San Pedro Business Association

Feeding & Housing the BDF

Currently the SPBA & Minister of Tourism are faced with housing and feeding the BFD, Coast Guard and Police units that have been temporarily stationed on the Island. It has become a costly effort and also has proven to be inefficient for the group themselves.

Due to this situation the Chairman of the SPBA, Elito Arceo, has been doing some research on alternate solutions. Here is a plan that he has come up with…

Create a permanent Barracks for the BDF, Coast Guard and Police on Ambergris Caye.
The Barracks would consist two buildings - one would be set up as a bunk-house with beds for 18 to 20 people and two bathrooms. The second building would be set up as a kitchen and dining hall.

The cost to purchase and ship two prefabricated Mennonite houses is $30,000.00 BZ.

Our Minister of Tourism has agreed to carry this proposal to Cabinet. In the meantime we have already received a pledge of $5,000.00 cash from Belize Legacy Resort, and very kindly, Cal and Amanda Syme have agreed to lease the SPBA a piece of land at $1 a year for five years on which the barracks may be constructed.

At this point we would like to put out a list of items that we will need. (Cash donations being more than welcome as well).

We will 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

A Stove has already been donated by SEAduced by Belize.

Those you that are in the process of renovating your properties may have items that you are replacing… we would be more than happy to have your used items.

Finally, we believe that this plan will make having the BDF, Coast and Police presence more manageable, which is in the best interest of all residents and businesses in San Pedro. If we set up these barracks it will also give these groups a consistent location to eat, sleep and also organize and coordinate their operations on Ambergris Caye.

Please contact Us with any questions, concerns or donations that you may have. Email: info@sanpedrobusiness.com, Call: (501) 226.4474 or stop by the Office in the Vilma Linda Plaza.

10 September 2008

Elite Dragon Unit on Island over Easter

The SPBA would like to thank all members as well as Patty Arceo, that assisted in the housing and feeding of the elite Police Dragon Unit that was patrolling the island over the busy Easter Weekend Holiday. These officers were a very welcome presence in the community, and with the assistance of SPBA members it is hoped that their ability to come to the island will continue.

4 April 2008

SPBA Safety Committee Update

The Safety Committee of the SPBA would like to extend a very special thank you to all that have donated money and equipment to the Special Constable program. This includes:

Arboles Der Circa: $250.00
Jack & Terry Tanner: $250.00
Charles & Sandra Reid: $250.00
Charlie & Michelle Croughwell: $250.00
Island Beach House: $250.00
Jeffry Rhees: $250.00
Keith Newton: $250.00
Linda Percy: $250.00
Carpenter Family: $250.00
Laura Nordgern: $250.00
Marty Weiss Drennan: $250.00
Pam Killen: $250.00
Seacluded Sands: $250.00
Robert Campbell: $250.00
Sally and Hal Furman: $250.00
Scott Holland: $250.00
Stan Jones: $250.00
Tazmara Gowans: $250.00
Troiano: $250.00
David Henderson: $500.00
Pelican Properties: $1,000.00
Rocco Martino: $1,000.00
Seascape: $1,500.00
Azul: $2,000.00
Belizean Shores Resort: $2,000.00
Belizean Shores Resort c/o Coco Beach: $2,000.00
Journey’s End: $2,500.00
Las Terrazas: $2,500.00
Victoria House: $2,500.00
Costa Maya Reef Resort: $3,000.00
Portofino: $3,000.00
Mata Chica Resort: $3,500.00
Belize Legacy Resort: $5,000.00

Special Thanks also go out to Captain Morgan’s Retreat for their donation of a Boat for use by the Special Constables unit.

21 November 2007

SPBA Works with North Ambergris community to increase safety

The San Pedro Business Association met with North Ambergris businesses and homeowners at Mata Chica Resort to brainstorm how the community can work with the San Pedro Police department to effectively reduce crime in the areas north of the bridge. Given that the police are located in town, quick response for North Ambergris from officers is made difficult for a variety of reasons. Working with the community and the Police Department, the SPBA has committed to assisting the police by funding 4 Special Constables to patrol the area. These Special Constables have already been trained, but were not active due to a lack of funding. They will be hired full-time for a period of 1 year, ensuring that they have job security.

Vehicles are another issue, and the SPBA has committed to providing the funds to purchase two All Terrain Vehicles for use in patrolling North Ambergris. Captain Morgan’s has donated a boat fitted with Radar for use by the Special Constables as well. In the near future, the SPBA plans to build a police substation in the vicinity of Costa Maya that will have two officers stationed in it.

The SPBA will provide these much needed items to the Police Department through pledges from the private community, whether business or residential. In the coming days, the SPBA Safety Committee (Rebecca Arceo, Gricel Graniel, Kevin Gonzalez and Dianne Campbell) will issue pledge letters to the community. A separate bank account has been created for this purpose. For more information, or to pledge support for this program please contact: info@sanpedrobusiness.com or call 501.226.2254

29 October 2007