Public Meeting regarding Swine Flu, Today at 5:00pm at the Lion’s Den

There will be a public meeting about the swine flu today (Thursday April 30th) at 5 pm at the Lions Den.
Everyone is urged to attend.

Bandage International 2 day Basic Emergency Responder Course

Bandage International is making their 8th visit to Belize and while
here is traveling to San Pedro to offer a 2 day Basic Emergency
Responder Course in partnership with the Belize Red Cross.

As many of you already know, Bandage International is a Canadian based
Medical Charity that has been working with the Belize Red Cross, local
tour guides, resort staff, government officials and the general public
to provide medical training in Belize for the the past 4 years.

Come learn First Aid, CPR, and more!
Help make San Pedro Healthier and Safer!

San Pedro Lions Den

Monday May 11th & Tuesday May 12th
9am - 4pm each day

$10 BZ to register including a certificate from the Red Cross!

Presented by Bandage International and the Belize Red Cross.

To register please contact:

Darryl Chickness

President
Bandage International
dchickness@hotmail.com

http://www.bandageinternational.org

The 5th Annual Ambergris Caye Lagoon-Reef Eco-Challenge

Just a reminder that the 5th annual Ambergris Caye Lagoon-Reef Eco-Challenge takes place this Saturday and Sunday April 25th and 26th.

There will be Block Beach Party on Sunday April 26th from 11 am to 5 pm in Central Park.

Anyone wanting a booth to sell food can contact Rebecca at 610-1697. Booths will be $175 BZ.

May General Meeting Date Announced

SPBA will be holding its next general meeting May 7th at El Divino at 1:00 pm.

Agenda
1:00 Introduction By Chairman Elito Arceo
1:15 Claudio Azueta Explanation of Property Tax increases and comparisons.
1:30 Update on Lobster festival Rebecca Arceo
1:45 update on membership and fees
2:00 nomination of additional board members.
2:15 Question and Answer period.

Any one wanting add to the agenda needs to please e-mail in what they would like added.  Also anyone wanting to make nominations for the board can do so by e-mail.

Following this meeting regular meetings will be held the first Thursday of each month.  Board meetings will be held bi-weekly.

Update and February General Meeting Minutes

After the meeting on Thursday Elito and I received some constructive suggestions for the SPBA.  We sincerely appreciate the input.  We would like to make an appeal…. We really do need a vice chairman at this point in time.  We feel like though the association continues to make progress we could, as an organization be significantly more productive with a larger and more active executive committee.  We have a young lady hired that can do phone calls and follow up, but she is going to need to input and direction of the executive committee.  It has been a year since Andre resigned and we have made this plea numerous times.  We realize that everyone has businesses to run, however in order to keep things happening like the food festival and lobster festival as well as dealing community issues like the garbage, traffic and economic issues we need to have a more active base.

Also, just a quick reminder that 2009 Membership Fees are now due.

San Pedro Business Association February General Meeting

Chairman Elito Arceo welcomed the members, and introduced Miguel Alamilla from Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Mr. Alamilla addressed the Association, noting the attendance of members of the Ambergris Caye Concerned Citizens for Sustainable Development in the audience. Costal Zone Management has been working with the community for some time to raise awareness of the importance of our natural environment here on Ambergris Caye. The Function of Costal Zone Management is to implement and execute Management Projects for both Hold Chan Marine Reserve and Bacalar Chico. They have a full time staff, including Biologist and Environmental Researchers. Costal Zone has been very active in establishing educational programs in both the area schools and in the community. They see a very strong need for community involvement in how we use our environment on Ambergris Caye.

Mr. Alamilla wants to spread the word about the threats to the environment based on coastal development. Mangroves are key to whole ecosystem, including the reef. The impacts are felt through the entire food chain, including important commercial species such as Lobster. The Barrier Reef has great economic value to the local community and to the country as well. It takes a lot of work to protect and manage a resource area like Bacalar Chico or Hol Chan, but it is very important work.

Mr. Alamilla hopes that the Ambergris Caye Concerned Citizens for Sustainable Development will help to bring the community into the process to help, and he encourages everyone to join, for the benefit of the entire community.

Questions:
How far does the Bacalar Chico Reserve actually extend? There has been some confusion on this matter in the past.

Answer:
Bacalar Chico has actually always extended south to the Basil Jones Cut; however there has been a misconception due to a lack of presence and enforcement in the north part of the island. There are now Rangers in the area more frequently.

Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Honorable Manuel Heredia then addressed the Association, noting that the SPBA has always been good at moving issues forward and finding solutions in the community. Minister Heredia has enjoyed an active and ongoing relationship with the SPBA and is happy to ensure this relationship continues.

The Ministry of Tourism is keeping on top of events that are shaping the Tourism Industry. Although the industry has seen a drop in the past year, the economic downturn has not hit Belize as hard as it has other Central American and Caribbean countries. There has only been a 3% drop in overnight stays in Belize to date. The BTB has been active at 4 different trade shows over the last few months and will continue to provide whatever support it can to the industry stakeholders. It is not his job as Minister of Tourism to dictate to the industry. Minister Heredia will continue to allow the industry to move things forward.
Tourism is a key focus of the current Government. He expects things to improve after 2009.

He also noted that Cabinet has been responsive to the needs of San Pedro. Cabinet has responded to the San Pedro Town Board, even if they have not been able to give all that has been requested, they have responded. There has been recent GOB assistance with Road Issues during the rainy season (Hardcore and Transportation).

Minister Heredia will also be pushing for Ambergris Caye to become the 7th District in the Country this year.

The designation of an official road north of the bridge has not happened yet, however he is hopeful that officials from the Ministry of Works will be here soon to make the designation.

Transport Department revenue has been transferred from Central Government to the Town Board already, and other similar revenue shifts will be occurring shortly. The Building Authority revenue is also now under the Town Board. He noted that San Pedro accounts for 50% of tourism, however San Pedro accounts for 70% of the Hotel Tax generated nationwide. He is fighting for San Pedro to receive a fair share of the revenue it generates.

The Road Sweeper has arrived, and the first trial of the vehicle was to take place over this past weekend. 1 Garbage Compactor has also arrived on the island and another is coming soon.

Minister Heredia let members know that they should feel free to leave suggestions and ideas with the local office of the BTB. The Director of the BTB will also begin working at least 1 day per month at the office above the Library, in order to better serve the community. Several things are in the pipeline in terms of Tourism, and the BTB will be bringing those to the industry stakeholders soon.

Mayor Elsa Paz then made some remarks to the Association. She reminded members of the upcoming election. She has been visiting with various groups and individuals to ask for their support. She was happy to have the opportunity to speak to the SPBA. She has decided to run for another term because of the fact that a UDP Central Government is in place. Even under a PUP Central Government they have been able to accomplish much for San Pedro. She feels that now that a UDP GOB is in place, they should be able to accomplish much more for the community. She noted that this is the first time that a San Pedrano has been the Minister of Tourism and has held a Cabinet Position and wants to take advantage of that fact. If re-elected, the Mayor would like to take a much more active role in the SPBA.

Mayor Paz is pleased that the GOB is granting more autonomy to the Local Governments. She feels that the 4 main areas of concern right now are Crime, Traffic, Garbage and the Roads.

Regarding Crime, Mayor Paz would like to get more police and BDF officers on the island. She noted that most Municipalities in local countries have their own Police and Fire Departments, and would like to see the same thing happen here. The present Police Force cannot handle the present demand. She is lobbying Central Government to move in the direction through Minister Heredia.

Councilor Pablo briefly addressed the group; highlighting areas of concern including a lack of funding for Sports and Youth related activities. He thanks businesses that have provided support to these endeavors previously, and is confident that government funding can be found to expand services in this area to the youth of San Pedro.

Minister Heredia jumped back in to touch on two issues that had been missed previously. He noted that the Old Football Field rehabilitation project should be starting by May 2009. 4 to 5 million dollars are being spent to revitalize this area, extending and fixing it.

The other issue is that of San Mateo. The Prime Minister is aware and supportive of improving the situation there. A Proposal for the Rehabilitation of San Pedro needs to be formulated. Once that occurs Central Government will support the proposal and assist in taking it to the World Bank for funding. Minister Heredia believes another 4 to 5 million dollars could be provided to the project in this manner.

Councilor Nano then took the floor. His goal is to have a Vocational School established in San Pedro. He feels the opportunity to learn a trade and get a good education is very important for the children of Ambergris Caye. He is working with the Town Board, the Central Government and the Business Community to make this a reality. His other goal is to see Ambergris Caye made the 7th district.

