Jim I love you but disagree with why the road was built on the north end instead of in more needed areas: $$$ from and to the right people.
The resorts are saving a bundle by not having to provide boat transportation and they did not reduce their rates.
and new golf cart companies opened up and all are taking in $$$.
What's done is done and now some other areas are getting attention. But as long as there is no reporting on income And expenses by project no one can say for certain whether the money is needed for the bridge or used elsewhere.
I love you too but don't let Phoebe know. Next time I stop by Bird Land we can talk about it but not here. I will say that all you have to do is go to the different resorts websites at the time before the new road and read the reviews. I read many of them as it pertained to my duties. Tourist were not happy with the road and the boat trips get a little old in the rain and wind. Not that I think boats were used very often until you got up to say Capt. Morgan's.
When the conference facilities opened at Grand Caribe, which is located on the floor below Rain Restaurant there were many conferences with ministers from all over Central America attending. Of course there were also many government officials from Belize. The same happened with conferences at Coco Beach to a lesser extent. When they observed the condition of the road first hand, especially after a few days of rain is when the need for a road became very apparent to them.
Your example of the golf cart companies is perfect. They made money and paid taxes. The people using the golf carts went into town and spent money on gifts and in restaurants. They were not trapped at the resorts because of the road conditions. Over all the road caused an increase in tourist visiting the north side of the Island. I've seen the numbers this increased all economic activity like Marbucks, Italian Restaurant and the Truck Stop to name a few.
Now private home owners like yourself have a different view of all this activity and I understand and respect that. It is not the same as when you first moved up there but change was inevitable because people who visited liked it as much as you which opened opportunities to make money. This is the way the world works.
One other thing. Rates that the resorts charge are based on one thing and one thing only. It is not how they saved a relatively small amount on boat transportation. It is based on what customers are willing to pay and what the competition charges. Actually it is more complicated than that but marketing is not my forte, I'm an engineer and had trouble staying awake during those discussions. Again the Government of Belize get a cut of total revenues so the country benefits. (10% hotel tax on short term rentals, if I remember correctly) They also audit frequently.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
