A group of tourists in the Gladden Spit Reserve had an unforgettable experience. Over the weekend, the Sea Horse Dive Shop in Placencia took them to the reserve, where they came face-to-face with a whale shark, the largest fish in the world. Whale shark sightings are common in the reserve this time of year, as they are drawn by the seasonal spawning of snappers and groupers. Only licensed tour guides can enter the whale shark zone, and getting too close to the animal is prohibited. We spoke with Elizabeth Muschamp, Executive Director at the Southern Environmental Association, about the organization’s work in the Gladden Spit Reserve.
On the Phone: Elizabeth Muschamp, Executive Director, SEA
“I am aware but I am not surprised. Gladden Spit is a marine reserve that has three different zones and one of those zones is the conservation zone or what we know as our spawning aggregation site. This is one of the reason why Gladden Spit was designated as a marine reserve, for the protection of the spawning aggregation site because it is one of the site that has a significant multi-species fish spawning, snappers and groupers, different species that spawn in the area. So we monitor from June every year, but locally it is know that from March to June, the snappers are spawning more that groupers and that time the whale sharks will come. So they are seasonal and known to be sighted between March and June, sometimes all the way up to July. SO they are known to drawn to spawning event. The tour operators are aware that they are not suppose to come in contact with the shark. If you listen to one of the videos I saw you can clearly hear the tour operator saying to not touch. So they are aware, which is why it is very important that only operators who are licensed can operate in the zone because they know and understand what we are trying to protect. So, they will abide by the rules.”
In the heart of Belize, a remarkable initiative is taking root—the Mangrove Friendly Development Challenge. This inspiring competition is not just about winning awards; it’s about celebrating local heroes who are championing the conservation of mangroves. These vital ecosystems are nature’s unsung protectors, shielding our coastlines, nurturing diverse marine life, and playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change. As Belize faces the pressing need to preserve its natural treasures, the Mangrove Friendly Development Challenge shines a spotlight on innovative projects that blend development with sustainability, ensuring a resilient future for our coastal communities. On Thursday night, here in Belize City, an award ceremony was held to recognize the winners of the annual challenge. Here’s Isani Cayetano with that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Belize’s mangrove forests are incredibly important for the country’s diverse wildlife and the health of the Belize Barrier Reef. These trees act like natural shields against storm surges, waves, and coastal erosion, with thick roots helping to keep shorelines stable and prevent land loss during extreme weather. Mangroves are also home to many marine and land species, serving as nurseries for young fish, crabs, and mollusks, giving them a safe place to grow. Unfortunately, there’s been a troubling decline in mangrove covers in key coastal areas.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“The first global mangrove assessment shows that more than fifty percent of mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse. In the absence of additional conservation efforts, by 2050, seven thousand, sixty-five square kilometers or five percent more mangroves will be lost and twenty-three thousand, six hundred and seventy-two square kilometers, or sixteen percent more will be submerged.”
To tackle this issue, the WWF teamed up with leading environmental and government agencies to launch a national competition. This contest is all about celebrating and rewarding individuals and groups who are pioneering mangrove-friendly projects on private lands.
Nadia Bood
Nadia Bood, Country Representative, WWF
“The reason we did this is because we realized that mangroves are under a lot of stress. We are seeing increasing loss of mangroves from development, you know, many people are driven to develop along the coast. We have hotels, resorts, expansion of communities, of municipalities, and so we said that we need to find a way that we can engage the public, we can try to engage the development sector, the government, the planners, in an initiative that can bring people together to effect change.”
Healthy mangrove ecosystems draw tourists and promote sustainable fishing. Keeping these ecosystems intact is crucial for the well-being and longevity of coastal communities. Mangroves are nature’s all-stars, offering protection, supporting diverse wildlife. Mangroves are amazing at soaking up and storing carbon dioxide, playing a big role in fighting climate change. They can capture up to four times more carbon per square meter than rainforests.