A Question was posed about building a new elementary school. Councilor Nano agreed that there is a great need for a new school on the island. He also noted the need for a Hospital as well. San Pedro is the main tourist destination in the country but does not have adequate Medical Care at the moment.

Minister Heredia noted that the Poly Clinic will be expanding coverage and operating hours in the next budget.

The floor was opened to questions.

Minister Heredia was asked about the Dredging that is taking place on the lagoon side south. It was noted that this dredging is directly impacting the livelihood of Tour Guides, as critical Bone Fish feeding and breeding areas are being destroyed. That area is a critical area for Bone Fish, and is teeming with life. Something needs to be done to protect those areas, as the Master Plan tried to accomplish. It was also noted that there are already too many piers on the east side of the island, which are cutting off access to the flats.

Minister Heredia noted that a National Master Plan is being developed. He agreed that the pier situation is an issue along the front of the island. He stated that we all must work together to identify areas that are in need of protection.

The Mayor was asked about the fact that Traffic is now one of the biggest complaints that visitors have about the island. Now that the Transport Department is under the Town Board, what is being done about this issue, and will the Transport Department be issuing a moratorium on permits to examine permits already in existence?

Mayor Paz noted that the Committee has the responsibility to work on those issues. She is part of the committee but is not the chairperson of it. She agrees that it is an issue and the committee is trying to get a handle on the situation.

The Transport Department Manager then made a few remarks. He took over the department in February of 2008. When he took over they did reexamine the permits allowed in the previous 4 months. They did not refuse any at that point. Now, the department evaluates the need of every applicant. They have been doing their best in this area. He feels that one of the biggest issues presently is the classification of vehicles. Vehicles keep getting larger and louder, but are still classified as Golf Carts. The department has been working on a reclassification system to address this issue.

They are presently developing a database to maintain control over the inventory of vehicles on the island. The Transport Department is a revenue-producing department for the Town Board now. Things are changing slowly but are improving.

Mayor Paz mentioned that she feels the biggest issue at the moment is Parking.

Various questions came from the floor regarding Traffic, including questions about Speeding, Vehicle Condition and Drivers License Revoking.

The Manager explained that there isn’t much that can be done about speeding since there is no way to prove how fast someone was actually going. When they do see someone speeding however, they try to get them on some other traffic related offense. Regarding the condition of vehicles, he mentioned that they have just implemented an inspection process before a permit can be renewed. This process began in October of 2008. Vehicles will need to be in relatively good shape before the permit will be renewed. He also mentioned the need for a secured impound yard, so that poor vehicles or offenders can have their vehicles impounded. He also explained that people can report traffic offenses. In order to do this, they need to give a sworn statement, signed by a Justice of the Peace. The Transport Department can then get the Police into the mix, however the complainant would need to appear before the Magistrate when the issue gets to that point.

Minister Heredia was asked what the Vision for Tourism in San Pedro is. What do we want to accomplish in terms of tourism? Do we want to ignore the niche that we have already created here, which helped to curb the losses that other tourist destinations have felt during this economic crisis? Do we want to become island of High Density Developments, like what has happened in Cancun? We do need development and growth, but why are we allowing development in this direction? Where are we going?

Minster Heredia answered that the new Master Plan that is being developed is the key to answering that question. He is in favor of Green Projects, and was against the High Density Development that is in the process of being approved personally. He noted that the Department of the Environment has scaled that development back. He said that personally it’s not the type of development he would like to see, but that he can’t become involved in the situation. He did say that he is committed to working with all stakeholders on the development of this new Master Plan. He also stressed that the Government is committed to ensuring that no decisions are made without the input of the local community.

A Member asked if Minister Heredia could verify a rumor that the Department of Environment had issued a Stop Work Order on South Beach. Minister Heredia responded that development activities have been stopped, but that he wasn’t sure if a Stop Work Order had been issued or not. He did mention that the developer is having difficulty finding a Bank or Insurance Company to handle the required $250,000 Bond.

Another member asked about Motorized Vehicles driving on the beach, especially in the North part of the island. They mentioned that Carts, and especially Motorcycles are driving over private property, through resorts with tourists present and becoming a nuisance and a safety issue.

Minister Heredia agreed that this is a big problem. He is hoping that the Department of Works will be over very soon to officially declare a North Road so that enforcement can be started on issues like this. Until there is an officially declared road, however, it is very difficult to stop this practice.

February General Meeting tomorrow

Just a reminder that the February General Meeting of the SPBA will take place tomorrow (Thursday Feb. 26th) at El Divino (Banana Beach) at 1:00pm.

The Agenda is as follows:
Greeting By Chairman
Introduction of UDF Town Council Candidates
Information on Up Coming Events
Nomination for Vice Chairman Position
Question and Answer Period.

February 2009 SPBA General Meeting

The February SPBA General Meeting will be held on February 26th, 2009 at El Divino at 1:00pm. The Minister of Tourism and members of Town Council have requested an audience with the SPBA, and will be in attendance.

A complete agenda will be sent out in a few days. Any member that wants an issue added to the agenda email info@sanpedrobusiness.com.

Please remember that we do need the 2009 Membership Dues. We have lowered the rates, but continue to help with the Police and BDF, as well as organizing events like the successful Savor San Pedro and the upcoming block parties for the Ambergris Caye Eco-challenge and LobsterFest. Dues can be brought to the the meeting on the 26th.

Urgent: January SPBA Meeting Postponed

Urgent notice that the SPBA January General Meeting, which was scheduled for today at 1:00pm has been postponed.

Minister Heredia is ill today, and SPBA Chairman Elito Arceo has been called away from the island on business.

We will announce the new date ASAP.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Notice: Savor San Pedro Food Festival Revised Date

Savor San Pedro Food Festival:
Due to a scheduling conflict, the Savor San Pedro Food Festival date has been moved to Saturday January 31st 2009 from January 24th. Booths will be $500 BZ. If anyone would like a booth please call 610-1697 or email info@sanpedrobusiness.com. Also, also anyone that would like to be part of the entertainment can call or email as well.

Come enjoy live entertainment and sample food and drinks from the finest restaurants in San Pedro.
There will be prizes for the best appetizer, best main dish, best dessert, best cocktail, most creative dish, and the PEOPLES choice award for the best all around booth.

January 2009 SPBA General Meeting Reminder
The SPBA January 2009 General Meeting has been rescheduled for Friday January 16th and will take place at El Divino Restaurant (Banana Beach Resort) at 1:00 pm.

January General Meeting changed to Friday January 16th at 1:00pm

Since the Chamber of Commerce is holding a meeting for Resorts about the current tourism situation and what to do about it for Ambergris Caye on Thursday January 15th, the SPBA January 2009 General Meeting has been rescheduled for Friday January 16th.

The meeting will take place at El Divino Restaurant at 1:00 pm.

Sorry for any confusion.

Notice: SPBA January General Meeting Thursday January 15th at 1:00 pm

The SPBA January General Meeting will be Thursday January 15th at 1:00 pm at El Divino Restaurant (Banana Beach Resort)

The Agenda for this meeting includes:

The Savor San Pedro Food Festival which is scheduled for Saturday, January 24th 2009; and the formation of SPBA Focus Groups to work on particular projects.

If any member would like to have something added to the Agenda for this meeting, please call or email by Tuesday, January 13th.

December Update

Wishing all of the Members of the SPBA Happy Holidays.

January General Meeting
There are several items that we need to look at as a group. Please let us know if Tuesday January 13th is a convenient date for the next meeting.

BDF Housing
As was recently reported in the newspapers, the Housing for the BDF has been built and the men are now using the facility. However, while the housing have been built, they have not been completely outfitted as of yet. We are still lacking in a number of key items for the houses (ie. Bed’s), and water has not been hooked up yet due to a lack of funding. As the BDF members will be with us over the holiday season, we are also asking if any members can help to make their holidays a little more festive with donations of food items and perhaps a few ‘gifts’ to show the troops our appreciation for their efforts. Please contact the office with any suggestions, ideas of items that you may have.

November Meeting Minutes
Below is a short transcript of the November General Meeting.

BDF Scheduling & Tasking
The question was raised regarding who is in charge of the ‘tasking’ and scheduling of the BDF members while they are on the island. As of now they report to Officer Arnold and an agenda is set for their time on the island. Their supervisors will come out to meeting with Officer Arnold and the SPBA to help work out a chain of command and to deal with logistics issues.

