Who Pays the Price for Ambergris Caye’s Airport Expansion?

The fight over Ambergris Caye’s future is gaining another political voice. Government’s multimillion-dollar development plan proposes building a new airport in northern Ambergris Caye and eventually closing the John Greif II Airport in San Pedro Town. But business owners, tourism stakeholders and Mayor Wally Nunez have raised concerns about the potential impact. Today, the UDP caretaker for Belize Rural South joined the debate and explained why he believes the proposal demands greater scrutiny.

 

Gabriel Zetina, UDP Caretaker, Belize Rural South

“First we have to say that the messaging that is coming from the local authority, more so, the area representative is different from what the government position has taken. For example, when we went into the BTIA meeting which was to talk about the proposed airport and shutting down the current airport, he had mentioned that was not the case that the current airport will not be closed. But like you heard, and everyone heard from the prime minister, who has the authority to speak on this matter, because as you recall, Andre Perez is no longer the minister responsible for civil aviation, because of his personal doings, because of his own doings two years ago. So, when the PM talks he has the authority, because he is currently the minister responsible for Civil Aviation. He then tried to take a position on or tried to distance himself from that position that the Central Government has taken. And I am glad that Mr. Max Grief was there present as well and he was able to clarify the discussion he had wit the CEO for the minister of Civil Aviation. And in that meeting he was told that the current airport that we have would be shut down com 2030.”

 

San Pedro Town Mayor Wally Nunez has clarified that even if the airport is relocated, it will not take place within the next twenty years.

 

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.

 

Watch the full newscast here: