AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye NAC Property owners ROAD

People here seem focused on the local taxes (bridge fee, property taxes etc.)....roads are a government responsibility...we pay a ton of tax to Central Government and they send us back a measly $100,000BZE or less a year. Ridiculous.

A few years ago we formed the San Pedro Business Association, we spoke as one, we told government pave the road south with our tax dollars or we will pave it ourselves....with our tax dollars. They paved it.

At the very least the Government should do what they did a couple of years ago when all those defense minister dudes had a jolly nice time at Coco Beach. They brought in trucks and trucks of marl and did a fairly decent job of repairing the road which held up for some months.

If they did that once a year it'd provide the bedrock for a proper paved road in the future, at least up to Las Terrazas/Journey's end. Town Council is broke, they can't do it, but they CAN badger the Central Government to invest some bucks in the island which is, after all, a major tax cash cow. As taxpayers we have to do our own badgering.

I'm surprised respected citizens such as Diane/Bob Campbell are not more vocal on this....they have two really great developments just north of Journey's End....they could add $100K a condo if the road was paved up to J.E.

Thanks for the kind words on the projects Chris.

May I just say that many people who are productive and active have never ever posted here, never will and will still have an enormous impact - hopefully positive - on the future.

We can argue about who's responsibility it is, bridge fees, taxes etc. etc.

We have to remember, most of us are guests in this country, How can we go to the government of this country and demand that they repair our road, when they can't even service thier own people, like in San Mateo? How can we do that without driving a bigger wedge of resentment between the Gringos and the locals?

If we are to approach any government body I think BEL would be the best. Lets talk to them, they have a vested interest in the road as well. Perhaps we could work with them.

If WE want it now, WE have to do it. Otherwise it just drags on and on.

Next thought,

I really don't think people want a paved road up north. Dosen't that defeat the purpose of why we come here? Do we want to create a Disney like facade in the Caribbean? I believe that at this moment in time all everyone up north really wants is the same dirt road just passable all year round, and fairly comfortable to drive.

That means filling potholes and low spots with gravel and getting rid of/ filling the tire puncturing construction debris and rocks and mud bogs.

Folks we are in the Caribbean, we have to do this Caribbean style with minimal impact on the enviroment or the natural beauty of the North Island.

I for one, don't want the North to look like downtown, I prefer it in its't natural raw state, dirt road and all. I just don't want to have to wonder if I am going to bury it up to the axles over every mud bog or pop a leaf spring or tire on the way home, then have to wade through mud and puddles to reach help.
FEEDBACK???? Road Runners

I want to get a fund going so we can buy gravel and hire people and equipment to start fixing the road.

We have a good base, and as I said, some parts we don't have to touch at all. Lets just add a second layer where needed, then we can decide on the topping later.

Just us, The road runners, no Government, no banks, no big comittees.

That way when we acumulate some cash we can ALL decide OK THis section of road really sucks.. well we have 10K in the account, its gonna cost xx to fix... ok lets do it,

So what does everyone think? and remeber the KISS rule.

Capt Hollywood:

"I really don't think people want a paved road up north. "

"We have to remember, most of us are guests in this country, How can we go to the government of this country and demand that they repair our road,"

"How can we do that without driving a bigger wedge of resentment between the Gringos and the locals?"

"I believe that at this moment in time all everyone up north really wants is the same dirt road"

You don't speak for me (Belizean for 24 years) and you certainly don't speak for a single "local" that I have spoken to on this subject. That would include my wife's very large San Pedro born family and her friends.

You certainly don't speak for the many tourists I've chatted with this year on the subject. They think our road is a joke, a complete embarrassment to an island that is supposed to be a tourist magnet.

The work on the road in San Matteo was spearheaded by the SPTC and largely paid for with local tax payer money in an effort to get the vote out at the last election. It worked.

So, using "Capt. Hollywood's" logic we get to pay him money for the rest of our lives so that we can fill potholes and watch bikes and vehicles drive on the beach but at no time do we say "enough already" and go for the paved road?

I'm done with this.

A paved road up north would be awesome and much easier on people's backs and vehicles! It would be more pleasurable to travel on and it would be so practical for all that live, work or visit the whole area. With a paved road you would also be able to have street lights!

I opened this thread so people can express thier opinion.
That is mine and what people are telling me. Dosen't mean that is what is going to happen.

I said I don't think...then I asked for feedback.


Chris I did go up the road, six month ago, door to door and spoke with people one on one and did get thier opinion.



They answered and expressed their views by contributing.

So yes, I have a fairly good handle on it. So Chris, what is your position, Paved road? Speak, you have the conch!

All I can tell you Chris, Paved road, not going to happen overnight.

A paved road will take years of planing, engineering, surveys, envirionmental, comitees, bickering back and forth, searching for capital...etc. etc.

I just want to patch up the road. Nothing permanent. Who's in?

Amanda, there is no reason we can't have street lights on a dirt road.

Kind of ironic that, as usual, the worst stretch of road (and I use the term loosely) between the bridge and Captain Morgan's is by Reef Village.

You know, 10 years ago I would not have dreamed that the streets of San Pedro town and the road south for 2 miles would be paved. But Chris and other business owners banded together and spearheaded a crusade to pave the road - and you know what? I drive on it every day now!

Bridge? For 30 years there was talk of a bridge over the river - and you know what? We cross over the river using the bridge now.

No, paved road doesn't happen overnight, but the movement towards it has to start at some point.

We have so many urgent priorities and necessities, and a paved road with street lights north is on the list for sure.

I agree Amanda, and when we look back 10 years from now, we can all remember when it started. right here, right now.

but you have to crawl before you can walk.

And by the way posters, I will clear this up right now.

I don't work for Reef Village, never have.(and I am not Jeff Pierce secretly posting) I consulted for the theater for a while but am no longer involved with that either. nuff said about that issue ok.