The BDF also asks for the feedback of SPBA regarding specific issues that arise and immediate problems that come up so that they can deal with them in a timely manner. A mechanism should be set up whereby the Officer in Charge can be alerted to immediate problems. At present these types of issues are still being coordinated through the Police Department.

Timeshare Issues
The Town Board has asked the SPBA to resubmit any letters received regarding timeshare issues. The Town Board has done this because they are working on ensuring that all Timeshare Operations are fulfilling the rules set out. To reiterate the SPBA’s official position on the matter, we are not against Timeshare, and are responding to the requests of the Town Board and BTB to help ensure enforcement of the existing rules.

Events: Savor San Pedro Food Festival
A reminder that the 2nd annual Savor San Pedro Food Festival will take place on Saturday, January 24th 2009. This year we would like to include a cooking competition. Local chefs would be given the task of creating a meal with a mystery ingredient that would only be revealed at the time of the competition (like the Iron Chef competitions). In order to succeed we would need at least 4 or 5 chefs to enter. If any members would like to enter, please contact Rebecca.

A member also suggested combining recipes provided by various chefs on the island into a San Pedro Cookbook, which could then be printed and sold to help in fundraising activities. If any members would like to help organize that endeavor, please contact Rebecca.

Events: Lobsterfest 2009
A reminder that Lobsterfest 2009 will take place from Sunday June 14th to Saturday June 20th, 2009.

Events: Eco-Challenge Kayak Race and Reef Festival
The SPBA will be working with other Parties to re-establish the Reef Festival to run in tandem with the next Ambergris Eco Challenge.  This past year there were some crossed-wires in communication, which is why the Reef Festival did not take place.

SPBA Membership Fees
It was decided by popular vote that Membership Fees to the SPBA would be decreased for 2009. The new Membership Fees will be as follows:

Basic Membership: $300 Bz per year (down from $500 Bz)
(Membership + Basic Listing on sanpedrobusiness.com)

Advanced Membership: $500 Bz per year (down from $800 Bz)
(Membership + Advanced Profile listing on sanpedrobusiness.com, including Photo and Links)

2009 Membership Fees will be addressed at the January General Meeting.

Open Floor Items
A number of items were discussed in the open floor session. These include:
1. The Road Paving and Sewer and Water extension from Richie’s Hardware to the Bridge. Members want the SPBA to take a more active role in getting this issue resolved, and in the larger issue of Sewage and Waste Management.
2. Improving Street Signage and Parking – Especially I the town core. Members were also encouraged to take advantage of the new Parking Facilities located on Middle Street as a way to decrease traffic and congestion in town
3. Master Plan: The first draft of the Revised Master Plan should be done in Late December 2008 or early January 2009. The SPBA, Hol Chan, Green Reef, Town Board and Tour Guide Association will all be consulted on any suggested changes to this first draft

October General Meeting Postponed

As mentioned in yesterday’s Weekly Update email, a number of SPBA members will not be able to attend the scheduled October General Meeting tomorrow. Based on member feedback we have decided to postpone the meeting until November.

Copies of the Financial Report for the SPBA will still be available starting tomorrow at the Seaduced office.

In the meantime, If any member has questions, concerns, issues or ideas please contact the SPBA.

Phone: (501) 226.4474

Email: info@sanpedrobusiness.com

SPBA Weekly Update: October 28th, 2008

BDF

Currently there are no BDF soldiers on the island due to a lack of housing. Any member that can accommodate 4 soldiers is asked to please contact Rebecca ASAP so we can get them back on the island patrolling the streets.

Relief Efforts for the Mainland

As was emailed yesterday, a relief effort is underway on the island to assist areas of the mainland hit hard with flooding. Please note that at the present time the most urgently needed items are Baby Formula. Since yesterday the need for Diapers has been filled for the present time, and due to a lack of storage people are asked to NOT send clothing.

The most efficient way to assist is Cash Donation, since it is cheaper to buy needed goods on the mainland than it is to purchase them here on the island and ship them back to the mainland. If you would like to give a cash donation please contact Rebecca at (501) 226.4474.

October General Meeting

The October General Meeting is scheduled for this Thursday at 1:00pm (October 30th), however a number of members will not be able to attend the meeting. We are asking for members to please let us know if they would like to proceed with the meeting as scheduled, or if it would make more sense to postpone it until the November General Meeting. Please respond asap, so that a decision can be made.

Financial Reports

Regardless of if the October General Meeting occurs, copies of the Financial Report of the SPBA will be available on Thursday. If you would like a copy you can pick one from Rebecca at the Seaduced office in Vilma Linda Plaza starting on Thursday.

If any member has questions, concerns, issues or ideas please contact the SPBA.
Phone: (501) 226.4474
Email: info@sanpedrobusiness.com

SPBA Meeting Postponed and Weekly Update - October 22nd, 2008

October General Meeting Rescheduled…

The October General Meeting of the SPBA has been postponed (due to the weather) from the originally scheduled date of October 23rd to Thursday October 30th at the request of several members. Please note the new date. The location of El Divino Restaurant, and the time of 1:00pm still apply. The SPBA financials have been prepared and will be presented at this meeting.

BDF Housing Update…

Temporary Housing for the BDF is required STARTING TODAY. If anyone can assist in the matter please contact Rebecca ASAP. The SPBA have raised the target goal and have provided a deposit on the Mennonite houses that will be erected for Police, BDF and Coast Guard housing. They should be ready in about 10 days.

Savor San Pedro Food Festival 2009 Dates Announced…

The 2nd Annual Savor San Pedro Food Festival Block Party has been scheduled for Saturday, January 24th 2009. Savor San Pedro celebrates the culinary creativity of Ambergris Caye. The Block Party will feature competitions for Best Food Dish, Best Drink and Best Overall Booth. Anyone interested in assisting in the planning of this event is asked to contact Rebecca.

San Pedro Lobsterfest 2009 Dates Announced…

The San Pedro Business Association is pleased to announce the dates for San Pedro Lobsterfest 2009. The festivities will kick off with the traditional “Meat & Greet” Cocktail Party at El Divino Restaurant (located at Banana Beach Resort) on Sunday June 14th, 2009. The ever popular ‘Lobsterfest Town Block Party’ will be the grand finale of Lobsterfest 2009 on Saturday June 20th, 2009. In between those dates will be a variety of events. Please stay tuned for more details!. Anyone interested in assisting in the planning of this event is asked to contact Rebecca.

World’s 300 Greatest Events to include San Pedro Lobsterfest…

Whatsonwhen.com and Frommer’s are in the process of compiling a book on the world’s 300 greatest events to be published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. in 2009. They have selected the San Pedro Lobsterfest to be included in the book. Publicity of San Pedro Lobsterfest will include listings on www.whatsonwhen.com and www.frommers.com as well as selected partner websites. It will reach around 5 million unique users a month and generate 30 million page views.

If any member has questions, concerns, issues or ideas please contact the SPBA.
Phone: (501) 226.4474
Email: info@sanpedrobusiness.com

SPBA Weekly Update - October 15th 2008

BDF Housing

The SPBA has raised $30,000 BZ from two private anonymous donors for the BDF housing.

Donations made to the SPBA for BDF Food and Housing

$500 BZ Costa Maya
$1,000 BZ Blue Water Grill
$1,000 BZ Caliente
Thanks… it keeps the BDF and police here and fed.

South Beach Development

We need a consensus of the SPBA members position on the South Beach Development. Members have until 6pm Thursday October 16th to let us know their opinions. If members do not send in a “for” or “against” it will be considered an abstention. Votes are to be kept private. If you prefer that we phone you, please send in a phone number where you can be reached. This is for members only.  This is an IMPORTANT issue that will effect our entire community and it is important that as an association we have a consensus. Anyone wanting to elaborate on their position is welcome to do so by e-mail.

Nominations for Vice Chairman of SPBA

Reminder that we are taking volunteers and nominations for vice chairman for the SPBA. No one has volunteered or been nominated. It is important that we fill this position.

October SPBA General Meeting

The next meeting will be October 23rd.

Other Questions and Concerns

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, ideas or issues please email them to info@sanpedrobusiness.com

San Pedro Lobsterfest 2009 Dates Announced

Enjoy 7 days of Celebration in San Pedro, Belize

The San Pedro Business Association is pleased to announce the dates for San Pedro Lobsterfest 2009. The festivities will kick off with the traditional “Meat & Greet” Cocktail Party at El Divino Restaurant (located at Banana Beach Resort) on Sunday June 14th, 2009.
The ever popular ‘Lobsterfest Town Block Party’ will be the grand finale of Lobsterfest 2009 on Saturday June 20th, 2009. In between those dates will be a variety of events. Please stay tuned for more details!

