Who Will Clean Up Ambergris Caye Before Tourists Arrive?

Ambergris Caye is looking toward a bigger future, but residents say the island needs to get the basics right first. Garbage is piling up along roads and at illegal dumpsites, raising concerns just as the tourism high season approaches. Community advocates want regular garbage collection, cleaner surroundings and a clear plan from local authorities. But the mayor says the council is working to address the problem. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Before Ambergris Caye takes on bigger development projects, residents say there’s one problem that needs immediate attention: garbage. Along roads leading to the popular Secret Beach area, litter and illegal dumpsites are raising concerns about the island’s appearance, its environment and its readiness for the busy tourism season. The Ambergris Northern Alliance says enough is enough. During a tour of northern Ambergris Caye, its president, Catherine Paz, pointed to what she describes as a growing failure to address basic services.

 

Catherine Paz, President, Ambergris Northern Alliance

“The high season is almost here and this season we are not ready. Our road needs work, our island needs to be cleaned up. So today our message is simple, start with the basic, basic service, basic infrastructure and start with the people who live here.”

 

The alliance says residents are still waiting for a clear garbage collection schedule, the removal of illegal dumpsites and regular litter pickup across the north.

 

Catherine Paz

“We are still waiting for a plan and date with dates for regular trash collection, removal of dumpsites, regular litter pickup in the north and timely enforcement of our own laws. We all want to see visible change.”

 

But Mayor Gualberto Nunez says the San Pedro Town Council has been helping with cleanup efforts. He also points out that the council recently expanded its municipal boundaries, taking on responsibility for a much larger portion of the island. And he questions whether the criticism is politically motivated.

 

Wally Nunez, Mayor, San Pedro Town

“Recently we expanded the municipal boundaries and we have been doing a lot of work with cleaning up and helping to assist the different clean up campaigns along the island. I feel a little bit as if they are twisting it around to be political as well, because of the timing.”

 

Paz rejects the suggestion that politics is driving the alliance’s concerns. She says people from different political circles have joined community cleanups, but the issue remains the same: keeping their island clean.

 

Catherine Paz

“Of course, Elito has been with us, cleaning with us for the past two years. That has nothing to do with it. He is a citizen and there is another person in the house that sits on another team. She is also a candidate. She has been there since 2024. They are a part of our community and they understand what our purpose is.”

 

And this is not a new problem. Melanie Paz, president of the BTIA San Pedro chapter, says years of cleanup campaigns have failed to stop the recurring dumping.

 

Melanie Paz, President, BTIA San Pedro Chapter

“Waste management has always been a tremendous problem on the island. Not only for Ambergris Caye but also for the town core of the island. BTIA has in the past initiated clean up campaigns to do all the hard work and the dumping situations goes right back to the same thing.”

 

Mayor Nunez says the council has invested in garbage compactors, including one provided by the Belize Tourism Board. But with the expanded municipal boundaries, he says the council needs more equipment and public cooperation to extend its services.

 

Wally Nunez

“We are the also council that has actually purchased compactors. We have one of them that we have been given to us by BTB. And we still need more compactors. But recently in April we extended our municipal boundaries. Previously we only had portion of San Pedro. Now we have almost the entire island and now we have to expand services…”

 

For now, both sides agree that waste management remains a serious challenge. But residents say before Ambergris Caye moves ahead with ambitious development plans, it must first tackle the garbage already piling up across the island. Paul Lopez for News Five.

 

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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