Air Service Loss Could Ground Southern Belize’s Economy
Tropic Air’s planned exit from Punta Gorda could send shockwaves far beyond the runway. Toledo East Area Representative Dr. Osmond Martinez says businesses, healthcare providers and other essential services depend on reliable air access to southern Belize. Tourism operators are also sounding the alarm, especially with the busy holiday season approaching and Copal Tree Lodge preparing to welcome hundreds of guests in November and December. Martinez says negotiations with the airline continue, and early discussions point to a possible solution.
Osmond Martinez
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East
“Based on the reports I have received from Copal [Tree Lodge], they will have anywhere between three hundred to four hundred guests between November third to the thirty-first of December. Which means that we need to make sure that the guests that are going there, they will have their proper accommodations in terms of flying. And then in terms of my meeting with Tropic it was a very respectful meeting. I have a lot of respect for the CEO of Tropic. He gave me that opportunity to speak to him. But for him, he was saying it’s no longer financial viable. Therefore, it’s best for them just to pull out. We are still in some negotiations, and I would, in order of not to contaminate the perspective of the negotiations that we are at the present moment, I would prefer to give another interview on that topic tomorrow, maybe tomorrow afternoon. We should have an update. But I can tell you that everything is looking promising. One thing I learned from the Prime Minister that he taught me very well, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” And I think that’s one that we have adapted very well, and we are exploring some good opportunities. And so we won’t let this crisis go to waste.”
Losing Punta Gorda’s air link could delay critical water-service responses across Toledo, according to Dr. Osmond Martinez.
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