What’s The Full Story Behind John Greif II Airport’s Future?

Is the government telling the full story about the future of the John Greif II Airport? That question reached the National Assembly on Thursday, when Mesopotamia Area Representative Lee Mark Chang confronted Prime Minister John Briceño over plans for a new airport in northern Ambergris Caye. Chang says official documents contradict parts of the government’s narrative and suggest residents may have been left out of the decision. PM Briceno responded to Chang.

 

Lee Mark Chang, Area Representative, Mesopotamia

“Government tells us that this project is only the planning stages. But the 2025 IDB Procurement documentation as reported and discussed publicly contemplates construction beginning in 2027 and completion in 2029. It considers replacing the existing airport, potentially developing the down town airport property and involving private investors. Those are not small numbers. We are talking about a project that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, valuable public land and the future of one of Belize’s most important tourism destination. Before government decides where this airport should go, it must first prove why the existing airport must close. The prime minister might ask why San Pedro Town Council is taking a position when no final decision has been made. My answer is simple, if the San Pedro Town Council cannot speak during planning stages when exactly should it speak. After the contracts are signed? After the millions are spent? After airlines purchase new aircraft or after the existing airport is closed? The mayor has indicated the council is not opposed to an additional airport in Northern Ambergris Caye. Its concern is the proposed closure of the downtown airport. That is an important distinction. Planning is precisely when government should consult residence.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I have to apologize to the House, because I stopped listening a long time ago, because this gentleman the jump the gun. No decision has been made. As a responsible government we have to look to the future. Look at what happened with electricity, because the previous government did not have the foresight of planning for the future and making sure we have energy when we needed. We have blackouts, high cost of electricity.”

 

 

 

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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