UPDATED 21 JUNE 2008
TROPIC TO RESUME FLIGHTS TO FLORES Tropic Air has announced that it will resume flights to Flores, Guatemala, on July 1. The airline will fly two daily roundtrips between Belize International and the Flores-Santa Elena airport. Flight #401 BZE to FRS departs at 8:30 a.m. and arrives at 9:15. Flight #402 FRS to BZE departs at 9:30 a.m. and arrives at 10:15. Flight #403 BZE to FRS departs at 3:00 p.m. and arrives at 3:45. Flight #404 FRS to BZE departs at 4:00 p.m. and arrives at 4:45. Basic fare before exit tax and other fees is US$114 one-way. Tropic also will resume it s overnight and day tours of Tikal on July 1. There is no word yet on whether Maya Island also will fly to Flores. Flights from Belize to Guatemala had been cancelled since November 2007. (June 21, 2008)
CHANNEL 5 TV SOLD TO BTL Channel 5 TV and its parent company, Great Belize Productions, have been sold to Belize Telemedia Ltd. Amalia Mai has been named the new CEO. Stewart Krohn will remain as a consultant to the station but will devote his time to developing the Cocoplum real estate project on the Placencia peninsula. Under Krohn, Channel 5 TV produced one of the most respected news programs in Belize and Central America. Reportedly Krohn had been trying to sell the station for some time. (June 18, 2008)
BELIZE HIT BY WORST FLOODING IN 30+ YEARS; 7 DEAD BUT TOURISM SPARED Tropical Storm Arthur, which formed off the coast of Belize on May 31 and quickly moved ashore, dumped up to 15 inches of rain on the country, from the far north to far south, mainly on Sunday night (June 1) and Monday morning (June 2). Seven Belizeans have been reported dead in Stann Creek District. The Kendall Bridge over the Sittee River at Mile 13.7 of the Southern Highway between Hopkins and Maya Centre was destroyed, temporarily cutting off road access to points south, including Placencia and Punta Gorda. A dirt, gravel and culvert causeway has been built over the river, allowing cars, trucks and buses to pass. A permeanent replacement bridge could take a year or longer to construct. A small section of the Hummingbird Highway near Middlesex was also washed away but has now been repaired. Several villages, including Gales Point in Belize District and Sittee in Stann Creek District, were inundated with flood waters. Areas of along the Northern Highway also received flooding. A large part of the rice crop in Blue Creek in Orange Walk District is said to be destroyed. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker had some moderate flooding, and several dozen small boats were reported sunk. Prime Minister Dean Barrow declared a national emergency. There is as yet no final estimate of the financial cost of the storm, but it likely will run into the tens of millions of U.S. dollars. Fortunately, Belize's number one foreign exchange earner, tourism, escaped virtually unscathed. Hotels and resorts remained opened or quickly reopened after the storm. All hotels and tourism operations are now functioning normally. (June 3, 2008, Updated June 15, 2008)
PM PULLS PREVENTATIVE DETENTION EFFORT Prime Minister Dean Barrow has decided to drop the preventative detention measure, citing almost universal opposition by Belizeans. (May 25, 2008)
UDP GOVERNMENT SEEKS 'PREVENTATIVE DETENTION' AS ANTI-CRIME MEASURE In the face of soaring murder and other crime rates, Prime Minister Barrow has announced his government will seek new powers of arrest , so-called preventative detention. The government also wants to expand wire-tapping. (April 11, 2008)
JOHNNY BRICENO NEW PUP LEADER Johnny Briceño upset Francis Fonseca for the position of People's United Party leader, in a toughly fought six-week battle. The Orange Walk Central representative has been sworn in as opposition leader. (April 4, 2008)
BELIZE TOURISM ARRIVALS EEKED OUT SMALL GAIN IN 2007, CRUISE SHIP TOURISM CONTINUES DECLINE Overnight tourist arrivals totaled 251,655 in 2007, up less than 2% from 2006, according to figures from the Belize Immigration Department. Cruise arrivals declined again, to 624,128, down about 5% from 2006. This continues a decline in cruise ship arrivals, since the peak of more than 851,000 in 2004. This represents a decline of about 27% since the peak. The number of cruise ships calling on Belize City also declined, from 406 in 2004 to 278 in 2007.
Visitors from the U.S. continue to make up the majority of Belize overnight visitors, 152,569 of the 251,655 visitors in 2007, or about 61% of total tourist visitation. Europeans constitute about 14% of overnight visitors, a percentage that has actually declined slightly since 2003, when it was 15%. Canadian visitors represent about 6.6% of overnight tourists, up from 4.4% in 2003. Guatemalans make up about 5.6% of tourist visitors, while Belizeans living abroad represent about 3.6%.
Hotel occupancy and revenue figures for 2007 aren’t yet available. Belize Tourism Board figures from 2006 show that there were 561 hotels in Belize, with 5,789 rooms and 9,651 beds. Annual hotel occupancy in 2006 was 42.9% nationwide (hotel occupancy was around 66% in the U.S. in 2007), and hotel revenues totaled US$56.4 million. Hotel revenue per room, a widely used industry statistic, was US$9,743. Actual Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) per night, another yardstick, was US$26.69. The average RevPar in Central and South America in 2007 was US$75.
The statistically average hotel in Belize has 10 rooms and grosses around US$100,000 annually, or revenue of about US$10,000 per room. (April 1, 2008)
ALTUN HA MOST POPULAR VISITOR DESTINATION IN BELIZE Altun Ha Maya site in rural Belize District, Hol Chan Marine Reserve off Ambergris Caye and the Mountain Pine Ridge in Cayo were the three most popular visitor destinations, among parks, reserves and archeological sites, in Belize in 2007, according to figures provided by the Archeology Department, the Belize Audubon Society, the Forestry Department and the Belize Tourism Board.
