For a limited time only, a developer is offering a number of beachfront lots on North Caye Caulker for only US$ 40K EACH.
Beachfront lots anywhere on Caye Caulker begin at around US$75K.
This sale is unprecedented. If you are interested, please email islandgirl@btl.net.
Financing is available at a rate of 8% yearly for up to 5 years with a $5K down payment.
Photo by Fran Dwight
What will YOU be doing for Easter?
Schools all over Belize closed today for two much needed restful weeks of Easter Break.
Photo by Fran Dwight.
Dear Editor:
It is with some dismay that I read both your postings reference the Village Council Meeting held on March 26th, 2009 at the Community Center. No doubt, most of the information gathered for your posting was via hearsay and second hand information.
For the record, I was present throughout the entire meeting and do have to agree with some of your points presented about the meeting.
I do agree with you that we have had leadership issues in the past but it seem that every chairperson, no matter how good his intent, is criticized and downgraded. Councilor Enelda Rosado made an excellent point by stating that not until you are a member of Council do you know what the job entails. It is a tough and thankless job, as I was a member of council many years ago.
Many people at the meeting contributed positively to the atmosphere. There were many concerns with Safety, Security and Crime Prevention being one of the top issues discussed. Also, discussed was the opening of another Liquor License establishment that would become a place of “ill repute”. The Chairman of the Liquor License Committee stated that the opinions of those in attendance was noted as well as the petition circulated in the village to ensure that this establishment did not open
Another issue discussed was the closing of the beach and while most people in attendance were in agreement that the beach should be closed off one part time resident of Caye Caulker was worried about access to her property.
I do have to agree with you that the Chairman did become defensive but as in all previous public meetings there is a group of people, an even smaller group now, that acted with little manners and rapport. Interesting enough these people have offered themselves as candidates to the Village Council numerous times and have never made it past election day. Without prejudice, one gentleman in this group seemed to be intoxicated.
On another note, the issue of the school’s state of disrepair was discussed. It is of no doubt an urgent priority but we are forgetting one important issue here. Under the last Central Government administration both the school and the community center were “retrofitted” under an IDB loan to be considered a Hurricane Shelter. To date both these locations have failed their inspections miserably. The job at the Community Center was never completed and the job at the School, the contractor was asked to cut corners to save on monies. Should we blame our current Area Representative for this? Should we blame our current Chairman for this? This was done when neither individual was Chairman or Area Representative. The job of retrofitting according to the IDB contract was supposed to be structurally sound and last for at least 20 years. It did not even last 5 years. We need to ask who was the Chairman at this time and who was the Area Rep. at this time?
I do agree with you subject the lack of finance. Many people believe that the Minister is funneling everything to San Pedro. Interesting enough all the projects carried out in San Pedro recently has been via their Town Council financing these projects, even the Cobble Stones on their streets. The Town Council, their business community and their residents single handedly raised these funds without any government help. The main issue here is that if Caye Caulker is to grow it must become self sufficient and its residents must learn to contribute. Caye Caulker is expensive to run as an island and the more services expected the more it will cost taxpayers. The Village Council should look at other means of financing such as trade licensing, docking fees, etc. Township may be another alternative as it gives the Council greater powers.
You mentioned that the previous chairman asked the current chairman about Mr. Marin. Many people at the meeting mentioned they were not aware of Mr. Marin’s resignation. Chairman Humes did point out that they had approached the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Local Government about such resignation. They were told to carry on the duties of council with six seats. Never was it implied that any Minister was going to call an election. There is some ambiguity in the way this was presented in Editor’s report.
On a personal note, I note you mentioned the “we need new leadership who will finally start working for the people which have not been since Mr. Marin was Chairman.”. Please remember it was at his first resignation in November of 2003 that he left $0.59 cents in the bank and over $40K owing. He and his current wife also left the Council owning about xxx pieces of prime property on North Caye Caulker and Bahia Puesta del Sol. Most of this he has sold. This could have been xxx lots for people that have made Caye Caulker their home whom have been applying countless times to own a piece of Caye Caulker that they so desperately need. It was under him that the school and the community center was retrofitted and only a few years later do these now need to be retrofitted again. After his second resignation, how does this reflect on his leadership style? Please let us be careful how we speak about our elected leaders.
