Mayor Warns Closing John Greif II Could Hurt Business

San Pedro is not opposed to getting another airport. But the Town Council says building a new one in northern Ambergris Caye should not mean shutting down the existing John Greif II Municipal Airport. Mayor Wally Nunez says many businesses in the town have built their operations around the current airport, and closing it could deal a serious financial blow to establishments that depend on the steady flow of passengers and visitors. His position is clear: the island can make room for a new airport without putting existing businesses at risk. The question now is whether both airports can operate as part of Ambergris Caye’s long-term development plans, rather than forcing the island to choose between new infrastructure and an established economic lifeline.

 

Wally Nunez, Mayor, San Pedro Town

“We know that at the moment everybody was kind of taking out of context and saying that oh they are already selling the runway here in Town and that is not the case. We are not opposing the construction of a new runway up north. We know that the area is getting populated up north. We know that development is coming and eventually there will be need for an airport of north.”

 

Paul Lopez

“So what considerations are behind the council’s position? Is it the community, the businesses?”

 

Wally Nunez

“Well definitely we have to look at the business part. The tourist area here on the island. we cant just relocate everything to the north. We are gong to kill the town center. We also have to look at the different business that benefit from the airport being in town.”

 

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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