Beverly Wade
Beverly Wade, C.E.O., Blue Economy & Marine Conservation
“We have challenges that we have no control over, like climate change, as mentioned earlier, but we have challenges that are man-made challenges. We have development challenges which we are challenged to find that balance and for us to not see mangrove areas as an area that we need to mow down full and look pretty, but that it can be aesthetically pleasing and at the same time allowed to maintain its functionality which has so many other co-benefits.”
The Belize Tourism Board launched the Tourism Gold Standard Recognition Program to tackle the health and safety challenges brought by Covid-19. This program introduced better guidelines and protocols for hotels and restaurants, ensuring guest experiences remain top-notch. It has significantly raised the bar for hotel operations across Belize. El Ben has not only met these high standards but surpassed them, and on Thursday night, they proudly took home the prestigious award from the Mangrove Friendly Development Challenge 2024.
Saira Mahabir
Saira Mahabir, Manager, El Ben Cabanas
“I was really shocked and really, really happy, humbled that we were recognized. From the beginning when they were doing the development, the owner, Mr. McWaters, Brian McWaters, he saved a lot of the mangroves and used it to beautify the property, and he saved all the mangroves in the front of the sea so he can actually use it as a shield to the property. If you look at the seaside, you will see all the mangroves, you wouldn’t see the resort at all.”
The Mangrove Friendly Development Challenge tells an inspiring story of local efforts to boost environmental sustainability and resilience in Belize. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
Your electricity bill might go up as early as July if the Public Utilities Commission approves Belize Electricity Limited‘s request for a rate hike. B.E.L. submitted their proposal on April fourth, covering the period from January 1st, 2026, to June 30th, 2028. The P.U.C. will spend thirty days reviewing the ninety-one-page document before announcing their initial decision. After that, B.E.L. customers will have ten days to share their opinions. News Five’s Marion Ali has the scoop on what B.E.L. is asking for.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Belize Electricity Limited is asking for a rate increase from forty cents to at least forty-three cents per kilowatt-hour. This three-cent hike would start on January first, 2026, and last until June thirtieth, 2028, when the next tariff review is due. B.E.L. argues that the proposed rate hike is essential to offset the rising costs of energy imports and the inflationary pressures on their operating and maintenance expenses. Additionally, the utility company highlights the need for investments to upgrade and modernize the grid, connect new renewable energy sources, and install other supportive equipment. B.E.L. believes that this increase will provide stability over the requested period.
B.E.L. is aiming for a revenue requirement of three hundred million dollars for 2024-2025, which is actually forty-three million less than the previous period. They predict that the cost of power will go up by an average of three-point-three-five percent each year due to increasing generation needs, which are expected to rise by over five percent annually. As a result, the cost of power is projected to exceed two hundred and twenty-two million dollars this year and climb to over two hundred and fifty-one million by 2029.
In its submission, B.E.L. mentioned that from 2020 to 2024, it invested an average of thirty-three million dollars each year to expand its distribution system. This allowed them to connect two thousand new customers annually and improve grid accessibility across the country. By 2024, B.E.L. had over one hundred and thirteen thousand customers, marking a twenty-five percent increase since 2016. Consequently, electricity sales surged by thirty-point-four percent during that period.
On top of these increases, B.E.L.’s operational expenses are expected to rise by nearly five percent each year over the planned period. They report that forty-six percent of this year’s budget is dedicated to payroll alone. Their operating costs have consistently exceeded regulatory limits over the past period, reflecting the growing financial demands of maintaining a modern grid. From 2020 to 2024, B.E.L.’s actual operational expenses surpassed the P.U.C.-approved thresholds by two to four million dollars annually.
B.E.L. reports that since 2020, its net fixed assets have grown by twenty-eight percent, thanks to ongoing investments in infrastructure, system upgrades, and service improvements. Looking ahead, the company expects this figure to jump by another fifty percent by the end of 2028. This snapshot is just a glimpse of what the P.U.C. will be reviewing in the coming weeks before making its initial decision on B.E.L.’s application. After that, B.E.L. customers will have ten days to share their opinions. News Five will keep you updated when the decision is made. Marion Ali for News Five.