No doubt this posting will bring some more “constructive debate”. I urge the Editor to verify her facts and for her to put her dispositions aside.
Finally, elections in Caye Caulker will be held on the Fourth Sunday of March 2010. All those who feel they can contribute POSITIVELY should step up to the plate. Even if they are not elected perhaps they can still help the chairman and his council for Caye Caulker positive growth. Remember as a United Caye Caulker we stand as a divided Caye Caulker we fail. BIG UP CAYE CAULKER!!!!!!
Note: Just for the record, the opinion piece on the Village Council meeting was contributed by an independent resident of the island just like your response. It is not an editorial nor was it written or contributed by anyone associated with this blog. We, sadly, do not know how to write that eloquently 
April 1, 2009
Good Morning everyone:
Dr. Zobal-Ratner will hold eye clinics at the polyclinic in San Pedro April 14 and 15. She is a pediatric ophthalmologist and will be happy to see children and also adults. This is her second trip to San Pedro; last year she did a large screening at Holly Cross School. Her clinics are free of charge.
At the same time, two other ophthalmologists, Dr. Mabel Cheng and Dr. Erik Niemi, will be working at BCVI’s National Eye Clinic in Belize City. They will be examining patients, performing cataract and laser surgery. Please call the NEC for appointments.
The following Eye Mission trip will be Dr. Paul Beer, working at NEC in Belize City on June 1 & 2. Dr. Beer will focus primarily on patients with diabetic retinopathy for examinations and laser treatments.
Thank you for publicizing these events. The Eye mission scheduled trips can be seen on the Calendar page at www.EyeMission.com.
Paul Marius Beer, M
BTIA’s Outstanding Woman of the Year
Belize City, 31 March, 2009
The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), in conjunction with the Women’s Department, is pleased to recognize Ms. Maria Vega as our association’s outstanding woman of the year for 2009. Maria Vega received her award at the 4th Annual Outstanding Women’s Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, March 31 at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, in commemoration of International Women’s Day.
Women’s Month 2009 was celebrated under the theme “Creating opportunities for development through women’s economic empowerment”. Ms. Maria Vega was chosen to be recognized along with some 20 other Belizean women who have contributed to the society and community. The award was presented on behalf of BTIA by Nicole Solano, Executive Director.
Since 1985 as a BTIA volunteer, Maria Vega has represented the interests of Belize in countless policy, planning and marketing fora locally, regionally and internationally in at least twenty countries. She is a founding member and signatory to the charter of BTIA. For more than two decades, Maria Vega has been a driving force guiding the growth of the tourism industry. She is not just a person but a movement for community empowerment through sustainable tourism development to benefit born Belizeans.
Maria served as BTIA president from 1992-1993, and had representation on various committees including FEDECATUR and Mundo Maya for numerous years, CZMAI Advisory Council, World Heritage Sub-committee, and COMPACT Local Consultative Body Chairperson since inception to present. She was the only tourism private sector appointee to the Belize UNESCO National Commission from 2006-2008. She currently holds the BTIA seat on the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC), and represents the Caye Caulker Chapter on BTIA’s National Board.
Maria Vega is a graduate of SCA and holds an Associate’s Degree in Biology from SJC Sixth Form, a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Viterbo University (cum laude) and a Master of Science Degree in Tourism Marketing with distinction from the University of Surrey, Guildford, England. She holds specialized trainer certificates in Best Management Practices, Heritage Management and in the implementation of the Code of Conduct for the prevention of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism.
Besides her interventions for the national good, Maria Vega has been extremely active in tourism with the family property, VEGA INN, and through the Caye Caulker Branch of the BTIA.
BTIA congratulates Maria Vega, and thanks her for her ongoing support and commitment to BTIA and tourism in Belize.
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