SPBA Weekly Update - October 7th, 2008

BDF Housing & Feeding

Once again we are looking for housing for the BFD and Police. Tomorrow they will be moving from Belizean Shores that was kind enough to host them over the last week. We need rooms for ten people. They can fit in 2-3 bedrooms but they also need a kitchen to cook for them selves.

We are also running low on funds to feed them. We need $500-$600 to feed them for the next week as well. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Rebecca at 610-1697.

Minister of Tourism, Honorable Mr. Heredia will have official word from Cabinet today about how much money they will be giving towards the purchase of the houses for the Police and BDF.

The Palms Hotel donated a dryer to Police and BDF housing project.

We still need:

• Lumber to construct Bunks
• Mattresses (regular or foam)
• Toilets
• Sinks
• Shower stalls
• Kitchen Sink
• Refrigerator
• Plates
• Pots & Pans
• Utensils
• General kitchen supplies
• Sheets
• Towels
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Washing Machine
• Cash donations are more than welcome as well

 

SPBA Meeting & Vice Chairman Vacancy

The next Meeting is October 23… We need volunteers or nominations for the position of Vice Chairman between now and the 20th. At this time no nominations have been made and no volunteers have come forward.

 

South Beach Development EIA Public Consultation

Reminder South Beach Development will be having its EIA Public consultation Friday October 10th on the second floor of the Alliance Bank at 6:30 pm.  The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

 

Other

The response to the weekly update has been very positive. As always, if you have any questions, concerns, ideas or issues contact the SPBA at:

Phone: 226.4474
Email: info@sanpedrobusiness.com

SPBA Weekly Update and September General Meeting Notes

SPBA September General Meeting – September 25th, 2008

General Updates

Weekly Update: In an attempt to keep members more up to date the SPBA weekly update will be sent out every Tuesday via email, and posted to www.sanpedrobusiness.com also. If something comes up, the best way to deal with issues is email. Send in any concerns, issues and/or ideas to: info@sanpedrobusiness.com. Volunteers to work in the office are also welcome – even if it’s just an hour or two a week.

Next Meeting: The next general meeting of the SPBA will occur on October 23rd, 2008. Full financial statements for the SPBA will be available at that meeting, and Financial Reports will be made available Quarterly after that. Although specific details from the accountant will be available on October 23rd, here are some very rough numbers to show where the finances of the Association are:

$41,000 Bz was raised for Security related issues and $44,000 Bz has been spent to date. It was costing $2,300 Bz a week to house and feed the BDF & Coast Guard members that were on the Island. Part of that was paid by the SPBA and the Minister of Tourism stepped in to assist with the rest. They are now cooking for themselves and this has dropped the cost down to approximately $500 Bz per week.

$30,000 Bz was raised in Member Dues. Approximately $9,000 to $10,000 Bz of that money has been spent. The general account of the SPBA has a balance of approximately $19,000 Bz at this time.

January Block Party: The second annual ‘Savor San Pedro Food Festival’ will be taking place in January 2009. The response from this year’s event was very positive, so we are now in the planning stages of the 2009 event. Anyone that would like to assist in the planning and execution of this even is asked to contact Rebecca.

Housing the BDF: We currently do have housing lined up for the BDF for the next 2 weeks. Thanks to all that have stepped up to assist in the area. We do, however, need some assistance for the week starting October 7th. If housing cannot be found, the troops will be sent back to the mainland. Anyone with available room is asked to contact us ASAP.

The Plan to build a permanent housing solution for BDF and Coast Guard members is moving along well. Cal and Amanda Symes have generously agreed to lease a location for $1 Bz a year for this purpose. The plan is still to acquire 2 Mennonite prefab homes. A generous member of the community has also pledged to match any amount raised by the community towards this project.

The Master Plan for San Pedro: Coastal Zoning is currently reviewing the official Master Plan for the Island. They will be making recommendations for the Master Plan, and once community consultation has been done based on their review, an official Master Plan will be legislated.

Community Clean-ups: Various schools on the island are getting together for a community clean up project. On October 4th all schools will be participating. To date over 160 large garbage bags worth of garbage has been cleared from Boca Del Rio to Blue Reef.

Nominations for Vice Chair of SPBA: Nominations are now being accepted for the position of Vice Chair of the SPBA. Nominations will be accepted until October 20th, 2008 and voting for the position will take place at the next General Meeting (October 23rd). To nominate someone just email or stop by the SPBA office.

Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Honorable Manuel Heredia then took the floor to discuss some issues. His comments were as follows:

Minister Heredia commented how he is always willing to work closely with the SPBA in order to deal with the issues being faced by the business community of San Pedro. He then commented on some of the work that has been accomplished since taking office. He has visited almost every district of Belize to learn of the needs and issues affecting each area of the country.

The BTB has been re-organized and now the Board of Directors is comprised of stakeholders in the Tourism industry, and not of political appointees. He believes that the BTB is functioning better now by having good representation for the industry. The Directors have the interests of the industry at heart and are working very hard.

He is also committed to ensuring that a 25-year Master Plan is created and enforced moving forward, both on a National scale and for specific districts and areas, especially for Ambergris Caye based on the rapid rate of development that is taking place here.

Most of the marketing providers for the Tourism industry in Belize have been changed. This shake up is good, as it revitalizes the work being done to promote Belize around the world.

Minister Heredia is now in the process of re-organizing the Ministry of Tourism, much in the same way that the BTB has been re-organized.

Belize will be hosting the Summit of Responsible Tourism in 2009. At least 500 international representatives will be in attendance. This Summit will be held in the Toledo district. More details on this event will be forthcoming.

The government has pledged to ensure that money that is generated in a specific area in tourism stays in that area as much as possible. He is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to make sure this pledge is kept.

Locally, there is some good news coming. The Street Sweeper has been paid for and will arrive on the island very shortly. A Trash Compactor has also been ordered and will hopefully arrive before the end of this year. Most of the Cobblestone Paving Project is complete, and they are now looking at the issue of roads in other areas that need improvement and fixing.

An Allocation of $75,000 Bz has been set aside to deal with the issue of Electricity in the San Mateo area. San Mateo is a problem spot. Various ministry officials have visited both the area and the School in an effort to figure out what to do with the issues of that subdivision. Recommendations from these various officials will be coming shortly. Suggestions of relocation & having the area filled properly have been made, however that is a very expensive undertaking. Under no circumstances will be the school be closed. The quality of education at Holy Cross is probably the best in San Pedro in Minister Heredia’s opinion. The rumors of the school being forced to close had no merit at all. Minister Heredia was one of the first people to ask the Wilson’s to open Holy Cross. It may have grown too quickly, however the school has his total support.

The Mayor and Town Council have done a great job, and have been working very closely with Minister Heredia. Cabinet has made it very clear that any issues involving the island, especially land issues, will be dealt with in close collaboration with the people of San Pedro. They have pledge to work closely with us to ensure that any decisions are the proper ones for the people of San Pedro. The Minister also asked for the help of the community, to let him know if any issues have slipped between the cracks.

On the issue of security, Minister Heredia mentioned that he speaks almost daily with Rebecca regarding security issues on the island. The government is working very hard to make San Pedro safe. Assistance from the Government of Belize will continue, especially from the Minister of Defense. There is now a very close relationship between the Business Community, Law Enforcement and the Government.

The Floor was then opened up for questions.

Q. Now that the issue of security is being addressed, it’s time to start looking at the serious issue of Medical & Emergency care on the island. A community the size of San Pedro needs a 24-hour emergency care facility.

A. The Minister of Health is coming out to the island for 2 days to deal with the issue of the Poly Clinic. He agrees that this is a very serious issue that needs to be resolved. One of the issues regarding the Poly Clinic involves staff housing. The purchase of a couple DFC houses was looked at, as a means of housing Poly Clinic staff however it was decided that was too expensive. The idea of building housing on top of the Poly Clinic is being examined. Another large issue at the moment is the lack of a full-time administrator for the Poly Clinic. It is a very serious issue and the Minister of Health is working hard to resolve it.

Q. There is a grown concern that the issues concerning aviation are being blown out of proportion at the moment. Is there any plan to publicly address these issues?

