A meeting turns sour after fishermen object and complain about the new changes projected to the Old Football Field and Lagoon Area in downtown San Pedro that were presented to them at a consultation meeting on Friday, January 14, 2011.
A preliminary consultation for the Old Football Field (Saca Chispas) Sunset Boardwalk and Water Taxi Terminal was held on Monday, November 9, 2010. At the meeting, the project’s overview was presented to have a waterfront development on the lagoon front to create a new destination within San Pedro Town which will consolidate water travel to serve local and international traffic, provide new opportunities for leisure and commerce, build public-private partnerships for commercial and cultural growth, promote waterfront beautification, and further the overall enhancement of Ambergris Caye as a tourist destination, resulting in an increase in overnight tourist visitation.
It was a meeting filled with mixed emotions as some thought the idea of beautifying the area, having a sports complex which is so desperately needed, as well as the parking facility are great ideas. But making major changes in the area for the fishermen was not easily acceptable to everyone in attendance.
After the project was modified since the first consultation and the fishermen having some time to weigh the options of the project, it seems that they have unanimously decided that they do not approve of the project.
These modifications were presented to at least 30 families of fishermen who are stakeholders in the lagoon area where the project is intended to drastically change the appearance and operation of their businesses at a meeting held on Friday, January 14, 2011. The second consultation was chaotic, to say the least. The fishermen, who had held meetings among themselves prior, are now more than convinced that they do not like the changes proposed to them.
The dialogue between the fishermen and representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) turned sour as both groups strongly stood their grounds. The IDB proposes to go ahead with this $6Mil project with changes to accommodate the stakeholders’ needs, but the fishermen who use the area do not want the changes or entire project at all.
Stakeholders (Fishermen) Concerns:
*Alterations to the Lagoon Area ecosystem that will affect the tarpon breeding grounds and delicate mangroves
*Alterations to the fishermen’s existing docks which will rob them of their private docks and business
*The docks have been an ancestral part for all of the fishermen who use the area and don’t want to lose the little that they have.
*San Pedro will lose another little part of the island charm that is left from years past.
*Tourist are drawn to this lagoon-side as it is, wanting to learn more about San Pedro’s past.
*Residents do not want San Pedro to change its environment to a Cancun-like one.
*The new water taxi terminal proposed in the area will cause more congestion in the already narrow canal and heavy trafficked area that leads into the back lagoon.
The Inter-American Development Bank is offering loans to the Government of Belize to make improvements in the Tourism Sector around the country. This money cannot be used in other areas around the island like on the streets, Poly Clinic or sewage system, as proposed by those who attended the meeting. These areas are of higher importance for the island, but the $6Mil has to be used directly for the improvements in the tourism sector.
The consultation meeting was set up to determine whether residents of San Pedro approve or disapprove of the $6Mil project to enhance the Old Football Field. Results from the meeting will heavily influence the IDB’s decision on moving forward with it. With the island’s stakeholders heavily disapproving the project, it is expected for the IDB will scrap the new improvements but we have yet to know what is their next move and decisions. The island is at risk of losing this money, but the fishermen hope that an agreement can be made to use this money elsewhere on the island and not for drastically changing the environment they have been using for years.
Related Article: First Consultation Meeting
Anonymous (not verified) –
I think this is a GREAT idea. There is nothing wrong with cleaning up the area and making it a nice area for tourist to hang out and enjoy the back side of the island. Nobody want to go back there now because it looks so bad and make tourist feel unsafe. I think it would also help with the traffic situation in San Pedro. Anything that attracts tourist should be welcomed considering most of the money coming into the island is from the tourists.
Anonymous (not verified) –
I agree with you a 100% the people who live around the area what change they are tired of looking at the mess at the bank and the drunk people who stay there and are always stealing.
Anonymous (not verified) –
I think it is a great idea. my mother lives in that area and is always having to chase away the drunken men who sleep in the docks and use it as a toilet. It is really dirty and it needs to be beautified and at the end we will all benefit from the change.
Anonymous (not verified) –
I agree with you with what you are saying. I think there is a lot more behind the scenes than wanting to uplift the area ... just as there was by relocating the barges from central park in front of Big Daddy's. It's true, it did help the island with the traffic n the noise and big trucks but there was a bigger purpose which we should all know by now.
As for the area needing to be uplifted ... I also agree. The area can be cleaned, maybe continue building the sea wall like the previous administration did and fill it with white sand so it looks nice and appealing like Mr. Henkis' one. Tourists and locals alike would enjoy that wihtout having the present local fishermen relocated or rearranged from their present spot ... But I don't think that 6 Million dollars are needed to make that area look nice and pretty !
Since the money can only be used for Tourism ... Can't this administred see what this island really needs is a nice piece of beach where tourists and locals alike can go and swim and get a nice sun tan !? This island has absolutely no nice decent beach for locals or tourists to use ... Why not invest the money on that ! THis present administration travels a lot, I'm sure they've been to playa del carmen and know what i'm talking about.
Anonymous (not verified) –
its tru - there are always 2 sides to a story. though some of the fishermen geniunly want to keep their embarcadero just like in the old days there are some who's interests may not be so inocent.
do you know that some of them have taken this 'cultural identity' and sold it? the new water taxi terminal back there was a couple native fishermens' embarcadero and it sold for top dollar. how can this be???? all this area is public "queen's land" just like the beach infront. now all of a sudden we hear some fishermen claiming they have 'paper's and ownership of their section?
again - though some geniunely want to keep it for originally intended purposes, others are looking at the market value of it ...
