AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Environment island growth

Moose, I wouldn't worry about the signature. I doubt they are going to turn you down for not having a signature. Your Email address on the sent Email should surfice. Having said that I have a signature which was scanned on to a word doc. that I use in some of my work.

Many of my friends are saying San Pedro, already not being what it was . . it's time to move on and try to find a new place that is reminiscent of San Pedro, even as few as 5 years ago.

I'm feeling much the same way myself. I still love SP to pieces, but it's just not the same and if it weren't for the people that I love to see on my trips back, I'd already have moved on to the next great place.

JMNSHO, somehow the goose that laid the golden egg is being killed. I'm also quite confused as to who will be buying and/or renting all the new units that are supposedly being built, let alone how the hords will make it to the island when Tropics and Maya are running at almost full capacity now.

Infrastructure . . . infrastructure . . .where's the infrastructure?? Where's the protection of the most valuable asset, the reef?

I lived in Telluride CO in the early 90s and people refused to return. Of course it was only the ones who knew the town from the 70s and 80s. Now my friends from the early 90s refuse to return. Somehow the town's revenues are up without us and our "good old days" stories. Don't even get me started on Aspen.
I'm curious to see how many member of ACCSD are owners of newer developments on the island that may have had some controversy attached when they were getting built. Everyone is right about controlling the growth in order to prevent disaster. But while many past visitors may not return due to the new direction Ambergris is taking, the gov't/developers are banking on attracting new visitors who don't know any better. And on and on it will go, until every scrap of soil is used. Hopefully it just takes a really long time to get there.

Very well said, Canam. A truly big picture way of seeing the situation.

The only thing that never changes is that the newcomers will someday be moaning about how it was in the good old days.

seashell - GET OUTTA MY HEAD, GIRL!

for 2 people so very different from each other, our views are too often in complete alignment.

what the diff may be is the caliber of tourists to come (think cancun). only time will tell.

it looks to be a catch 24 25. one of the biggest attractions to belize is that it is not crowded. the GOB seems to think the answer to everything is more people?

I remember back in the 70's how great we thought Cozumel was. Diving in small groups, beaches to ourselves, the locals, great hang-out bars, and a laid back attitude. Now it's Mega-motels and cruise ships. The diving sucks from what I hear. And the locals are mostly from other places, only there to make money off tourist.

The BVI was the same back in the 80's (still kinda nice on a sailboat though) Aruba is the only place I think has managed the tourism industry well. Probably because they have such strict laws governing outsiders from moving there and starting businesses.

I just hate to see the outside develpers come in ruin the island make some bucks and leave.

And yes - someone else will come, the kinda of guest that like crowds and mega-hotels and will not take any interest in the environment or promoting good causes because they are only there for a week and will move on to the next mega-destination.

I'm interested to know if people are a little too quick to associate "growth" as "bad"? Not to bore anyone with another example, but when I was a kid my family moved to Costa Rica 20 years ago. People were lamenting then about the rapid growth then. But the interesting thing is that some of my Belizian pals just came back from there and complained about how crummy the roads were, and how the internet service wasn't that great. Proper growth on the island, IMO, will only result in a win-win and would ultimately enhance and protect the environmental and economic balance of Belize. Growth doesn't have to be bad. And while shady developments have seemingly cropped up on the island, name one person that has built a house State-side that hasn't felt cheated and broken by their contractor/developer to some degree. It's the Belize gov't's fault for their disorganization and lack of follow-through. They are truly the ones that are "coming in to ruin the island to make some bucks and leave".

Twelve year old Alyssa (I hope I spelled it right) Arceo was the last one to speak at the big open meeting where Pepe Garcia gave his so called environmental impact assessment. She said that South Beach was just a copy - why not take your copy someplace else? Out of the mouth of babes.

For those of you who are concerned that ACCSD is against all development please read their mission statement. Perhaps it would help if they used ACC for SD. This group is not against development they just want it to be good for everyone.

All of the permits are issued through the capital; Belmopan. The next time you come into the international airport I challenge you to ask the baggage guys, immigrations agents, customs people, ticket agents, etc. if they have ever been to Ambergris Caye. I will bet you that at least 90% will say no. The people who live on the mainland have little idea of what life is like out here. They will all tell you it is too expensive for them to come.

I really have to question why South Beach needs to be built in such an environmentally sensitive area that will cost a small fortune to make useable??? There is a lot of true swamp all around the mainland. Why not build this mega resort close to the international airport? There are just as many people looking for work on the mainland as there are here.

If the government truly wanted to help the people of the country they would encourage more development on the mainland and less out here in the cayes.

If you do not think we are already overbuilt I urge you to find out about the resorts that have either closed down or consolidated.

There will be another meeting tonight at 5:00 at the Lions Den. All are welcome.

Canam, I hear what you are saying about who will come next, but at a current rate of 40% occupancy country-wide, I'm hard-pressed to see how over-development, killing the reef and mangling the ecology, will turn out good for the island or its people in the long run.

The thing is, that I've been spreading the word about Ambergris Caye, far and wide for many years. Lots of people have gone there to dive and/or stay, at my recommendation. Consider that I may not be making that recommendation anymore, so my little word of mouth (email) campaign will have come to an end. Jane's may have come to an end and so on, and so on, and so on. You know that old commercial "She tells one person, and she tells one person, and she tells one person . . . "