Several concerned groups in San Pedro are rallying against the Cayo Rosario project and have devised a plan to halt its progress. At a public meeting on Tuesday night, the groups, united under the San Pedro Citizens for Sustainable Development, announced their intention to lawyer up and prevent Cayo Rosario from disrupting the seabed around the island. While the six-acre island is private property, the surrounding sea is part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The citizens are firm that, regardless of any approval the developer has from the Department of Environment, they do not want the project to impact on the sea. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali with more on what the islanders had to say about Cayo Rosario.
Concerned Citizen #1
“Our home is your home but we have rules if you come here. You cannot destroy it.”
Concerned Citizen #2
“No structure over the water. They started at a hundred and ten approved, they went down to forty, my brother, they’re not going to get even one.”
Concerned Citizen #3
“Don’t destroy the islands; don’t destroy for development. Build your development around what exists.”
Wally Nunez
Wally Nunez, Mayor, San Pedro
“This is not about colours and this is not about pointing fingers to who approved or who didn’t approve. We need to fight so that in the future these things don’t happen but we need to fight so that this one doesn’t happen.”
Concerned Citizen #4
“We need to fight; we need to go to Belmopan and do a demonstration. Don’t be afraid.”
Concerned Citizen #5
“Yes, I’m emotional because I love that Belize is ours and I’m going to fight teeth, hands and feet to show that this is what we want.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
Tuesday night at the San Pedro Lion’s Den was heated, with tempers flaring and emotions running high. The crowd gathered to voice their strong objections to the Cayo Rosario development. According to a revised Environmental Compliance Plan signed by the Department of the Environment and the developer in 2020, the project can move forward if it meets the environmental requirements. Just last week, government agencies reviewed the project again and gave it the green light. Right now, Cayo Rosario has an unfinished cement structure standing over the sea, connected to the island by a pier. This is the model for the other thirty-nine structures they plan to build, which means driving hundreds of piles into the seabed to support the buildings and piers. San Pedro Mayor Wally Nunez, who is also a licensed tour operator, attended the meeting. He understands the residents’ concerns and says he’s standing with them in this cause.
Wally Nunez, Mayor, San Pedro
“Even though Cayo Rosario doesn’t fall under the Town Council’s jurisdiction, and we have expanded our municipal boundaries, and it still doesn’t include Cayo Rosario, even though it’s that part of our jurisdiction, it directly affects our people. It’s the livelihood of our fishermen, of our tour guides that visit these islands, and so we have to be concerned. So, I came here today not only as a mayor, but also as a tour guide; also as a resident to listen out and to be informed more than anything else about what is the situation with Cayo Rosario. I’m here to stand with my people and we will fight the fight if that’s the case.”
We tried to get a comment from Belize Rural South Area Representative and Blue Economy Minister, Andre Perez, but had no luck. So, we asked Mayor Nunez about their discussions on the topic to find out where the minister stands.
Wally Nunez
“I have reached out to him and I know that himself as well as Hol Chan were trying to fight this not to happen. However, there are permits already issued and if that is the case, then there are some legalities when it comes to these things. So, we’re just looking at different options and partnering with the San Pedro Citizens for Sustainable Development.”
Oceana, represented by Alyssa Noble, as well as the World Wildlife Fund, represented by Nadia Bood, were on hand to lend their support to the fight against the project.
Nadia Bood
Nadia Bood, Senior Program Officer, W.W.F.
“Only through your voices can there be changes. When communities are effectively engaged, change will happen. So I commend you guys and we will be there to support you along the way.”
Alyssa Noble
Alyssa Noble, Communications Director, Oceana
“There are Belizeans everywhere who are fighting this fight, and we’re going to continue fighting this fight, if we don’t take a stand now. So we’re here to show support, we’re here to support; we’re here to lend experience, expertise, because this is not new.”
