Could Ambergris Caye support two airports? As controversy grows over plans for a new facility in the north, some are asking whether the island must close the John Greif II Airport at all. We put that question to Minister Andre Perez and several island stakeholders.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“I go back to what I tell you, it is phased approach. It cannot be that we are going to aim for an airport and leave this one, close it. This is the most important thing here, opening up another airport is catering for north Ambergris. The smallest part of the Ambergris Island itself is only from the bridge down south. We are talking about two thirds of the island is from the bridge to the north. That is developing already. As such, that airport coming up north is justified. But certainly we cannot look at closing it. It could be that these two can work together, because we have to cater to the tourism that is in the southern part of this island as well. How do you move passengers that lands on the north side to bring them to a resort that is down south of San Pedro Town. So we have to take that into consideration. It could very well be that this is going to be both airports complementing one another.”
Could San Pedro Residents Force an Airport Referendum?
San Pedro’s airport debate is no longer just about where planes will land. It is now about who gets to make that decision. The Town Council wants the existing airport to remain open while appearing to support the proposed northern facility. But will residents have a say? Today, News Five found out who holds the power and whether a referendum is possible.
Jose Arceo
Jose Arceo, Co-Chair, Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Dev.
“They are having a press conference tomorrow morning, and I think different organizations will be leading that initiative where we will be asking for a referendum on how the development of this island progresses, because definitely it should have the input of the people of the island who live here, who work here, who would choose to make San Pedro their home. We should have a says, we will have a say on how our community develops.”
Paul Lopez
“How open would you be to a referendum on this matter?”
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“Why, do you know what is the cost of a referendum? Who is going to pay for it? So, why go that way?”
Paul Lopez
“So that you can get this singular voice from your community on this issue.”
Andre Perez
“When you speak to a referendum, who know what precedence, everything is going to be a referendum?”
Paul Lopez
“There was a referendum on the marijuana issue in Caye Caulker.”
Andre Perez
“Yes, and it failed miserably. Who paid for that? The tax payers paid for that. We paid for that, you and I. So set a precedence. Do we need everything for a referendum? Giving out lands and taking back lands and say oh this is jungle, do we need everything for a referendum to give out a thousand lands? You want to build some schools, do you need a referendum for that?”
Paul Lopez
“In this case, I think it may be specific to the construction of a multimillion dollar airport.”
Andre Perez
“My question is what is what is the gain, consultation is fine. Do we need go to a referendum?”
Paul Lopez
“Only if consultation simply means presentation.”
Andre Perez
“Consultation and presentation for me is the same thing. We bring it to our people and let us hear you and then we go back to the drawing board.”
Paul Lopez
“So no to a referendum for you?”
Andre Perez
“I don’t see the logic in it.”
We will have more for you on this growing controversy in Thursday night’s newscast
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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