Anonymous (not verified) –
I am writing as a local resident to object about the new changes projected to the Old Football Field and Lagoon Area in downtown San Pedro. I am greatly concerned that the proposal, if it goes ahead, will have significant detrimental impacts on the environment and the local community. As a local resident this is a matter of concern which affects not only our beautiful island but also other local residents, especially fisherman.
Indeed, I understand that the project’s overview is to have a waterfront development on the lagoon front to create a new destination within San Pedro Town; however, I’d like to point out that those changes will definitely impact our ecosystem as it will affect the tarpon breeding and also destroy our very little memories we have of our antecedents. Furthermore, let’s not forget that the mangroves play a vital role in not only protecting the environment but also serve as a habitat and attraction to the tarpons, in other words it is their home. Moreover, the proposed area is an area of historic character which does not need any changes to benefit the private partnerships. Who are you trying to delude? It is evident that the supposing new opportunities for leisure and commerce will benefit those interested in this proposal and become a threat to our local fisherman. On the longer run, the hardworking fishermen will be kicked out resulting in a private area.
- Honorable Manuel Herredia and Mayor Elsa Paz are you going to stand for this ridiculous proposal? Put yourselves in these people shoes, as a matter of fact I’d like you to sit down and analyze the consequences this project will bring. Come one have you forget where you come from? (No offence at all and my apologies if you take it the wrong way) I’d just like to invite you to flashback and bring back to mind as to was your bread and butter 25 years ago.
I would suggest that instead of spending or investing money on this project why not use the money wisely by beautifying our beaches, implimenting more trash bins, planting more coconut trees, constructing more palapas, etc,
I know that the people’s behaviour at the meeting wasn’t appropriate but please understand that this idea is not easily acceptable especially for the fishermen as it is their only heritage they have. We are a democratic country and tambien somos un pueblo unido and we have the right to voice our opinions.
I really hope that the matters I have raised will cause you to refuse to grant this proposal.
Yours faithfully,
Local resident.
Anonymous (not verified) –
PERSONALY I THINK THIS IS A GROUP OF IGNORANT PEPOLE. THE MAYOR AND THE AREA REP SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THIS PROJECT AS IT WILL BENEFIT ALL. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING THAT WE NEVER GET ANTHING FROM GOVERNMENT AND NOW THAT IT IS BEING OFFFER ITS BEING REJECTED BY A SMALL GROUP THAT THINK THE LAGOON BELONGS TO THEM AND ONLY THEM. ITS BEEN A LONG TIME THAT SAN PEDRO IS NO LONGER A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE.
Anonymous (not verified) –
No there not a group of ingnorant people. An Yes they should have rights to owning land back there,they've all been there many years an up kept the land an docks back there.Every piece of land back on the lagoon side has been developed by each an every person that has a dock or even property over there.In actualyty the only people being ingnorat is the Area rep. and town council ...use that money for some other means in the community ,there are many .
Anonymous (not verified) –
EVERYONE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE REEF IN THE VIDEO AND THE BOARDWALK CONSTRUCTION. WHAT ABOUT CONSTRUCTION AND DREDGING GOING ON RIGHT NOW!!! ARE THEY SAYING THE REEF WILL ONLY BE DAMAGED BY THE BOARDWALK COME ON WHAT ABOUT THAT DREDGING GOING ON BY THE B.W.S COMPOUND??? NO DAMAGES WITH THAT??? COME ON SAN PEDRANOS!!!!
Anonymous (not verified) –
I honestly think that this is a project that our little town needs. We need to invest in our infrastructure to make San Pedro a more competitive tourist destination, after all, everybody in town depends on Tourism. We also desperately need more green and recreational areas for our tourists, for our youth and the elderly too. We owe it to ourselves to have a better quality of life - and this is what projects of this scale are intended for.Sure we need to invest in our streets, and many other areas, but we also need to invest in what puts food on our tables - tourism.
As for the relocating of the fishermen, i think that our leaders have heard their petitions and are willing to compromise - something that they ("the fishermen") are not willing to do.
With all due respect, these "fishermen" and the families that live on the waterfront have enjoyed and benefitted from the waterfront for decades, practically claiming ownership of the waterfront and lagoon.
I believe it is only fair that they give the lagoon back to the people and allow for the whole of San Pedro Town to enjoy and benefit from it through this Boardwalk / Marine Terminal Project.
As for the charm of our old fishing village - I think that the magic of San Pedro is in its people , in their smiles and their humble spirits to put their personal interests aside for the betterment of our Town. Development and Progress does not precisely mean leaving tradition and identity aside. They can co-exist.
To summarize:
Benefits of the Boardwalk / marine terminal: added green and recreational areas, improvement in tourist arrival facilities, increased waterfront accesibility, incentiveze commerce, increase property values in the vicinity, increase the competitiveness of Ambergris Caye as tourist destination.
Drawbacks of the Boardwalk/ marine terminal: The fishermen will not be able to call the piers their own and will have to walk a couple more feet to their boats.
as son of a fisherman I understand and value the memories of my dad`s old fishing village however, he also understands that our village has outgrown itself and as such has growing needs that we must accommodate.
Javi Alamilla
Pages