The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, established in 1987, aims to protect marine areas where endangered species thrive. Interestingly, no one from Hol Chan attended the meeting, but former Director Miguel Alamilla, a trained marine biologist, is fully backing the groups opposing the project. He mentioned that during his time leading the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, he fought hard to keep the sea around Cayo Rosario untouched.
Miguel Alamilla
Miguel Alamilla, Marine Biologist
“The whole idea was to keep it pristine, natural for the fishermen to maintain their livelihoods for maybe perpetuity. Bonefish feed on those sandy flats and those researchers – that’s why I question the validity of that research because if you go there, you see white sand, but within that sand there’s a lot of organisms and crustaceans living within that eco-system and that’s where the bonefish go and feed.”
When the developers of Cayo Rosario purchased the six-acre island in 2008, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve did not include the sea around the island. The reserve was expanded in 2015 and that was when the sea around the island became a part of the reserve. Despite everything, the groups firmly believe that private property doesn’t extend to the surrounding sea and that no development should interfere with it. The public meeting was led by the San Pedro Citizens for Sustainable Development. The organization has over a dozen group members comprising tour operators, environmentalists and concerned residents. The San Pedro Tour Operators Association, chaired by Roberto Canul, is one of its members.
Roberto Canul
Roberto Canul, Chairman, San Pedro Tour Operators Association
“If they destroy those flats, you will never see the marine life, the fishes, the bonefish, the tarpon, the permits that visit those areas. You will never see that again. We just saw a video the other day of people being chased from the area because of the development that is happening there, and we don’t stand for those type of things.”
The Environmental Compliance Plan states in Point One that clearance is given to Cayo Rosario Development Limited for the construction of, among other things, overwater bungalows, an arrival dock, an outdoor pool, an island villa, island cottages, a beach club and an education center. Dr. Abdiel Perez, another marine biologist, explained that the activities in the sea have already had a negative impact on the seabed.
Abdiel Perez
Dr. Abdiel Perez, Marine Biologist
“Just that area in the south, where they are already putting a lot of the materialhosted at least eight hundred to a thousand bonefish easily at any time. Because of all of the development, there’s nothing there now. All the dredging, all the noise, all the material that they’re dumping is changing the entire bottom.”
The concerned groups are planning to hire a legal expert to help them navigate the situation. They’re also setting up a GoFundMe account to cover their expenses. In the coming weeks, they plan to create videos showing the damage that’s already occurred and seek international support to halt the project’s progress. Marion Ali for News Five.
The concerned groups had also rejected the Blackadore Development Project several years ago, which had a similar plan to build overwater structures. That project did not materialize as a result. News Five has tried to get a comment from the representatives of the Cayo Rosario project, but our efforts have been futile.
This week, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) held a virtual hearing with the Government of Belize and the Maya Leaders Alliance to check in on the progress of the Maya Land Rights Consent Order. This order, agreed upon in 2015, aims to recognize the land rights of the indigenous Maya people. Lead government attorney Andrew Marshalleck provided an update on how things have been moving forward since the last hearing in late January.
Andrew Marshalleck, Lead Government Attorney
“The National Assembly was dissolved on the eleventh February, just days after the draft was presented to the Cabinet subcommittee. The result is that they have not looked at it and have not reverted. The general elections were held on on March twelfth, and on March seventeeth, a new minister responsible for Indigenous Peoples Affairs was appointed. I managed to meet with him on Friday and briefed him as to where we are. He brings a new perspective and new energy to the effort. But he reminded me, and he’s right, that having been previously a minister of state that he was not in cabinet when all the briefings surrounding this issue were presented to that body. So we’ve had to start process of bringing him up to speed on everything. And we hope to accomplish that this week. The ministry is still without a Chief Executive Officer, but we expect one to be appointed. Shortly, our points of contact haven’t yet been completely established. The previous chief executive officer has been accommodating on a request to put us in touch with the new minister, but that is transitional. The three deliverables remain deliverables is the long and short of that. We will have to try to get those papers before what I expect will possibly be a new cabinet subcommittee as soon as we’re able to. And the next step is, remains, the next steps remain the same, but the elections have intervened and have caused delays.”
