New Roadway Opens Far North, But Who Really Benefits?

And while controversy is brewing over the development of northern Ambergris Caye, that side of the island is already seeing the construction of a major roadway. The new road allows residents to travel further north without having to commute along the beach as was previously the case. It also makes access to private lands in far north Ambergris Caye much easier. But tonight questions are mounting about who central government and the town council are partnering with to construct this major roadway.

 

Wally Nunez, Mayor, San Pedro Town

“This area, I know that both the previous administration and this administration have been issuing some land to the people of San Pedro and there has been no access tot hat land yet. This road that is being built north is not only to give access to them. This road has been planned because there is no access to the north, because there is no access to the north, a formal access, or an official access to further north of the island. if you go right now after you reach a certain point, you have to use the beach to be able to access all the way up north. We are building this road so that this will be the official road so that they don’t have to go through the beach and it will help, because on the beach area there are so many complaints of turtle nesting that we want to avoid.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Who is building the road?”

 

Wally Nunez

“The project for that road is for both government and the town council.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Is it perhaps to facilitate Mexico to Ambergris Caye in the future?”

 

Wally Nunez

“I don’t agree with having any connection to Mexico, especially through that reserve. And we would not want to open that gateway to Mexico in this way. We have access through the water. But that is on a personal standpoint that I do believe we don’t need that connection to Mexico.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Who has the mining permit to build the road.”

 

Wally Nunez

“To build the road?”

 

Paul Lopez

“To get material.”

 

Wally Nunez

“It is through government we are doing that.”

 

Paul Lopez

“So, you have excavated the material, source the material on your own?”

 

Wally Nunez

“Yes.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Not from somebody private?”

 

Wally Nunez

“No, oh you mean, we are using the quarry. One quarry is limited and the other that is assisting with the material.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Public quarry?”

 

Wally Nunez

“No, it is private.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Would you be open to saying who owns that quarry?”

 

Wally Nunez

“We can get the information to you afterwards.”

 

We are yet to receive that information. We will continue asking.

 

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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