The top 15 archeological, park and reserve destinations in 2007:
1. Altun Ha 73,369 visitors
2. Hol Chan Marine Reserve 56,671
3. Mountain Pine Ridge 56,027
4. Xunantunich 52,251
5. Lamanai 29,301
6. Cahal Pech 15,926
7. Caracol 14,018
8. Community Baboon Sanctuary 10,153*
9. Half Moon Caye National Monument 9,405
10. Actun Tunichil Muknal 9,433
11. Inland Blue Hole 9,156
12. Barton Creek Cave 5,699
13. Nim Li Punit 4,708
14. Lubaantun 4,384
15. Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary 1,510
* Figures for 2007 for the Community Baboon Sanctuary not available; rank based on 2006 figures. Figures for Caves Branch Cave not available -- if available visitors to this site likely would be in the top three.
(April 1, 2008)
BELIZE JUNGLE LODGE IN BELMOPAN LATEST TO BE PUT UP FOR SALE Belize Jungle Lodge, near Belmopan, has been put up for sales by the owners, who are moving to a Caribbean island. The lodge has seven rooms and suites and a swimming pool, on 2.88 acres. Asking price is US$1,400,000.
Some tourism operations for reportedly for sale in Belize:
CAYO
Belize Jungle Lodge, Belmopan, US$1,400,000
Mopan River Resort, Benque Viejo, US$2,850,000 Casa Maya, San Ignacio, US$1,400,000 Parrot's Nest, Bullet Tree, US$460,000
Royal Mayan Resort, Benque Viejo, US$1,750,000
Warrie Head Ranch & Lodge, near Georgeville, US$1,500,000
Windy Hills Lodge, US$2,500,000
PLACENCIA Manatee Inn, Placencia Village, US$375,000 Singing Sands, Maya Beach, US$890,000 Green Parrot, Maya Beach, US$1,395,000 Nautical Inn, Seine Bight, US$1,700,000 Miller's Landing, US$1,500,000
COROZAL Hok’ol K’in Guesthouse, Corozal Town, US$598,000 Las Palmas, Corozal Town, US$2,900,000 TJ's/International Cozy Corners, US$399,000
CAYE CAULKER Iguana Reef Inn, US$3,750,000 Seaside Cabanas, US$2,500,000 Bel-Isle Condos (unfinished), US$600,000
TOLEDO Sea Front Inn, Punta Gorda, US$1,200,000
Tranquility Lodge, Jacinto, US$240,000
DANGRIGA/HOPKINS AREA Hummingbird Inn, US$425,000
Kanantik US$10,000,000
Jaguar Reef Lodge, US$4,705,000
BELIZE CITY AREA Global Village Hotel
El Chiclero Inn, Burrell Boom, REDUCED TO US$795,000
Howler Monkey Lodge, Bermudian Landing, US$250,000
AMBERGRIS CAYE Coconuts Hotel, US$3,600,000 with financing Beach'n Kitchen (currently a restaurant) US$149,000
Pasta La Vista (restaurant)
Palapa Bar Banana Beach, US$8,900,000 Corona del Mar, San Pedro, US$2,700,000 Lili’s, San Pedro, US$1,200,000 Seven Seas Resort/Timeshare, US$1,950,000 Tranquility Bay Rubie's II, US$375,000 South Beach Belize (not finished) US$6,940,000
OFFSHORE CAYES
Blackbird Caye Resort, Turneffe Atoll, US$8,000,000
Slickrock Adventures camp, Long Caye, Glover’s Atoll, US$1,400,000 (doesn’t include island real estate) Caye Chapel Island Resort, Caye Chapel, US$75 million
Isla Marisol, Southwest Caye, Glovers Reef, US$5,000,000
PROFILE OF THE NEW PRIME MINISTER Dean Oliver Barrow, the new prime minister of Belize, was born March 2, 1951, in Belize City. He grew up in Belize City and attended St. Michael’s College there. He is an attorney, specializing in litigation, at Barrow & Williams, Albert Street, Belize City, having been admitted to the Belize bar in 1975. Among his clients is Lord Michael Ashcroft. He received an LL.B. degree in 1973 from the University of the West Indies in Barbados, a Certificate of Legal Education at Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica in 1975, an LL.M. degree from the University of Miami School of Law and a master’s degree in international law from the University of Miami, both in 1981. Prime Minister Barrow was first elected to the Belize House in the general elections of 1984 and has served there ever since. Under a previous UDP administration, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Foreign Affairs. Considered the first black to hold Belize’s top office, he speaks Spanish and English, as well as Creole. Dean Barrow has four children, the oldest of whom is rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, also known as Moses Michael Leviy, currently serving a 10-year prison sentence on an attempted murder charge in the U.S. (February 11, 2008)
PRIME MINISTER BARROW NAMES CABINET AND OFFICERS Prime Minister Dean Barrow has announced his selections for senior officers and cabinet ministers in the new government:
Rt. Hon. Manuel Esquivel Senior Advisor to Government with Ministerial Rank
Doug Singh Senator & Leader of Government Business
James Murphy Cabinet Secretary
Dr. Carla Barnett Consultant to the Ministry of Finance
CABINET [16 Ministers]
Dean Barrow Prime Minister & Minister of Finance
Gaspar Vega Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment
Erwin Contreras Minister of Economic Development, Commerce, Industry and Consumer Protection
Patrick Faber Minister of Education
Carlos Perdomo Minister of National Security
Michael Finnegan Minister of Housing & Urban Development
Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington Attorney General & Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
Anthony “Boots” Martinez Minister of Works
Manuel Heredia Jr. Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation
Pablo Marin Minister of Health
Gabriel Martinez Minister of Labor, Local Government & Rural Development
John Saldivar Minister of Public Service, Governance Improvement and Elections and Boundaries
Rene Montero Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries
Melvin Hulse Minister of Public Utilities, Natural Energy Management, Transport and Communications
Eden Martinez Minister of Human Development & Social Transformation
Marcel Cardona Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture
MINISTERS OF STATE
Michael Hutchinson in the Ministry Labor, Local Government & Rural Development
Elvin Penner in the Ministry of the Deputy Prime Minister
Edmund Castro in the Ministry of Works
Arthur Roches in the Ministry of Health
Juan Coy in the Ministry of Human Development & Social Transformation
Note: Only Ministers can be members of Cabinet, although the Ministers of State will have a standing invitation to participate. Backbenchers will be Chairs of Committees.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Joe Waight Financial Secretary
David Gibson Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment
Charles Gibson Ministry of Public Service
Marion McNab Ministry of Labor, Local Government & Rural Development
Dr. Peter Allan Ministry of Health
Cadet Henderson Ministry of Works
David Leacock Ministry of Education
SENATORS
Speaker of the House Emil Arguelles
President [Orange Walk]
Juliet Timbrell [Belize City]
Debbie McMillan [Cayo]
Pulcharia Teul [Toledo]
(February 11, 2008)
GANG SHOOTOUTS IN BELIZE CITY LEAVE 13 INJURED, 2 DEAD Gang-related violence has reached into the “tourist zone” of Belize City, where 2 were killed and 13 injured in shootouts early the morning of Saturday, February 9. One person was killed and at least nine wounded by gunfire at the Putt Putt bar and nightclub, across from the Princess Hotel & Casino, often frequented by tourists and cruise ship visitors. Another person died in a drive-by shooting near the Belcan Bridge. Police said gangs were involved in the shootings. Some tourism operators say they fear such violence could result in another U.S. State Department warning about safety in Belize. (February 10, 2009)
FINAL ELECTION NUMBERS Final results of the February 7 general election, as certified by the Elections & Boundaries Department, are as follows. The information below includes the winning candidate, the division and the percentage of votes gained by the winner. Listings are by party, ranked by order of percentage of winning votes.