On the Open Your Eyes Morning Show on Tuesday, Devin Daly, the new Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, emphasized the need for more efficiency within the ministry. He dropped some big news about the current budget and hinted at changes to the staff structure. His comments have sparked quite a buzz among youth advocates, sports fans, and the Public Service Union. Everyone seems to agree that the Department of Youth Services and the National Sports Council need a major revamp. But the P.S.U. insists that any changes must be carefully planned to avoid hurting real people. Meanwhile, youth advocates are pushing for more inclusion and a stronger commitment to investing in sports and developing athletes. News Five’s Paul Lopez dives into the details.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Tuesday morning, Devin Daly, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, stirred up quite a bit of controversy. He revealed that the Ministry of Youth and Sports has to split a budget of seven and a half million dollars.
Devin Daly
Devin Daly, Minister of State, Ministry of Youth and Sports (File: April 8th, 2025)
“The reality is we have accessible to us, about seven and a half million between youth and sports. However, seven out of that seven and a half million is on salaries. We are using five hundred thousand between youth and sports to really bring program work.”
But this isn’t breaking news. What Minister Daly mentioned is actually outlined in the Government of Belize’s approved 2024/2025 budget. A whopping ninety-five percent of the just over eight million dollars is allocated to recurrent expenses like salaries, travel, subsistence, materials, supplies, and operational costs. That leaves only about five percent, or five hundred thousand dollars, for rehabilitation programs, skills training, and maintaining sports facilities.
Devin Daly
“I don’t really believe that any taxpayer would be satisfied with getting that amount for sports and youth work within this country.”
Daly’s comments come just four weeks after he stepped into his new role as the junior minister in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, alongside Minister Anthony Mahler. With his background in professional sports and youth development, Daly is seen as a great fit for the job. Now, the challenge is to figure out how to run these important portfolios more efficiently and effectively. According to Ishmael Nicholson, the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador to Belize, youth participation in all areas of governance has nearly disappeared.
Ishmael Nicholson
Ishmael Nicholson, Commonwealth Youth Ambassador to Belize
“In economics we learn that at a certain point where you have so much employees that the efficiency will continue to decrease. So, in economics we learn that more employees, less efficiency. So if the ministry believes that we have to cut to create more efficiency, and of course if we do it in a practical and proper way through its evaluation and assessments then I believe the youths will back it up, one hundred percent.”
A closer look at the five hundred thousand dollars earmarked for youth and sports investments reveals that no funds were allocated for youth development services in 2024, nor for youth programs and initiatives. The Youth for the Future Participation in Governance line item also got zero dollars. But what can you really expect from a budget that’s stretched so thin?
Ishmael Nicholson
“The most important thing that is missing for the ministry, beside the budget, is the national youth policy, which is the foundation for which the department will create the strategy for it to create more opportunities for growth for young people. So without that the department does not have a proper strategy to engage young people properly because that strategy is absent and youths are not involved within the department effectively and meaningfully we create youths becoming at risk in which we are suppose to prevent youths from becoming at risk youths.”
The sports budget paints a similar picture. Not a single dollar was set aside for youth programs and initiatives. Instead, more money was allocated for buying furniture and equipment—forty-six thousand dollars—than for maintaining sports facilities, which only got forty thousand dollars. This has resulted in poorly maintained facilities across the country and a serious lack of investment in athlete development.
Devin Daly
“As a government, our job is too fold, making sure that facilities is upkept and kept to a certain standard and work with the federation to ensure that the competition and development side of youth sports and senior sports is caried out. One of the things that is dear to me is to make sure we keep these facilities to a certain standard and we have to apply pressure and ensure the federation are carrying out tournaments in the facilities we provide.”
