pedro Sun, John Grief III stated
that the airstrip is in a desperate need of repair and confirmed that
Tropic Air would no longer fly to Caye Caulker until the runway has been
repaired.
Speaking with Caye Caulker Village Council Chairman
Alberto Villanueva, he stated that he had not received any previous
notice that the airstrip was closing. The Chairman mentioned that during
the months of June through August, Caye Caulker has a great amount of
tourists who visit. However, the major concern of both the Caye Caulker
Village Council and the CC Hotel Association, is whether the airstrip
will be finished in time for the upcoming high season that begins in
November. Mr. Villanueva stated, "Cadet Henderson (engineer for the
Ministry of Works) mentioned that bids would be tendered in July, which
raises a concern - will there be enough time for the runway to be
completed in four months?" In the meantime, the Caye Caulker website now
informs visitors
to travel via boat to the picturesque
island.
The GOB press release stated that, "The
Government of Belize is responsible for ensuring that aviation activities
are conducted in such a manner that the public's and the industry's
interests are protected. As such, the provision of safety is a crucial
responsibility. The runway has become unsafe because of severe settlement
in two locations," and has reached a stage where "URGENT repairs are now
necessary."
Today, Thursday, June
3 rd, 2004, a meeting
will be held at the Caye Caulker Community Center at 10:30 a.m. to
discuss any concerns the villagers may have regarding the closing of the
island's airstrip.
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