UDP
Michael Finnegan (Mesopotamia) 76.9%
Dean Barrow (Queen’s Square) 76.10%
Anthony “Boots” Martinez (Port Loyola) 73.52%
Carlos Perdoma (Caribbean Shores) 66.90%
Edmund George “Clear the Land” Castro (Belize Rural North) 63.99%
Salvador Fernandez (Cayo North) 63.10%
Manuel Heredia Jr. (Belize Rural South) 61.51%
Rene Montero (Cayo Central) 61.38%
Erwin Rafael Contreras (Cayo West) 61.20%
Pablo Saul Marin (Corozal Bay) 59.36%
Juan Coy (Toledo West) 59.31%
Gabriel Alberto Martinez (Corozal South West) 57.97%
Patrick Jason Faber (Collett) 57.60%
Gaspar “Gapi” Vega (Orange Walk North) 56.93%
Arthur William “Turo” Roches (Dangriga) 56.60%
Melvin Hulse (Stann Creek West) 56.60%
Elvin Penner (Cayo North East) 56.51%
Wilfred Peter Elrington (Pickstock) 56.30%
John Salvidar (Belmopan) 55.83%
Nemencio Acosta (Corozal North) 54.70%
Peter Eden Martinez (Toledo East) 54.50%
Marcel Porfirio Cardona (Orange Walk East) 54.11%
Ramon Witz (Cayo South) 52.42%
Michael “Hutchy” Hutchinson (Belize Rural Central) 51.19%
Marco Pech (Orange Walk South) 50.78%
PUP
Mark Espat (Albert) 62.90%
Said Musa (Fort George) 57.64%
Cordell Hyde (Lake Independence) 53.7%
Johnny Briceño (Orange Walk Central) 52.16%
Florencio Julian Marin Jr. (Corozal South East) 50.07%
Francis Fonseca (Freetown) 49.58%
UDP OUSTS PUP IN NEAR SWEEP In peaceful national elections on February 7, the United Democratic Party candidates took 25 of 31 seats in the House, taking almost 57% of the popular vote to 41% for the Peoples United Party. A total of 116,943 votes were cast. Almost three-fourths (74.5%) of registered voters turned out for the election. For the PUP, only Cordel Hyde (Lake Independence), Francis Fonseca (Freetown), Mark Espat (Albert), Florencio Julian Marin Jr. (Corozal South East), Johnny Briceño (Orange Walk Central) and standard bearer Said Musa (Fort George) were able to win their divisions. Even PUP moneyman Ralph Fonseca lost his “safe” seat in Belize Rural Central. Third parties fared poorly, together winning only about 2% of the votes. About 61% of voters said yes to an elected Senate, but it’s unclear how the proposed change in the Senate will actually be implemented. On Friday, February 8, Dean Barrow was sworn in as the new prime minister. (February 8, 2008)
ANDY PALACIO REMEMBERED AS NATIONAL HERO Andy Palacio, who died January 19 in Belize City at the age of 47 after he suffered a heart attack and stroke, received the equivalent of a state funeral January 26 in his home village of Barranco in Toledo District. Thousands journeyed to the small, remote Garifuna village to pay their tribute to the iconic world music man. On the global stage, Palacio was Belize’s best-known musician. During the 1980s, Mr. Palacio used Garifuna rhythms in punta rock, a popular Caribbean dance music. In the mid-1990s, working with the Belizean producer Ivan Duran, Palacio made albums with musicians from Belize and Cuba, and in 1999 he appeared with older Garifuna musicians on the album Paranda. He was named director of culture at the Belize Arts Council in 2003. He made his home in San Ignacio. His 2007 album Wátina became one of the most critically acclaimed recordings of the year, and the global interest in his music has helped spur a revival in Garifuna culture. (January 30, 2009)
CARNIVAL OVER? NATIONAL ELECTIONS SET FOR FEBRUARY 7 Said Musa and members of his Cabinet met January 6 at the Princess Hotel and Casino with members of the clergy for a breakfast meeting. During the meeting, the Prime Minister announced that he will advise the Governor-General to dissolve the National Assembly today and set Thursday, February 7, 2008 as Election Day. The Prime Minister also announced that on that same day, Belizean voters will participate in a referendum which will be on a separate ballot on the question of whether Belize should have an elected senate. It was reported that the Rt. Hon. Musa wanted to hold the election on Ash Wednesday, February 6. The PUP has held elections several times on Ash Wednesday. However, reportedly members of the clergy urged him to not hold the election on that religious day, and he agreed to move it back one day, to two days after Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. (January 6, 2008)
CRIME DOWN IN 2007, POLICE SAY: The number of serious crimes reported in Belize in 2007 fell about 17% from 2006, according to police statistics. Reports of murders, rapes, burglaries, robberies, carnal knowledge and theft fell from 3,853 in 2006 to 3,204 in 2007. Only murders showed an increase, from 92 in 2006 to 97 in 2007, an increase of about 5%. Almost two-thirds of murder cases were solved. Burglaries decreased 17%, robberies 2% and rapes 14%. More than one-half of the murders occurred in Belize Disrict, with 39 of the 97 in Belize City. Cayo District has the second-largest number of murders, and Toledo had the lowest. Still, Belize's murder rate of about 30.8 per 100,000 population is about five times higher than the rate in the U.S., and almost 15 times higher than the homicide rate in Canada. (January 3, 2008)
SIR BARRY! Barry Bowen, Belize's Belikin beer baron who also has extensive landholdings and business interests in Belize, has been designated for knighthood by Queen Elizabeth. Also on the New Year's Lists announced in the London Gazette are other honors for Belizeans: Dr. Kenrick Leslie will be honored as Commander, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his dedication to meteorology and science. Gerald Westby and Lloyd Gillett will get an OBE, and Yolanda Murray, Crispin Jeffries and Arlie Petters will get MBEs. (January 3, 2008, revised January 18, 2007)