A. Minister Heredia mentioned that this is actually one of the safer regions based on amount of flights vs. actual aviation incidents. Steve Schulte of Tropic Air addressed the issue stating that the investigation of the latest incident is on-going, however it appears that the incident was caused by engine failure in a brand new engine, and that there have been other issues with this type and make of engine in other areas (Guatemala for example). New engines are on order, and 2 new airplanes are coming as well. He noted that there have been only 5 incidents in the history of Tropic Air, even though they fly 200 flights a day, 365 days a year. Maya Air flies almost as many as well. Given the sheer number of flights made incidents are inevitable, however overall the records of both airlines are quite good.

Q. Will Municipal Airstrip be fixed any time soon?

A. There is a plan being negotiated with both Airlines to almost completely redo Municipal Airport. Tropic has practically agreed to the idea and Maya is being involved as well. It will cost approximately $8 million to fix, and hopefully the deal will be finalized very soon. Within 5 years all Airports and Airstrips in the country will be fixed and improved. Corozal has already been completed, and other projects are in the works according to Minister Heredia.

Q. Are there any Plans to deal with the Road North of the Boca Del Rio Bridge?

A. Engineers from the Ministry of Works are coming to island in October. At the moment there is no declared road north of the bridge. The Ministry of Works has the authority to declare a road and work out any compensation necessary to land owners etc. Once an official road is declared then work can be done to ensure that the road is maintained to an acceptable standard.

Q. What is the status of the Boca Del Rio road/sewage digging project?

A. Minister Heredia is disappointed how this project has been coming along and looking into what he can do about the situation. He is talking to the people involved in the situation to make sure that the streets are put back into proper shape, or else the potential to take legal action regarding this issue will be examined.

Q. The road in the south between the 2 dredging companies is getting to be in bad shape. Big trucks mean big potholes. If there is a big rain in the next little while that road will be impassible.

A. Minister Heredia will talk to the Mayor about this issue and agrees that the 2 dredging companies need to give back to the community and help maintain the road.

Q. San Pablo church is deteriorating. It might make a good spot to house and base the BDF. Can anything be done with this building?

A. Dealing with the Church Board can be difficult. The legal title of that land is in limbo, and therefore it might not make the best sense to use it in that fashion.

Q. What of the rumors about building a secondary access road around the Airstrip to ease some of the traffic congestion in town?

A. We have completed a survey and measurements have been taken to construct a road around the end of the airstrip. When the engineers from the Ministry of Works are on island they will be taking a look at this spot as well. Alternate access to the west of the island is really needed.

Q. The new veterinarian hired by Saga will be living in the Saga office. Would it be possible for some members of the SPBA to pool some money to provide more appropriate accommodation for the Vet?

A. The SPBA may or may not be able to take on this issue, but there may be members of the community that would be willing to help accommodate the new Veterinarian in a more suitable fashion. Anyone interested in this idea is asked to contact the SPBA.

Q. During slow season, what steps have the Ministry of Tourism and the BTB been taking to help promote for next year?

A. Medium and smaller hotels & tour operators have been given some breaks and incentives to help them gear up for next high season.

Final Notes

Trash Disposal: The question of what can be done about the Trash and Health situations on the island was raised. There are many cases of BEL Transformers being tossed into the Lagoon on the north of the island (at least 6 instances). Major household appliances are strewn along the road north as well in addition to other garbage. These are very serious Health issues and there does not seem to be any regulations relating to trash disposal. An alternative needs to be implemented. According to the recycling company in Belize City it is too expensive to get the plastic off the island. The Chamber of Commerce looked into bringing an incinerator plant but it was deemed to expensive.

This is a very serious issue. Any members with ideas regarding this issue are asked to contact the SPBA to help figure out a solution.

South Beach Development EIA Meeting: The Public Consultation for the South Beach Belize Development will be held on October 10th, 2008 at 6:30pm on the 2nd level of the Alliance Bank Building in San Pedro Town. The general public is invited to attend.
Copies of this EIA are available for perusal at the San Pedro Town Council office, the San Pedro Library, The Hol Chan Marine Reserve Office, the Reef Village office, the Belize Fisheries Department in Belize City, the DOE office in Belmopan and on the web at the following location: http://www.doe.gov.bz/EIAs.html

It is important that members attend. Please be clear that the SPBA is not trying to focus on any particular development, we are just trying to ensure that all future developments on the island are following the same rules, laws and guidelines that every member of the SPBA have followed in the development projects they have been involved in.

Master Plan: Coastal Zone is doing a revamp of the Master Plan for San Pedro. Once this has been reviewed and updated, it will be made into law so that it is enforceable.

Hol Chan Expansion: The Hol Chan expansion has been approved. Some small details are being worked out and then there will be a large announcement and formal ceremony regarding the expansion.

If any member has questions or concerns they are asked to contact the Board.
San Pedro Business Association
Vilma Linda Plaza, San Pedro
Ambergris Caye, Belize
Phone: (501) 226.4474
Email: info@sanpedrobusiness.com
www.sanpedrobusiness.com

San Pedro Business Association Weekly Update

San Pedro Business Association Weekly Update - Sept 23

September General Meeting:

The September General Meeting of the SPBA is scheduled for Thursday September 25th 2008 at 1:00 pm at El Divino Restaurant (Banana Beach Resort). We realize that not every member can attend, but from the response received it seemed that the majority could, therefore we will proceed with this date. Minister of Tourism Heredia is scheduled to attend this meeting to discuss various issues.

For those members that will not be able to attend, information regarding this meeting will appear in next week’s update.

Membership Drive:

The SPBA is currently holding a membership drive. All members are encouraged to try to recruit 5 more business owner/operators into the Association. The more members, the stronger the voice the SPBA has.

Non-members will be able to join the SPBA prior to the September General Meeting. If you intend to join prior to the meeting, please arrive by 12:30 pm to El Divino so that you can be admitted. Keep in mind that members of the SPBA must be business concerns operating on Ambergris Caye that pay Business Taxes.

Membership fees of the San Pedro Business Association are:

Basic Membership: $500 Bz per year.
(Membership + Basic Listing on sanpedrobusiness.com)

Advanced Membership: $800 Bz per year. (Membership + Advanced Profile listing on sanpedrobusiness.com, including Photo and Links)

If you have any questions, please contact us by phone at: 226.4474 or email: info@sanpedrobusiness.com

South Beach Belize Development EIA and Public Consultation:

The Public Consultation for the South Beach Belize Development will be held on October 10th, 2008 at 6:30 pm on the 2nd level of the Alliance Bank Building in San Pedro Town. The general public is invited to attend.

Copies of this EIA are available for perusal at the San Pedro Town Council office, the San Pedro Library, The Hol Chan Marine Reserve Office, the Reef Village office, the Belize Fisheries Department in Belize City, the DOE office in Belmopan and on the web at the following location: http://www.doe.gov.bz/EIAs.html

It is important that members attend.

BDF Housing and Feeding Issues:

The SPBA is still working hard on the issue of housing and feeding BDF members that are patrolling on the island.

This week starting Wednesday (September 24th) or Thursday (September 25th) we will need housing for 10 people.  We need a place with a kitchen so that they can cook for themselves. Anyone that has rooms available needs to contact Rebecca at 610-1697. If we are unable to find accommodation for them they will have to be sent back to the mainland.

The Minister of Tourism has taken our request for funds to purchase the houses for barracks to the Minister of National Security and we are waiting for his response.

Meanwhile we continue to ask the community for support through cash donations or items from the list posted at the following link:

http://sanpedrobusiness.com/safetycommittee/

Other Business:

If members have any other questions, concerns or issues they would like addressed at this meeting, please contact Rebecca and let her know. Call 226.4474 or email: info@sanpedrobusiness.com.

Weekly Updates

Starting next week, in an attempt to be more productive, we will be sending out member updates weekly on Tuesdays. We will apprise members of what projects we are working on as well as what problems we have encountered.

We would also like to ask members with concerns or issues to also utilize e-mail to send in questions and concerns, as well as suggestions of viable solutions to issues facing the community that we as a group we can lobby for.

Important: Public Consultation regarding the South Beach Belize Development

The SPBA would like to advise members that The San Pedro Sun had an announcement to the following effect regarding the South Beach Belize Development EIA and Public Consultation…

The Public Consultation for the South Beach Belize Development will be held on October 10th, 2008 at 6:30pm on the 2nd level of the Alliance Bank Building in San Pedro Town. The general public is invited to attend.