But with the way the current budget for youth and sports is set up, there’s no financial wiggle room to boost youth involvement in governance through the DYS or to improve the maintenance of sports facilities. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
So, the 2024-2025 budget has highlighted some serious financial gaps in the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The big question now is, how are they planning to fix this in the new term? One idea on the table is to bump up the budget. But will that really plug the leaks? Another, more likely, proposal is to cut down the number of employees in the Department of Youth Services and the National Sports Council. The Public Service Union is clear about this: if job cuts are going to happen, there needs to be thorough consultations and a real understanding of how it will affect those who lose their jobs. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the details.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Department of Youth Services and the National Sports Council have been working with an eight-million-dollar budget, but ninety-five percent of that goes to recurring expenses like salaries. This leaves just five percent for youth and sports development, which Minister of State Devin Daly and youth advocates say is far from enough. One proposed solution is to increase the budget allocation for the new fiscal year to better support these crucial programs.
Devin Daly
Devin Daly, Minister of State, Ministry of Youth and Sports (File: April 8th, 2025)
“Before we look at an increase in budget, we have to look at the reality of what we can do with this money and the only thing that I can say at this time is more monies need to go into facilities development and also sports and youth development , and I know that is something that both directors believe and agree with. So, if the ministers and both directors agree then the necessary changes need to be made.”
According to the Public Service Union, these changes will likely result in a thirty percent staff cut between the two entities. PSU President Dean Flowers acknowledges the reasoning behind this move but emphasizes the need for transparency throughout the process.
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U.
“What prompted our response was led first and foremost by the concerns brought to our attention by affected staff members who called into a meeting and informed that some of them will be without a job in the coming days. We do have members particularly in the Department of Youth Services. We do recognize the rationale. I think that it is no secret that across the public service there is great inefficiencies, inefficiencies created by the very politicians that we elect each and every election cycle. So if it is there will be an attempt to fix those, it has to be done comprehensively. It has to be done recognizing we are dealing with people.”
The union argues that letting go of a hundred employees without first tackling the long-standing inefficiencies, alleged corruption, and potential ‘ghost workers’ would be detrimental.
Dean Flowers
“The term ghost workers would have become famous, maybe eight years ago when we recognized that where the government payroll is concerned, a lot of people are on the payroll who have not worked a day within the public service. There are files in the public service that simply have an employment letter in there. These are files opened years ago, people who are on the payroll. It has an employment letter. That approval has been given for John X. He does not take vacation leave, does not take sick leave. There is absolutely nothing else in John X files other than approval that was given by the ministry of finance for him to be employed in an open vote capacity.”
According to Daly, the ministry’s approach is not simply about taking jobs away from people, but rather to create greater efficiency within the Department of Youth Services and the National Sports Council. Daly points out that many of these employees have been around since before the current administration took office.
Devin Daly
“We are about continuity and about finding the most effective unit and team to carry out the new mandate. When we look at the staff, a majority of these staff predates this administration. We have staff that is there for twenty something years, fifteen something years, and that is the majority at both of the organizations. So politics aside, which it is never aside, it is a problem that the precious administration never addressed.”
Dean Flowers
“You cannot have efficiency if you have a work force that is not contended or working under fear. So they must be a consultation. There must be inclusion in the decision making process so that you have buy in. But also there must be the safeguarding of people’s livelihood to the greatest extent that we possibly can preserve that. That is the angle we are coming from. We are not here to stop the necessary overhaul that is needed within these two department, or the wider public service on a whole but we believe the approach being taken is not inline with best human resource practices.”
The San Pedro Town Council is making some big environmental waves by establishing sister-city relations with Clearwater City in Florida. Mayor Wally Nunez just returned from a visit to Clearwater and shared with News Five that they’re looking to partner with their U.S. sister city for help with turtle nesting, conservation practices, and even cultural tourism exchanges.
