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note to self: never pis off Chris Alnatt

ScubaLdy: I thought your original plan was to build and live on the "eco-friendly" development on Long Caye where you purchased a lot and promoted the virtues of on this message board. I find it interesting that you now choose to live on Ambergris Caye, the number one tourist destination in Belize, and complain about the proposed infrastucture to support the needs and safety of tourists.
The idiocy of that is comparable to someone purchasing and living on the Strip in Vegas, or any other popular tourist destination, and complaining about taxis, lights or anything else that is provided to accommodate the needs of the tourists.
AC has decided, yes the locals, that it wants tourism.
If you want to live here and have your own private community, then buy some land, make it private and have your own restrictions and covenants. Don't expect to live on a public road and act like you are the only one that has a say on what improvements will be provided.

Let me see if I got this straight. Harriette was "directly complicit in the construction of a condo" constructed a home in Trec Cocos, and has plans to construct another home on Long Caye. I think there maybe even be another partial house of her construction somewhere near the house she lives in now but I am not sure. Thats one hell of a lot of developing for someone that is anti development.

I referred to the development on Long Caye as eco-friendly in quotes. IMO, it is destruction of natural habitat that should be a National Park instead of a development to satisfy the greed of developers and those purchasing and supporting it. It appears, hopefully, that it is a failed development, no thanks to those who supported it.
Those interested can check it out and form their own opinion of the development and the true motives of those who supported it.
I referred to the development on Long Caye as eco-friendly in quotes. IMO, it is destruction of natural habitat that should be a National Park instead of a development to satisfy the greed of developers and those purchasing and supporting it. It appears, hopefully, that it is a failed development, no thanks to those who supported it.
Those interested can check it out and form their own opinion of the development and the motives of those who supported it.

http://belizeisland.com/index.php

Someone who builds a house or two for themselves is hardly in the same class as a developer. Harriette is no more a developer than she would be a used car salesman if she sold her old vehicle or two. Besides it's not really what they do but rather the "how" that gathers the developers and the used cars salesmen their high social standing and respect.

Anyone who currently lives on this island needs to realize that Ambergris Caye will continue to grow and change. Despite any one's protests it will not remain exactly the same as when each of us set foot on this giant sandbar called Ambergris Caye, whenever it may have been. You can either fight the changes with all your claws bared or you can help shape the ideas and make the changes more appealing for everyone. Rest assured they will happen...eventually.

Believe me, I would love to have my area the same as it was years ago but it is unrealistic to think it should stay exactly the way 'I' want it.

The thought of fighting streetlights is absurd. On this island you need to pick and choose your battles and having a safer road for tourists and residents to traverse shouldn't be one of them.

But that is just my opinion.

JZB, Excellent reply. "The grass is always greener--" just remember you still have to mow it! When we bought our property 20 + years ago, I never anticipated we would have a Neighborhood Watch to provide security. The upside to that is that we feel safe and have discovered the interaction of our neighbors has given us a new sense of community.
Moving here to escape the problems and changes in whatever country you live in rarely happens, you just get some new frustrations.

Seems the rational thinkers have settled the street light debate. Now maybe we can move onto road maintenance and improvements

How will the yearly billing and maintanence be paid and by whom? Is there any chance that the lights could be solar cell and pay for themselves after they are installed? Or privately maintained by a neighborhood association and/or condo associations in that area?

Lights are a double-edged sword. The lights themselves provide no safety or security only a "feeling" of same which brings people out at night. Much akin to the unintended consequences of straight, paved, well-lit highways and seat-belts - speeding increased because of a "feeling" of safety and invulnerability.

When not well engineered they create shadows (hiding places) and spoil night vision. The glare can be bad not just for people walking the streets but also neighboring homes/condos.

More people out at night doesn't necessarily mean there is sufficient crowd to protect from or deter muggers and rapists - up to a critical mass it only means more targets.

Be careful out there.