Copies of this EIA are available for perusal at the San Pedro Town Council office, the San Pedro Library, The Hol Chan Marine Reserve Office, the Reef Village office, the Belize Fisheries Department in Belize City, the DOE office in Belmopan and on the web at the following location: http://www.doe.gov.bz/EIAs.html

It is important that members attend.

SPBA General Meeting Tentatively Planned for September 25th, 2008

The SPBA has tentatively scheduled a General Meeting for September 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pm. Members are encouraged to provide feedback on the feasibility of that date, given that so many people may be away or on vacation during that time.

Please let us know if you will be able to attend, or if another date would be better. If enough members are available at that time the meeting will go ahead, if not we will find a more suitable date. Email info@sanpedrobusines.com or call 226.4474 or (cell) 610-1697 to let us know.

The Minister of Tourism has requested a meeting with the Business Association to discuss a variety of timely issues.

Also, the SPBA is holding a membership drive. All members are encouraged to try to recruit 5 more business owner/operators into the Association. The more members, the stronger the voice the SPBA has. For more information about joining please visit the website at: http://www.sanpedrobusiness.com, email info@sanpedrobusines.com or call 226.4474 or (cell) 610-1697.

URGENT UPDATE regarding Public Forum - from Late Wednesday Afternoon - Meeting Postponed

Please be advised that the Public Forum Meeting that was confirmed earlier today has now been postponed again.
Minister Heredia has been called out of the country on an urgent matter and has requested that the meeting be rescheduled. We will inform you all of the rescheduled date as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

From: Betty
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 3:33 PM

Good Afternoon,

Minister Heredia asked me to forward the following message to the SPBA

“I regret to inform the Members of the San Pedro Business Association that I will not be able to attend the public forum that is scheduled for Sept 04 at the Lion ’s Den. I have been called out of the country to attend to an urgent matter.

While our Government encourages investment and welcomes the development of our country and our islands, the public’s opinion as to the best way forward is of the utmost importance to this administration. I therefore extend my apologies for this delay, especially since this is the second postponement, and I ask that the meeting be once again re-scheduled. I believe that I must be present at this forum so that we can share in this process.”

Hon. Manuel Heredia , Jr.

BDF Presence on Island Update

Thanks to all of the Hotels and Golf Cart Rental Companies that have helped out with the BDF over the last several weeks.

Currently the feeding of the BDF soldiers has gotten quite expensive. It has averaged $2,000 a week to feed the 10-14 BDF, Police and Coast Guard officers three meals a day. The Minister of Tourism and the SPBA have been paying for the food. Currently there are not funds to continue feeding them.

We are now looking at the possibility of setting up a camp for the BDF where they could do their own cooking. The SPBA could then hopefully help by supplementing their food supply. The Minister of Tourism is looking into obtaining a permanent site for this camp.

If anyone has building materials, or would like to help with obtaining a Menonite House that can be constructed on the site please contact the SPBA.

Finally, in the interim we are looking at other possible solutions until the camp or barracks can be established. If anyone has any other help to offer or solutions please contact the SPBA.

Important Notice and Clarification Regarding South Beach ‘Public Forum’

A ‘Public Forum’ meeting WILL BE HELD at the Lion’s Den at 7:00 pm on Thursday September 4th, 2008 (This Thursday evening).

This Meeting is NOT an “Official Public Consultation” that all developer’s must hold. It is a general “Public Forum” meeting.

The intention of this meeting is for the Minister of Tourism, Representatives of the South Beach Development and other Government Officials to collect feedback and information from the general public about the proposed South Beach Development project.

This meeting does NOT qualify as an official ‘Public Consultation Meeting’. The developers must do that, and will at a later date. The meeting on Thursday September 4th is VERY IMPORTANT however, because there is clearly alot of questions and concerns in the community about this project.  It is a critical time to express these opinions, questions and concerns to the Minister of Tourism and other officials.

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Update on BDF & Policing Issues

The San Pedro Business Association would like to let all members know that thanks to the Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia and the San Pedro Business Association the BDF and extra police officers have been on the island for the last two months.

These BDF soldiers and extra police officers have been a tremendous help in curbing crime, apprehending criminals and keeping the island safer. The presence of these forces have been made possible by Minister Heredia, who has helped pay for their food, and by the SPBA. Banana Beach Resort, Ramon’s Village, Mata Rocks Resort, Xanadu Resort, Caribbean Villas, Changes in Latitudes, Blue Tang Inn, Island Cottage, The Palms and Corona Del Mar have all been gracious enough to provide them with rooms.

GOB has said that we will have these officers in San Pedro for the next year. Until we can work out some type permanent housing for them we need the continued support of the community for housing and food. Any business or person willing to contribute in any way can please contact Rebecca Arceo at 610-1697 or e-mail the SPBA at info@sanpedrobusiness.com

SPBA Meeting with Police on Thursday July 10th 2008 at 10:00am

To all SPBA  Members

There will be a special San Pedro Business Association meeting at El Divino on Thursday July 10th at 10:00am.

This meeting will be with the Commissioner of Police and the Honorable Manuel Heredia. The meeting is only open to Business Assocaition members. This is an important meeting so please be on time. In order to be productive with our time we would like all members to e-mail questions and ideas in today to the Business Assocaition so that we can organize an agenda.

There will also be a public meeting at the High School Auditorium at 7:00pm that evening with the Commissioner of Police and the Honorable Manuel Heredia.

Community Meeting Update: Meeting Postponed

The Public Meeting with the Department of Environment and the Developers of Reef Village that was to be held this evening at 7:00 pm has been postponed to a later date. As soon as we know the rescheduled date and time we will be sure to pass that information on via email and our website.

This meeting is a public forum to discuss Reef Village’s plan to moor a 150 foot, 3 story ship on a 300 foot dock in front of their development just North of the Bridge, and use this vessel as a Casino. As mentioned as soon as we know the rescheduled date and time we will be sure to pass that information on.

Relief Effort for Southern Belize

The SPBA, in cooperation with the Lions Club and Reef Radio are organizing a Relief Effort for the victims of Tropical Storm Aurthur.

There will be a live Radiothon starting at 10 am today.  Anyone wishing to make donations may call into Reef Radio.  You can also deliver any donations to the San Pedro Lions Den.  Donations of money, food, clothing and even toys are welcome and appreciated.  Please remember that the families affected lost everything.

You can listen to Reef Radio over the internet via their Live Stream. Call them at: 501.226.4054 or email them at reefradio@btl.net

Urgent Public Forum Notification

June 5th, 2008 at 7:00pm at the Sunbreeze Hotel

The Department of Environment and the Developers of Reef Village and South Beach are holding a public forum meeting at the Sunbreeze Hotel on Thursday June 5th at 7:00pm.

The developers of South Beach and Reef Village have plans to bring in a 150 ft boat that is three stories.  Their plans are to operate a Casino on this vessel.

We would like all member of the SPBA and the public that have questions or concerns about this project to please be present. This a crucial opportunity to ask questions an voice our concerns as a community.

San Pedro Lobsterfest Reminder & Meeting

San Pedro Lobsterfest 2008 is not that far away (June 14th to 21st), and this year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than last years. Businesses are already reserving their booths for the block party. If you would like to have a booth, please don’t hesitate to contact Rebecca - spaces are going fast.

Any members of the SPBA that would like to help out with the Lobster Festival please e-mail Rebecca (info@sanpedrobusiness.com) or phone her at 610-1697.

There will be a meeting of the Lobster Festival committee at 12:30 at Elvies Kitchen May 8th. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Ambergris Caye Eco-Challenge Thanks

On behalf of the SPBA, but also personally I would like to thank the business community for their support of the Ambergris Caye Eco-Challenge. Elito had a vision over four years to create a race that would challenge the body and expand awareness. He created a race that takes participants kayaking 42 miles through the waters of Ambergris Caye. During this race the participants paddle through areas that are only accessible by kayak. They see parts of our eco-system that are often forgotten or ignored. These participants then return to share their experiences with their friends, family and the entire community. Through this we have all gotten more awareness about the importance of these areas.

Each year Elito, with of the help of Keira Forman from Hol Chan dedicates himself to making this event happen. He could not make it happen with out the support of the businesses and community of San Pedro. This year they had a total of 29 teams and for the first time ever we had teams that flew into Belize just to participate in the race. The Eco-Challenge was able to award over $14,000.00 BZ in cash prizes to the top three winners in the professional and amateur categories as well first and second for the women’s category. They also awarded numerous gift certificates to the teams for prizes like snorkel gear, dinners, bar tabs and hotel stays.