BELIZE GUIDEBOOK UPDATE UNDERWAY Travel writer Lan Sluder is currently updating Fodor's Belize 2008 for the new 2009 edition. Published by Random House, most Fodor's guidebooks including the 349-page Belize edition are revised, fact-checked and updated annually. Sluder, author of more than a half dozen books on Belize and founder of BELIZE FIRST, has been doing the Fodor's guide (formerly Fodor's Belize and Guatemala) for almost 10 years. In January, February and March, he will be revisiting all areas of Belize to re-evaluate hotels, restaurants and sights and to report on new properties and attractions. Tourism operators, hotel owners and others with new information on their operations that they wish to have considered for the new guide should consider contacting Sluder at lansluder[at]gmail.com (replace [at] with @). There is of course no charge or obligation involved for those properties and sights included in the guide. (January 2, 2008)
FLIGHTS TO TIKAL CANCELLED All Maya Island Air and Tropic Air flights from Belize International to Flores, Guatemala, have been cancelled. The Guatemalan government says that the airlines are not complying with certain international provisions now required by Guatemala. A bill in the Belize House is under consideration that would provide the necessary paperwork to allow the airlines to resume flights, and negotiations with Guatemala are underway, but it is unclear when the issue will be resolved and flights resumed. Tikal Jets, a Guatemalan airline that for a short time flew the route, went out of business in 2006, so currently there is no air service from Belize to Flores. Travelers wishing to see Tikal can go by tourist bus on Linea Dorada or San Juan Travel buses from Belize City, go on day or overnight tours from San Ignacio or Belize City, or cross the border and go independently via bus, van or taxi. (November 24, 2007)
SEVEN BELIZE CITY MEN MISSING AT SEA; ONE BODY RECOVERED Seven well-known Belize City business and professional people went missing November 4 while on a fishing trip near St. George's Caye. On November 10, reportedly one body was recovered by searchers; no other details are available at this time. A Norther, or El Norte, was affecting weather patterns when the men went missing, with cool temperatures and winds of more than 20 knots. Their skiff was found at Gallows Point near Drowned Caye, about 8 miles east of Belize City, sunk and with its engine and part of its canopy gone. However, wallets and cell phones belonging to the men were found in plastic bags in the boat. The seven men, all longtime friends, include Richard Swift, an attorney and magistrate; Ismael Quiroz and Darrington Escobar, owners of the Avis car rental agency in Belize City; Quiroz's adult son, Abner, who also works at Avis; Nick Nicholson, an accountant at the Radisson Fort George; and Gustave Briceño and Eamon Reyes. Police say they have not ruled out foul play, but that the boat may have capsized, hit a reef or coral head or run into other trouble due to the prevailing sea and weather conditions. Winds at the time could have created waves of 8 feet or more. Searches continue. (November 7, 2007, updated November 8 and 11, 2007)
LARGE TIMESHARE AND HOTEL RESORT PROPOSED FOR PLACENCIA'S FALSE CAYE False Caye, a 61-acre mangrove island about one-half mile east of Maya Beach on the Placencia peninsula, is known for its good snorkeling and fishing. If developers – which include one of the best-connected businessmen in Belize and a Louisville-based real estate company -- get their way, however, it may be known as one of Southern Belize's largest tourism and timeshare developments, complete with two hotels with a total of 106 rooms, timeshare villas and over-the-water cabañas all together accommodating more than 800 tourists, plus six piers, a manmade beach, roads, restaurants, swimming pools, a heliport and spa. To get to that point, the developers, Maya Island Resort Properties, Ltd., indicate in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that they would have to dredge over 336,000 cubic meters of fill from the seafloor immediately east of the island.
At a community meeting in Seine Bight November 8, it was learned that a U.S. firm based in Louisville, Ky., Poe Companies, plans to partner with Maya Island Resort Properties, headed by Belize businessman Eugene Zabaneh, to develop the island. Poe has previously developed hotel (mainly Marriott flags), office and residential properties in Louisville, Austin, Tex., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and elsewhere. The investment in the False Caye project could come to as much as US$125 million, including dredging and filling, all construction and the development of water, energy and waste systems. The project could eventually employ more than 75 people, including about 35 full-timers, according to the EIA.
Eugene and Ana Zabaneh are directors of Maya Island Resort Properties, and attorney Kareem D. Musa witnessed the incorporation papers for the limited liability company formed in March 2006. Eugene Zabaneh is the largest citrus grower in Belize, is or has been a major stockholder in Maya Island Air, one of two Belize airlines, Z-Line bus line, Alliance Bank and Intelco, and he has many other business interests. He has connections, through family, marriage or politics, to most of the best-known names in the Belize power structure. The EIA, prepared by Tunich-Nah Consultants & Engineering, hundreds of page long, is available for viewing at www.doe.gov.bz/EIAs.html. Tunich-Nah previously did the EIAs for Ara Macao in Placencia, Spanish Lookout Resort on Spanish Lookout Caye and Castaways Resort on Calabash Caye.
