AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Environment South Beach Meeting

O.K., here's a copy of my e-mail. Let's see responses sent from all those others who have been soooooo opposed to this project.



I am a property owner on south Ambergris Caye who plans one day to live full time there.

I oppose certain aspects of the proposed South Beach development.

I would ask that the DOE consider not allowing any dredging in the sea around this proposed area.

I would also ask the DOE to consider not approving a casino on this nor any other property of Ambergris Caye.

I would ask that any approved developments be "low density" developments. Meaning a relatively low number of housing units for the given square footage of property; i.e. no condo buildings.

I would also like to see the DOE require that a significant percentage of the property in any development have natural / native vegetation either left in place or planted on said property.

Thank you for your consideration,
Thomas R. Blackledge, MD
tommy@tecinfo.com
601-849-1918

Anyone planning to send or take written suggestions / complaints to the DOE may print my email and send or take mine to them with yours.

RE: Peter Jones...I've seen no mention of temporary housing being erected for the workers) lose their jobs and income, what about crime levels then?...

Peter, You raise an excellent point.Should this proceed anything like the 4 story building just erected southwest of our property,there will be some aluminum shanty's built with no plumbing to house the workforce, most of which were from other areas, who came in to work,sent the money home,then left when the work finished. The workers I spoke with were from Guatamala and Honduras.

What they DID leave was a small crime spree, all night music blaring(even drowning out the B&W Bar with evangelical banda themes until the wee hours, starting again at 7am), stolen bicycles at our place and Taco Mansion, literally a TON of refuse thrown over the fences(out of sight,out of mind construction mentality),human waste,and the food refuse of 15 workers. We confronted men jumping our fence at night several times, who then had no explanation of why they would be on private property. I am not sure that there are any oversight procedures in place, as it seemed the practice was accepted by everyone and endured by ourselves.
If there is to be a change in this process, it has to come from the citizens,residents,resident aliens,and visiting guests of the country. While not addressing South Beach directly, I think that the problem you have posted would be tremendous in the South, unless it is collectively decided not to tolerate this style of building in San Pedro.
That being said, if a builder goes through the process, is permitted and adheres to the accepted standards, the citizens have to stand by the elected or appointed officials AND the developer,who have approved the development of this private land. It is up to the populus to change what is possible to change by peaceful, intelligent, action for the good of the community.

Time to stop rehashing the "what ifs" and the bashing of Jeff Pierce.

Time to send YOUR comments / suggestions / complaints to the people that matter. After you send the DOE your letter then post here to announce your position on this issue.

I've sent and posted mine, now let's see yours.

Repeatedly bashing the development or the developer here serves no purpose.

Rather a poor picture I'm afraid of the "babe", Alyssa Arceo, in action at the meeting.

Belize is attractive now because it is unique.
it's only a matter of time before it's just like every where else, or worse.

OPEN LETTER TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE

At the meeting held Friday, October 10, 2008 you were adamant that only questions directly related to the South Beach project would be heard. I understand that position and honored it. Now, however, I feel a need to point out some history of this developer.

Several years ago my adult daughter and I went into the Reef Village office across from Tropic Air and sat down with Mr. Jeff Pierce. He showed us a master plan for Reef Village. This included a sewage treatment plant that would not only service his development but also the San Mateo Subdivision, Holy Cross School and those of us who live on the sea side of his development. Upon completion of the sewage lines a divided boulevard with palm trees down the center would be built. This would replace what we call a golf cart path (since the GOB insists that there is no road here).

This was all laid out in lovely full color AND NONE OF IT HAS HAPPENED. Not only have the plans not been followed but all the mangroves along the length of road from just north of the bridge to the north end of Reef Village property were ripped out by dredgers. Additionally a large section of the cart path has been destroyed by heavy equipment bringing building materials to the work sites. See attached photos.

How can you expect the public to believe the promises being made regarding the development of South Beach when the promises made regarding Reef Village have been ignored by not only the Reef Village Developers but all government agencies that have oversight on this?

I beg you to not approve the South Beach project in light of the above.

Copies to: envirodept@btl.net
Mayroess Elza Paz & The San Pedro Town Council
Hon. Manuel Hereida Jr. Minister of Tourism
North Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch
San Pedro Sun
Ambergris Today
San Pedro Daily

Her name is Maxine Monsanto ... the moderator for DOE.

After all the complaining about this project here for months now, only 2 posted letters to the DOE?

There is plenty going on regarding South Beach. Just not here on the message board.

I was also very impressed with the moderator. She did an exellent job and remained completely impartial.