I would also like to thank all of the people that took the time to support the race by following along on the races and providing water and making sure that everyone was safe. This year we had incredible support from Josh (Seaside Real Estate), Chris (Sail Sports), Roberto (Ambergris Divers), Fitz (Jambel), Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve boat, Jody Leslie, Sueno Del Mar, The BDF, Dr. Zuniga and the staff at SEAduced… Marty O’Farrell who dedicated himself to documenting the race and Reef Radio for the minute by minute update.

Finally, though the aching muscles of the participants may not feel this way today, they are ALL winners and this race obviously WOULD NOT happen without them. Thank you Teams you all make San Pedro very proud.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Arceo

April General Meeting of the SPBA

The SPBA April General Meeting is taking place this Thursday (April 24th) at 1:00pm at El Divino Restaurant at Banana Beach.

Juan Alamilla will be present to discuss the Dock Issues that have arisen.
The BDF presence on the island will also be discussed as well an update on the donations made to the San Pedro Police Department by the SPBA.

Updates on the upcoming Lagoon-Reef Eco Challenge and San Pedro Lobsterfest are also on the agenda.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

San Pedro Little League

Community Steps up to support youth…

Elito Arceo and Debbie Spain, with the support of the San Pedro Business Association have organized a Little League Softball competition. 6 island schools will be participating. The games will be held on Friday afternoons at 3:30 pm and Saturday mornings at 9:00 am. The opening event will be April 11th at 3:30 pm at the old football field.

Elito, Debbie and the SPBA would like to thank the following for their generous donations:

AmbergrisCaye.com Messageboard: $1,300
Tsunami Skydivers: $400
Lagniappe Provisioning: $350
Go Fish Belize: $350
Remax Isla Bonita: $350
Milos: $350
Mata Rocks: $350
Suya Tours: $350
San Pedro Sun: $350
Casa Picasso: $250
Victoria House: $150

Special thanks to the Brasher family who raised $1,500 US as well as supplying all of the equipment for the league.

San Pedro Lobsterfest 2008 events

Enjoy 8 days of Celebration in San Pedro

The San Pedro Business Association is pleased to announce the events schedule for San Pedro Lobsterfest 2008.

Lobsterfest 2008 officially kicks of on June 14th in the evening with the official “Meat & Greet” Cocktail Party at El Divino Restaurant at Banana Beach Resort. This evening will feature the official launch of Lobsterfest cocktail party, Brazillian Rotisserie and a performance by ‘The Fat Cats’. The Menu for this event is:
Appetizer: Couch Soup
Entree: Brazilian Style Rotisserie (Churrasco) - Beef, Shrimp, Poultry, Pork and Pineapple served with Whipped Potato and a Vegitable Medley
Desert: Coconut Cream Pie
Price: $33.00 US, tax included
Contact Banana Beach at www.bananabeach.com »

The fun continues on the first day of lobster season (June 15th) at Fido’s Restaurant & Bar in downtown San Pedro. During the day enjoy a Beach BBQ and watch as local fishermen compete in the First Day of Lobster Season Catch Competition. Prizes will be awarded to the fisherman that catches the most Lobsters on opening day, and for the fisherman that catches the largest Lobster on opening day. The fun continues at Fido’s in the evening with a special performance by ‘The Fat Cats’. Contact Fido’s Restaurant & Bar at www.fidosbelize.com »

On June 16th, the fun shifts to the North of the Island, as Portofino Resort hosts the exlusive ‘Lobsterfest Feast’. Enjoy an evening of fine food, fire dancers and live music at one of the premier Restaurants on Ambergris Caye. Contact Portofino at www.portofinobelize.com »

Victoria House hosts the ‘Dine under the Stars’ evening on June 17th. Enjoy a special mouth-watering meal on the beach under the beautiful Caribbean sky. Contact Victoria House at www.victoria-house.com »

On June 18th the fun shifts to Pedro’s Pizza with the ‘All you can Eat’ Lobster Pizza and Ceviche event. While there, try you hand at the 2nd annual Lobsterfest Poker Tournament. If Poker is not your thing, the party continues the evening of June 18th at Wet Willy’s Bar & Cantina with their ‘Lobsterfest Ladies Night’ Event. Contact Pedro’s Pizza at www.backpackersbelize.com »

Mambo Restaurant at Matachica Resort is the setting on June 19th with the Mambo’s Aqua Night. Mambo Restaurant’s Theme night is inspired by the brilliant colors of the Caribbean Sea and the treasures it hides. Enjoy a romantic evening with mermaids welcoming you to the torch lit beach, and colorful fabric floating from Mambo’s soaring thatch roof to set the stage for an evening of delectable lobster specials and enticing deep blue cocktails.Listen to your eyes while entertained by Madonna’s “Isla Bonita” with our local island “take the lead dancers”.

The Menu for this special evening is ala carte. For complimentary transportation please call 220.5010 or 220.5011. Contact Matachica Resort at www.matachica.com »

On June 20th, the Blue Water Grill hosts a special evening. The Blue Water Grill serves a unique blend of island style cuisine with a Pacific rim twist in an open-air setting overlooking the Caribbean Sea in the heart of San Pedro Town. Contact Blue Water Grill at www.bluewatergrillbelize.com »

Lobsterfest 2008 wraps up on June 21st in the Central Park of San Pedro Town with the 2nd annual ‘Lobsterfest Town Block Party’. During the day, enjoy an Arts and Crafts Fair in the park featuring local artists and artisans. In the evening, stroll down front street to the delightful shops around Central Park, enjoy the friendly Belizean Culture and dance the night away to the sounds of a Reggae, Calypso and good old Rock and Roll from The Fat Cats. Watch as Lobsterfest King and Queen 2008 are crowned, sample the tasty treats at various booths and help us celebrate the opening of Lobster Season 2008.

Serving Alcohol on Good Friday Rule Change

After a special meeting today (Thursday March 20th, 2008) the Minister of Local Government & Labor along with the Minister of Tourism have made the decision that establishments that have a “Publican and Special” liqour license may open after 6pm on Good Friday. This is a decision that was made today (Thursday) in response to the request from local business owners to re-examine the ruling from Monday prohibiting the sale of alcohol at all on Good Friday.

February General Meeting Notes

The San Pedro Business Association held its February 2008 General Meeting at El Divino Restaurant on Friday, February 22. At the head table for the meeting were Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., Deputy Mayor Joseph Elijio, SPBA Chairman Elito Arceo and SPBA Treasurer Terry Anderson.

In his opening statement, Arceo congratulated Area Rep Manuel Heredia for winning in the recent elections, and on his appointment as Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation. He then gave an update on the BDF patrols that occurred over the holiday season. These patrol had a strong impact on the community as crime decreased noticeably (8%) during the time period they were here. Arceo noted that there is still money in the Safety Committee account for use on crime related issues. He also mentioned that the Police Boat, which was donated by SPBA member Captain Morgan’s Retreat and outfitted by the SPBA has been delivered to the Police Department for their use, and thanked all members and non-members that donated to the Safety Committee.

Area Representative, the Honorable Manuel Heredia then took to the podium to deliver some opening remarks. Heredia started off by thanking everyone for being present at the meeting and promised that he will work together with the local sector and government for a better San Pedro. He is committed to working together to make things better for everyone on the island. He noted that the Prime Minister is committed to transparency and accountability in this government.

Local Government Funding and Taxation:
On the issue of taxes and increasing funding for the local Town Board, Heredia said that while not in a position to get into details on these issues, he assured the audience that more of the money that is generated on Ambergris Caye will stay here. He continued by saying that the Prime Minister, Hon. Dean Barrow has promised that revenues will come back to San Pedro for infrastructure and other amenities and that the Local Authority will be able to do much more in the island for the betterment of streets, piers and other amenities. He noted that Transportation Department revenues will stay on the island effective soon (approx. $300,000). Liquor Licence revenues will stay here also, as will other revenue sources specific to Ambergris Caye.

On the issue of accountability and the decision making process, Heredia commented that this central government is committed to consultation with all Local Authorities and stakeholders on any decisions that affect a given area. All ministries will be accountable and transparent, and all ‘major decisions’ will be discussed by and approved by cabinet.

“I believe that any ministry which wants to do anything in the island must consult their plans with the Local Authority and Business Sector before anything is done; they need to get the approval from the people of San Pedro,” stated Hon. Heredia.