False Caye is a “moat island” with over-wash mangrove forest, which means that this nursery for sea life is regularly inundated with seawater. False Caye is not currently occupied, except by American crocodiles and brown pelicans, laughing gulls, cormorants, golden-fronted woodpeckers, melodious blackbirds, white-crowned pigeons and other birds.
The proposed False Caye development is just one of several large
projects recently announced for the peninsula, where a total of some 1,500 new condo or other housing units recently have been built, are under construction or have been approved for construction. This does not include the highly controversial Ara Macao project, whose developers claim they will eventually build some 2,000 units. Environmentalists and other critics say that the peninsula, with a current population of only around 2,000, does not have the infrastructure to support the new development. There still is no paved road to and through the peninsula. (October 10, 2007, updated November 9, 2007)
IGUANA REEF INN FOR SALE One of Caye Caulker's most upscale hotel properties is now being offered for sale by the owners. Iguana Reef Inn, a fixture on Caye Caulker since 1998, is on the market for US$3 million. Another of Caulker's upscale resorts, Seaside Cabañas, has been for sale for some time, with an asking price of US$2.4 million. Reportedly, Seaside Cabañas is now under contract. (October 21, 2007)
FOUR SEASONS RESORT REPORTEDLY SET FOR DICAPRIO'S ISLAND It's reported that Four Seasons will build a resort on the 104-acre island, called Blackadore Caye or Cayo Negro, that movie star Leonardo DiCaprio bought on the back side of Ambergris Caye. Construction supposedly will start in 2008. The hotel will incorporate "green" technologies. Development costs could run to more than US$30 million. DiCaprio is believed to have paid about US$1.75 million for the island in 2005. If it comes to fruition, the resort would be the first internationally flagged beach resort in Belize, as other resorts are independent and without an international brand. There are Radisson and Best Western hotels in Belize City. (October 9, 2007)
MARION JONES ADMITS DOPING, FACES POSSIBLE JAIL TIME; BELIZEANS DISAPPOINTED IN NATIONAL HERO After adamantly denying it for years, track star and Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones has admitted that she took performance-enhancing drugs. Jones, who was born in Los Angeles of a Belizean parent and an African-American parent and who has been treated by Belizeans as a national hero, has forfeited the three gold and two bronze medals she won the in the 2000 Olympics. Jones also faces possible prison time, not for doping but for lying to investigators about drugs. She may also have to repay millions in appearance fees and endorsements. Belizeans appear disappointed in Jones. There is no word on any possible renaming of the Marion Jones Stadium in Belize City. (October 5, 2007, updated October 10, 2007)
SANCTUARY BAY DEVELOPMENT -- A BIG, FAT MESS With the former principals of the Sanctuary Bay real estate development having been jailed and the court-appointed receiver, Robb Evans Associates, and Sanctuary Bay owners and various development entities associated with Sanctuary Bay in legal disputes in both the U.S. and Belize, the whole situation at the development, which is located between Hopkins and the Placencia peninsula, is in chaos.
Observers say that Sanctuary Bay is an example of what can happen in Belize when real estate buyers don't check the background of developers and essentially invest big sums based on a web site and developer promises.
To follow the reaction of Sanctuary Bay lot owners to this big, fat mess, check these owners' forums: http://www.eyeonworldwide.com/offplan-property-sanctuary-bay-S177.aspx and http://sanctuarybayforums.jconserv.net/login.php
According to reports on these forums, and from other sources, it appears development at Sanctuary Bay has been halted. It is now unclear who actually owns or controls the development. Buyers who financed lots are unsure to whom they should send their payments. One group of property owners has retained an attorney in Belize to try to protect their rights.
Without a developer in place and with various legal proceedings underway, the buyers' properties reportedly are worth less than they paid. Plus, they are involved in a potentially lengthy and unpleasant (not to mention expensive) series of legal actions, for which some of the property owners are having to cough up money. Suprisingly, the Sanctuary Bay web site is still up, with all the claims for the development still being actively made.
Sanctuary Bay, which borders the Sittee River and Sapodilla Lagoon, had been offering 135 one- to five-acre lots for US$50,000 to $200,000 each. Property buyers also were supposed to have an interest in an 11,000-acre nature preserve. The Sanctuary Bay developers promised many amenities including a marina.
In early May, two Americans involved in Sanctuary Bay were jailed in the U.S. Andris Pukke, founder of a U.S. credit counseling company accused of cheating 300,000 debtors out of millions of dollars and allegedly the original owner/developer of Sanctuary Bay near Hopkins, and Peter Baker, a long-time Pukke friend and associate who was a principal in Sanctuary Bay, were jailed by U.S. District Court Judge Peter Messitte in Maryland. Pukke was held in contempt of court for failing to turn over assets to a fund set up, in a U.S. Federal Trade Commission agreement, to repay the debtors. Robb Evans Associates was appointed by the court to attempt to collect monies from Pukke and his associates. The Robb Evans firm moved to gain control of certain real estate assets at Sanctuary Bay and its related entities. Pukke maintains he has no direct control over the assets.