Wally Nunez
Wally Nunez, Mayor, San Pedro
“They are big with conservation. They have a marine aquarium that – I look at it more like a rehabilitation center than an aquarium because when you talk about aquarium, everybody thinks that they’re just gonna go and look at the animals and they’re in captivity. But these animals that they have there are in rehabilitation or they have been taken there because they cannot be released in the wild. So, they’re big with dolphin conservation. They have turtles. They have already started with manatees. They have partnered in Gales Point here whereby they have a place that they are assisting with the manatee conservation. We are looking at different ways that they can assist us here in San Pedro, maybe later on open a rehabilitation center here for turtles because we have certain issues with turtles here. Who knows, probably later on a movie which would showcase our beautiful island and of course the culture of Belize. And these are things that we are looking at as partnerships with different or other municipalities, other towns and countries that we can benefit and they can benefit from an exchange like this. I met with the mayor of Clearwater. I had the privilege of meeting him in his office. We had a very good conversation and he is very excited about it. He actually made a post about it on his Facebook page. So it looks very promising and the marine aquarium is fully on board with us. This trip wasn’t only about the marine conservation and the aquarium and the sister city relationship, but also, we took the opportunity to go to the eastern part of Florida to see where they’re doing beach restoration, more on a nature-based solutions. We are looking at the different ways that they have been working on the beach, how they have been creating their dunes, how it protects them from different elements with respect to the storms, beach erosions, how they’re tackling all of that because we need to work on our beach solution as well.”
Traffic on La Isla Bonita has been a real headache over the past couple of years, mainly because of two big issues: the island has been flooded with imported golf carts, and there’s been a surge in trucks dumping fill for development projects. The San Pedro Town Council has been working hard to tackle these problems by implementing strict measures. Mayor Wally Nunez told News Five that a comprehensive study on their traffic situation is essential. In the meantime, they’ve put limits on heavy-duty trucks and the importation of golf carts to San Pedro.
Wally Nunez
Wally Nunez, Mayor, San Pedro
“We have not been issuing any more permits for golf cart rentals. If you are aware, the council is not the one who directly gives the permits. There is a traffic control committee who does the permits and then it is passed on to the council. When it comes to these permits, we have asked the Ambergris Caye Traffic Control Committee, and of course, part of the council is part of that committee. We do not want anymore golf cart rentals. We’re not issuing trade license for new go cart rentals so that we can have more control of what is going on on the island. Until we do a proper study of the traffic flow and the amount of vehicles necessary and apart from that, we know that we have an issue with the trucks bringing down material to fill different areas. We do use these trucks as well as part of the council works in the different areas. However, we’re going to limit them on how they come into town. We’re going to be – I don’t want to use the word ban, but it’ll be restricted in the sense that they will no longer be allowed to come into town without a proper permit and escort. The trucks will have to barge their material from the north side to the south side of the island. If there is a need to bring any trucks for material for the council, we will try to do it as least as possible. We’ll try to get them to the barge as well, but if we need to bring them somewhere within the town area where they’re restricted, it would have to be at certain hours, probably at four in the morning or five in the morning where there’s less traffic. They’ll only allow one or two trucks to deliver per day.”
On Saturday, April fifth, Ambergris Hope Hospital celebrated a major milestone with the launch of a blood and blood products storage reserve on Ambergris Caye. The event was a big deal, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony, free blood typing for the first twenty guests, vitals checks, voluntary blood donor sign-ups, public education, and even a pharmacy sale. This marks a huge leap forward for the island’s ability to handle medical emergencies and planned surgeries. The hospital brought together the Island Donors Squad and medical students from Washington University of Health Sciences to celebrate this game-changing improvement in lifesaving capabilities. Having a local reserve of blood and blood products means faster access to critical care. In emergencies, every second counts, and being able to start transfusions without waiting for transport to the mainland can be lifesaving. This new reserve will also cut down on the need for expensive late-night emergency flights. Beyond accident-related emergencies, Ambergris Hope frequently uses blood for cesarean deliveries, childbirth, laparotomies, and appendectomies. This new reserve is set to make a big difference in all these areas.