Another issue raised was having the hotels being zero rated of GST. Mr. Heredia stated that a vast number of things will be revised so as to make them exempt from some taxes. According to Heredia, the Town Council subvention will be increased so that the local authority can receive what it actually deserves compared to other districts in the country. While the subvention is a complicated issue, Central Government is looking at the process from all areas. Central Government is committed to ensuring that more of the revenue generated on Ambergris Caye will stay in the local community. The matter of San Pedro becoming a district will most definitely be revisited Heredia commented.

The question of uncollected property taxes was also raised, and Heredia commented that he has met with the Town Board regarding this issue, and a plan to deal with this issue is in place.

Tourism and Crime:
On issues of Tourism and Crime on Ambergris Caye, Heredia said that his intention is to place a large focus of the Belize Tourism Board on building tourism here on Ambergris. Hon. Heredia mentioned that as Minister of Tourism he will work hand in hand with the Minister of Defense and National Security, Mr. Carlos Perdomo, to ensure that San Pedro is given the attention and provided with extra police officers or BDF for better security since it is the premier tourist destination. He noted that Mr. Perdomo is very experienced. Heredia also committed to lobbying for a consistent BDF presence on the island. Attention to the issue of crime must be given here, and in all tourist destinations in the country.

At the meeting, Officer Dennis Arnold, head of the San Pedro Police Department, was present and commented that while the BDF were stationed on the island it did help the police department and the community in a whole. He also mentioned that he strongly agrees in bringing them back to assist the short-staffed police department on the island. Officer Arnold commented that the new Police Boat will mainly be used the Northern areas, and mostly for pursuit purposes.

Officer Arnold was also asked about the practice of private individuals hiring uniformed police officers for specific cases, and if it wouldn’t make more sense to find more overtime, on-duty hours for the officers instead of having them hired out privately. Arnold thought this was a good idea, noting that it is expensive to live on the island and that his officers need to be able to maintain their income level under any new system.

Officer Arnold was also approached with concerns about late night drinking, especially at particular establishments and also questioned about implementing a limit on liquor licences in the Master Plan. He mentioned that he wanted bars to close at 3:00 am but conceded a 4:00 am closing time, and also that the Police will be cracking down on issues such as this, particularly were an establishment has repeated problems involving crime and drinking. He noted that the Police can recommend to Town Board that an establishment have it’s liquor licence suspended or cancelled, and that when establishments are in the process of renewing their licence, a review of problems can be held before granting a new licence.

Garbage:
On the increasingly important issue of garbage, Heredia informed the Business Association of the good news that in the next few months San Pedro should be receiving a garbage compactor and street sweeper. He also mentioned that he would be taking this matter to cabinet in order to try to get central government to help in purchasing another street sweeper or garbage compactor for the island.

Ambergris Caye Master Plan:
Heredia mentioned that he agrees with the SPBA that the ‘Master Plan’ needs to be enacted and enforced. Local authorities need to examine the plan, make recommendations on changes and improvements, and when ready he will take it to Cabinet for approval. He agrees that a logical plan for development of Ambergris Caye needs to be followed. In answer to a question from the floor, he commented that the Master Plan does and should encompass the entire Island and the adjacent Cayes, not just San Pedro Town.

Other issues covered by the quest speakers included concerns over the crocodile feeding at the WASA pond in the south of the island; the incorporation of Cangrejo Caye into Hol Chan Marine Reserve (which Hon. Heredia committed to doing) and the protection of the Mexico Rocks area.

In closing, Elito Arceo thanked all the members and guests for attending the meeting. In some Business Association housekeeping it was announced that Andre Perez would no longer sit on the Steering Committee as the Vice-Chairman but would remain an active member of the SPBA. It was also announced that the establishment of an SPBA Committee to examine and make recommendations about changes to the Master Plan would be set up, and that any members interested in being on this committee should contact Elito or Rebecca Arceo.

5th Annual Reef Lagoon Eco Challenge Kayak Race and SPBA Block Beach Party:
Also, Elito Arceo and Hol Chan Marine Reserve will be having their 5th Annual Reef Lagoon Eco Challenge Kayak Race on April 26th and 27th.The culmination of the race will be at Central Park on April 27th where the SPBA will be sponsoring a Block Beach Party.

Festivities of the Block Beach Party will include a grilling competition. Awards and prizes will be given for the best BBQ Ribs, Best BBQ Chicken, Best BBQ seafood and Best Decorated Booth. There will also be awards given for the Best “Drink”. There will be a DJ all day and live entertainment.

Anyone interested in having a booth can contact the SPBA at 226.4474 or e-mail the SPBA for more details.

February 2008 General Meeting Agenda

February General Meeting Agenda Announced

The San Pedro Business Association will be holding it’s February 2008 General Meeting at El Divino Restaurant on February 22nd at 1:00pm. The Agenda for this Meeting is as follows:

Item #1: Taxes
Land transfer taxes and business taxes should remain in the district from which they are generated. These taxes remaining in the area that generated them would allow these areas to develop infrastructure as needed. The basic concept behind this is that an area that generates more taxes fundamentally needs it to develop and maintain its infrastructure. In the most basic terminology it is a matter of supply and demand. San Pedro generates one of the largest supplies of land transfer tax and business taxes in the entire country in return though the demand for these tax dollars to main the infrastructure is high.

Goal: The goal is to get Central Government to leave the land transfer taxes and business taxes in the district that generates it. At the same time San Pedro needs to become its own district. This would allow the local authorities, ie. the Town Board to finish the roads, purchase garbage and street sweepers as well as other necessary things to keep up with the growth of the town.

Next the issue of Hotels being 0 rated for GST needs to be addressed.

Item #2: Crime
The community response to the BDF presence over Christmas and New Years was overwhelmingly positive. We actually had area doctors respond that they had a dramatic decrease in violent crimes that led to injuries over past years.

In past meetings it has been made clear that there is no way to provide San Pedro with more police officers, they are not available. However, it is also clear that our current police force is understaffed. We believe that the solution therefore is to supplement the police force with BDF. We would like to request a permanent station of BDF on San Pedro.

Neighborhood watch program: Stephen Spiro from El Pescador is asking that anyone interested in helping set up a neighborhood watch program in their contact him. He can be reached at 226-2975 or e-mail steve@elpescador.com. He has a map that has San Pedro divided into 7 main areas and people are needed in each area. A neighborhood watch is in no way expected to take the place of the police, but rather assist in providing information.

Item #3: Garbage
At this point we believe that in order to collect garbage in an efficient, sanitary manner the town needs actual garbage trucks. Along with this plan business and residences will need to acquire the correct garbage bins.

Fines for illegal dumping of garbage need to be enforced. Does Town Board have plans for enforcing the littering fines?

Item #4: Master Plan
Many years ago the Town Board established a “Master Plan” for the island. For several years this plan was honored not because it was a law, but because of its actual merit. In recent years however things have changed and many guidelines set out by the master plan have been broken. At this point we would like to bring to the table that the master plan  become law.

Along with the guidelines already contained in the master plan this might be the appropriate time to make some additions. Our suggestion is that a sub-committee be formed to examine the master plan, collect information and take a consensus as to what could be added. This committee could then present their findings to the association.

San Pedro Business Association
Schedule February 22, 2008

12:00-1:00 pm:
Registration of New Members

1:00 pm:
Greeting by SPBA Chairman Elito Arceo
Explanation of process to have issues put on the agenda.
Scheduling of Meetings.
Update on the funds and police boat for the safety committee.

1:30 pm:
Introduction of the new Area Representative Manuel Heredia.

1:45 pm:
Issues on the agenda will be addressed one by one.  We would like to keep topic discussion to 15-30 minutes.

At the end of the meeting members can turn in a question & comment sheet that we will provide to them at the beginning of the meeting. The purpose of this sheet is for members to make notes, questions or comments on during the meeting that they would like the pass on the steering committee after the meeting.

As always, this meeting is for San Pedro Business Association members only.  If you are not a member, but would like to join and attend this meeting you may do so prior to the meeting’s start at 1:00pm. Please come to El Divino by 12:30 if you wish to join.

San Pedro Lobsterfest Dates

San Pedro Lobsterfest 2008

Just a reminder that the dates for Lobsterfest 2008 will be June 14th through June 21st, 2008.  The Town Block Party will be on June 21st at Central Park, in San Pedro.  More details of all the events coming soon…