Peter Baker, the son of Joan Medhurst, whose firm in the 1990s had the international public relations contract for the Belize Tourism Board, was jailed because the judge concluded Baker and Pukke colluded to shield assets both in Belize and in California. (September 27, 2007)
BUS AND TRUCK COLLIDE ON WESTERN HIGHWAY, WITH FATAL RESULTS A National Transport bus and a cargo truck collided September 20 at about Mile 35 of the Western Highway. Six were killed and 18 injured. (September 20, 2007, update September 24, 2007)
FEINSTEIN STILL WANTS TO BUILD A 5-MILE CAUSEWAY OFF BELIZE CITY Developer Michael Feinstein says he is proceeding with plans to build a 5-mile, US$35 million causeway from Belize City to Stake Bank, a 20-acre caye that he will develop, in partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, complete with cruise ship terminal, a tourism village, restaurants, swimming pool and other facilities for cruise ship passengers. Despite concern by environmental organizations about the impact on birds and marine life and fear that the causeway could not stand up to a hurricane, Feinstein says he has all his environmental clearances and wants to proceed. However, Luke Espat's Port of Belize has secured an injunction from the Belize Supreme Court against Feinstein's project, at least until October 8, 2007. Espat is promoting an alternative cruise terminal in the Port Royal area, in conjunction with Carnival Cruise Lines. Meanwhile, cruise ship passenger arrivals have declined over the past two years, and Carnival recently has pulled one of its ships out of Belize. (September 20, 2007)
NEW AIR CONNECTIONS TO SOUTHERN BELIZE Travelers to and from Southern Belize – Dangriga, Hopkins, Placencia, Punta Gorda and other areas of the South – now have another option for air travel. Spirit Air (www.spiritair.com), a low-cost discount carrier, now goes from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The equipment is late-model Airbus A319s. Fares vary but can be as low as US$60 one-way. With taxes and fees, fares typically run around US$90 one-way or US$180 round-trip. Currently, Spirit flights depart Ft. Lauderdale at 11 p.m. and with the time change arrive at 11:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Returning flights depart SPS at 2 a.m. and arrive Ft. Lauderdale at 5:20 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. (Schedules subject to change.) Spirit also has connecting service from Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Chicago and elsewhere to Ft. Lauderdale and then on to Honduras. Once in San Pedro Sula, travelers can overnight in San Pedro Sula and fly Maya Island Air’s new service (www.mayaairways.com) from SPS to Savannah (across the lagoon from Placencia) Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:15 p.m., arriving Savannah at 4 p.m. Fare is US$125 one-way or US$250 round-trip. Connections are possible to other Maya Island destinations in Belize. Honduras-based Atlantic Air (www.atlanticairlinesint.com/index.php , Spanish only; Belize number 501-225-2163) has a flight to Belize City on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from San Pedro Sula, at around US$145 one-way, or US$290 return.
If you don’t want to pay Maya Island’s or Atlantic Air's rates – twice the fare from Florida to Honduras – you can go by bus and water taxi to Punta Gorda and then fly or bus to Placencia or other destinations in Southern Belize. Here’s the recent experience of one Placencia resident, Ken Keys:
“I made the trip as an adventure, and here are my costs. It takes a bit of effort, but it was a senic and fun trip, once I got over the anxiety of the actual travel - since there is so much written about the dangers of travelling in Honduras and Guatemala. I did not experience any problems myself, but, I have an advantage - I have a large physical size 6' 6", and weigh over 240 lbs - maybe this is why I am seldom approached at all even in cities like Detroit. I also speak Spanish, just a bit more than enough to get by.
Here is how it went, and the prices: Spirit from Ft.Lauderdale to San Pedro Sula - US$86 one way. Great price, and I actually got a lower price for my trip in October - US$75. Only problem is the flight leaves Ft. Lauderdale at 11 p.m., and arrives at around 11:25 p.m. This time, a friend of a friend met me at the airport, and drove me to Omoa. In october I will take a taxi to the Holiday Inn in SPS for the night.
The next morning I caught the (chicken) bus from Omoa to the Guatemala border (US$3). It stopped quite a lot, but it got me there cheap, seemed safe, and the scenery was really nice. Walked across the border (easy and no hassles), and caught a van to Puerto Barrios in time for the 10 a.m. ferry to Punta Gorda. Van driver was good, stopped at passport control, and I did not even have to leave the vehicle! He drove me to the ferry ticket office, conveniently located next to the passport check office to exit Guatemala - fee to exit is about US$12, I think (can't remember exactly). Easy again. US$18 for the ferry to PG. Nice ride in a twin Yamaha engine oversized panga. On board with me - about 10 Belize locals, 5 Guatemalans, 3 Dutch girls on holiday with backpacks, 3 Brits on holiday with backpacks and me.
Customs (non-existant) and immigration in PG is a breeze, and therefore I was standing at the airport (BZ$6 taxi ride to Tropic Air desk) and on the 11:20 a.m. flight to Placencia (16-minute ride), US$41. I was at lunch at the new Purple Space Monkey in Placencia at 11:55 a.m.
Whole trip one way cost me about US$150 without hotel (in Omoa, the hotel was US$18 for a cabina w/ A/C) and I had a nice adventure. The roads were very good between SPS, Omoa and in Guatemala, quite excellent). Others would spend about US$195.
I left Belize through Corozal, and that took a REALLY long time on the bus from Chetumal (nice bus, though, for US$20 to Playa del Carmen) but that is another story. Spirit goes there too, and nearly as cheap, but the Mexican taxes on the ticket are high. Do not recommend this way as an alternative to Southern Belize, but it could be OK for a trip to San Pedro.
I could have easily caught a bus from SPS the next morning instead of had a friend pick me up or I am sure I could get a ride in a taxi direct to the border 42 miles away -- pretty cheap from SPS if I did not want to take the bus the next day."
