Before government spends six hundred million dollars on a new airport, tourism stakeholders on Ambergris Caye say it should fix the problems already holding the island back. At a meeting hosted by the Belize Tourism Industry Association earlier this week, members called for urgent investment in roads, public services and other basic infrastructure before talks advance on an airport north of the island. José Arceo, Co-Chair of the Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development, attended that meeting and says the island’s needs are growing by the day.
Jose Arceo
José Arceo, Co-Chair, Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Dev.
“First of all is the lack, yet again, of any kind of public consultation with the people. You can do, like they did the last time with the people was a presentation, but there was no public consultation with the residents of this community. We are totally against the building of this airport because there is so much that is lacking on our community at this time and has been lacking for many years. That is the school time, we are right near one as we speak. Every year they have to refuse children, there is no more space. We need a new school or couple new schools. This is one of the fastest growing communities in the country, high schools roads, reliable electricity. Water, as we speak some areas don’t have any water. If you go further up north where some of those developments is no water, and sewage, proper roads and drains. The list is long, our hospital. They say it is coming for years. It is still there, halfway finished. Who is going to be trained. Who is going to run it. There is so much need for the island. Make sure the island is clean. And of course the other problem we have is a sargassum problem. There are many more pressing needs on this community that needs attention, ASAP, right now.”
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