(September 17, 2007, update September 20, 2007)
BLAME TOURISM SLOWDOWN ON HURRICANE IMPACT? Some tourism operators are saying September was one of the slowest months in years, and they don't see October getting any better. They lay the blame partly on Hurricanes Dean and Felix. Even though Dean only sideswiped Northern Belize and Felix missed Belize completely, apparently would-be visitors, hearing the news about storms, are temporarily holding off on travel to the region. Other observers lay the blame on the housing slowdown and mortgage melt-down in the U.S., where consumers, worried about a possible recession, may be reluctant to spend on discretionary items such as international travel. September and October traditionally are the two slowest months for tourism in Belize anyway, but this year appears worse than usual. Even San Pedro, usually hopping with tourists even in the slower fall and late summer months, has seen a slowdown. (September 14, 2007)
FIRE HITS COROZAL FREE ZONE A fire in the Commercial Free Zone at the Mexican border in Corozal destroyed or badly damaged 21 stores. Some of these stores had just completed repairs from damage sustained from Hurricane Dean in August. Reportedly firefighters had difficulty putting out the fire because there are no fire hydrants in the Free Zone, and a Corozal Town fire truck itself caught fire after getting water from the river. (September 11, 2007)
FRONTIER AIRLINES CONSIDERING FLIGHTS TO BELIZE Frontier Airlines reportedly is considering seasonal, non-daily service from Denver to Belize City. A Frontier executive said the airline already has spent some time looking at the Belize market. The lowfare major carrier currently has service from Denver to San Jose, Costa Rica, and to several cities in Mexico, and is looking to further expand internationally. Frontier, which was founded in 1994, currently flies to more than 50 cities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica, with about 90% of its flights originating or terminating in Denver. (September 7, 2007)
BELIZE DODGES ANOTHER ONE Just days after Hurricane Dean sideswiped Northern Belize, another Category 5 storm, Hurricane Felix, took direct aim at Belize ... but missed. Felix jogged southward, striking Nicaragua and Honduras instead of Belize. Southern and Central Belize received only some moderate rainfall, with tropical force winds that did virtually no damage. (September 6, 2007)
CAYO ECO-LODGE FOUNDER AUTHORS NOVEL The founder of a well-known eco-lodge and horseback tour company in Cayo has written and published a novel partially set in Belize. Belize Survivor: Darker Side of Paradise by Nancy R. (Holtzman) Koerner is a story of the 1960s and 1970s counter-culture, adventure in Belize and, on the darker side, domestic abuse. Koerner, who came to Belize in the mid-1970s, co-founded Mountain Equestrian Trails jungle lodge with her then-husband Larry Holtzman. The self-published autobiographical novel ("based on a true story ... but a work of fiction") is available from Amazon.com and other on-line booksellers, and also from the author's web site, www.belizesurvivor.com. (August 25, 2007, updated September 6, 2007)
BELIZE NOT BENEFITTING FROM CLOSURE OF COSTA MAYA CRUISE PORT One of Hurricane Dean's victims was the Port Costa Maya cruise ship terminal near the village of Mahahual, Mexico. The cruise ship docking pier was at least 50% destroyed, and the village of 300 people, established just to serve the cruise ships, was wiped out, although thanks to a required evacuation there was no loss of life. It was expected that some cruise ship operators would replace Costa Maya with stops in Belize City, but that has not proven to the be the case. Ships appear to be choosing ports other than Belize City, or extending stays in Cozumel or elsewhere. In fact, a Carnival ship has cancelled its planned stops in Belize. Some 300 ships docked at Costa Maya in 2006, with about 600,000 passengers from around a dozen cruise ship lines, including Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn and others. It is the Mexican Caribbean's second-busiest cruise port, after Cozumel. It is expected to take at least six months to rebuild the cruise terminal. The number of cruise ships and passengers visiting Belize has been declining since its peak in 2004 of around 850,000; cruise ship passengers at Belize City totalled 656,000 in 2006, although the first few months of 2007 saw an increase over the same period in 2006. (August 24, 2007, update September 13, 2007)
AGRICULTURE IN NORTHERN BELIZE TOOK BRUNT OF HURRICANE DEAN As reports filter in from Corozal and Orange Walk districts, it's clear that the main impact of the hurricane is on Belize's agricultural sector. Up to 80% of Northern Belize's mature papaya plantings were flattened by winds (even tropical force winds can knock down papaya). One of northern Belize's major employers, Fruta Bomba, lost most of its papaya crop. Anywhere from 10% to 60% of the sugar cane crop was damaged -- preliminary estimates vary wildly. There also was some damage to corn, soybeans, avocado and other crops. The rice industry was not affected. The total dollar damage is as yet unknown, but it could be in the tens of millions of US dollars. (August 23, 2007)
HOTELS REPORT LITTLE IF ANY DAMAGE, NEARLY ALL ARE OPEN Based on emails we've received and from reports on www.BelizeEmergency.net, nearly all hotels in Belize, even those in Corozal District in Northern Belize, escaped Dean without serious damage. The vast majority of hotels, except those that are closed for routine seasonal maintenance, are open. A few hotels in Corozal Town and on Ambergris Caye say they will reopen later this week or early next. Hotel Maya in Corozal Town and a couple of small Corozal guesthouses report they suffered some structural damage and haven't decided when they'll reopen. Reporting hotels in Orange Walk District say they suffered no significant damage and are open (unless already closed for seasonal maintenance). Most hotels on Ambergris Caye report that they suffered no damage. A few had minor damage, downed trees and some limited beach erosion. Most will reopen on Thursday, after grounds cleanup. Victoria House, Costa Maya Resort, Belize Legacy Resort and a few others are closed for a short time for cleanup. Hotels on Caye Caulker uniformly report no damage, and most have stayed open, though a few will reopen later this week or early next, after cleanup. Properties in Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo districts uniformly report no damage and are open for business, except for those already closed for routine seasonal maintenance. The bottom line is that the tourism industry in Belize suffered very little damage and that except possibly for some short-term cancellations during the next few weeks -- Belize's slowest tourism period anyway -- the tourism industry should not see any significant impact from Hurricane Dean. (August 22, 2007, updated August 23, 2007)
HURRICANE DEAN SPARES MOST OF BELIZE Hurricane Dean, with winds of 165 mph, a Category 5 storm, came ashore early in the morning of Tuesday, August 21, about 40 miles northeast of Chetumal, Mexico, near the cruise ship port of Costa Maya, but it spared most of Belize, including San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City, Belmopan, Cayo and all of southern Belize. As of mid-day Tuesday, August 21, no storm-related deaths had been reported in Belize. Many trees were reported down in the Corozal Town area and elsewhere in Corozal District, and some buildings were damaged, but overall the impact appeared relatively light. The Commercial Free Zone at the Mexican border in Corozal had some wind and water damage, but most of it was superficial, and the Free Zone is expected to reopen by August 27. Several dozen residents of Chan Chen, the northernmost village in Belize, were left homeless after their simple houses were destroyed. The major employer in the village and one of the largest employers in Belize, Fruta Bomba, lost much of its papaya plantations. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker reported only Category 1 winds, with little damage except that some piers were destroyed and several homes had moderate water damage. In Belize City, Belmopan, San Ignacio, Dangriga, Placencia and Punta Gorda, residents reported only moderate rain and light, cooling breezes, with virtually no damage. Power was out in Corozal and parts of Orange Walk districts, and in some areas may not be restored until early September, but most of the rest of Belize had power and both cellular and landline phones as of Tuesday. In most areas, internet service was never disrupted. International and domestic flights, except for TACA's, were cancelled on Tuesday but resumed Wednesday. Belize authorities lifted the curfew on Tuesday morning. Stores, banks and other businesses in Central and Southern Belize reopened Tuesday or Wednesday. Preliminary reports from the Mexican resorts of Cancun, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen suggest that damage in those areas also was minimal. Reports from Tulum and Xcalak are sketchy at this time. Fortunately, the eye of the storm came ashore in a lightly populated and less developed area of the Mexican Riviera, and the Mexican government has only reported two deaths due to the storm. (August 20, 2007, updated August 21 and 23, 2007)
AMBERGRISCAYE.COM DELIVERED BEST HURRICANE NEWS Marty Casado's Ambergriscaye.com web site provided the best and most up-to-date news on Hurricane Dean and its impact on Belize. More than 100,000 users visited the web site on August 20, ten times the normal number, and more than 1,000 messages were posted. (August 21, 2007)
BELIZE GOVERNMENT DECLINES NEW OSTEOPATHIC MED SCHOOL Officials of a proposed osteopathic medical school who had hoped to open the school in Belize are now looking to locate in another country, after being told by the Belize government that their application for the offshore school likely would not be viewed favorably. “The Ministry of Education has replied to our initial request by stating that after consultation with the Minister of Health they do not believe they would look favorably on our application,” said Terry Fowler, DO, PhD, one of the organizers of the med school. “My group had back-up contingencies in two other Caribbean countries and have now initiated contact with them,” he said. Dr. Fowler added that he was “somewhat surprised at the Ministry's lack of international knowledge on osteopathic medical education and on the fact that as an accredited university our projected operating budget was US$5,000,000 per year, and this did not include capitalization expenses, facility acquisition and development nor revenues generated from the students who would have attended our school.” The proposed osteopathic medical school was first reported by BELIZE FIRST on May 16-17, 2007. Doctors of osteopathy receive a DO degree rather than an MD degree, though both are physicians and generally receive the same professional rights, at least in the U.S. The organizers were seeking formal commitment from the Belizean government to welcome the school and a statement from the government that it supports the concept of an osteopathic school and also grants DOs full rights and privileges within the country. (August 21, 2007)
EMORY KING DEAD Emory King, author, columnist, historian, successful businessman, civic leader and one of Belize's great characters, died August 14 at age 76. Shipwrecked in Belize in 1953, King, an American from Jacksonville, Fla., stayed on to become Belize's best-known resident expatriate and a loyal Belizean citizen, building sizeable businesses in insurance, publishing, broadcasting and other industries. He was a pioneer in adventure tourism and in real estate development. Along the way, he wrote hundreds of newspaper columns for the Belize Times and other newspapers, published a magazine and a road guide to Belize, helped found Great Belize Productions, which evolved into Channel 5 TV. He authored numerous books, including a multipart history of Belize. Among his most popular books were Hey, Dad, This Is Belize and I Spent It All in Belize. He played a role in bringing the Mennonites to Belize in the 1950s and 1960s and also brought a number of movie productions to Belize. He had small roles in nearly all the movies filmed in Belize, including The Dogs of War and The Mosquito Coast. He was the film commissioner for the Government of Belize and a director of the Belize Bank. His friends, in high places and low, were legion. In recent years, King had suffered several tragedies, including the death of a son in an auto accident and of his beloved Belizean wife; he also had a series of health problems, forcing him to give up cigars, which, with his straw hat, were his longtime trademarks. He is survived by a son and several grandchildren. Following funeral services in Belize City, interment will be at Tropical Park, a subdivision King developed where he also made his home. Late Monday afternoon, Dean's track seemed to be jogging slightly north, which would be good news for Belize. (August 15, 2007)
ENTRANCE FEE TO TIKAL TRIPLED The entrance fee for visitors to Tikal Park in Guatemala has been increased from 50 to 150 quetzales. The new fee is about US$20. Tikal is a popular day or overnight trip from Belize. (August 3, 2007)
MAYA ISLAND AIR BEGINS SERVICE TO SAN PEDRO SULA Maya Island Air will serve San Pedro Sula, Honduras, daily from Savannah/Big Creek airstrip near Independence beginning August 3. Initially, the fare for the 45-minute flight will be US$125 one-way, US$250 round-trip, and for US$25 one-way you can fly to Savannah from any airport in the country for US$25, to connect with the SPS flight. Flights leave Savannah/Big Creek at 2 p.m. The daily return flight from San Pedro Sula is at 4 p.m. (August 1, 2007)
1500 NEW CONDOS AND HOUSES AVAILABLE OR PLANNED FOR PLACENCIA PENINSULA Almost 600 new condos and houses have been recently built on the Placencia peninsula, according to an informal study done by a local resident. Another 900 or more units have received aproval but are not yet constructed, for a total of 1,500 new or planned units. This does not include the 2,000 that Ara Macao developers claim they will build. The status of Ara Macao remains unclear. Many local residents say the infrastructure on the peninsula -- including electric, water, sewerage and transportation -- cannot possibly handle this many structures. Observers also say they doubt that this large number of units can be sold. Foreigners reportedly constitute 98% of the buyers on the peninsula. (August 1, 2007)
ROE COMPANIES IN NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING The Roe Group of Companies has opened a new six-story, 30,000 sq. ft. headquarters building on Coney Drive. The building houses RF&G Insurance and offices for other Roe operations, and it also has three floors of space that is or will be rented to other businesses. It is called Gordon House, after Gordon Roe who came with the British Royal Air Force in 1944 to what was then British Honduras. The Roe family now has interests in tobacco, tourism, automobiles and other businesses, in addition to insurance. (August 1, 2007)
INDEPENDENCE MAN DIES WHEN OIL RIG CAPSIZES; ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RAISED Nine men went into the sea about a mile from Big Creek in Stann Creek District when a seagoing oil rig capsized July 16, as it was being towed to Big Creek by the towboat Miss Gayle. One man, Allen Bonnell of Independence, died, apparently of drowning. The rig, fabricated in Shipyard, is owned by a company called Island Oil Belize, Ltd. After a dry hole off Monkey River and another failed attempt near East Snake Caye, the rig was being moved back to port at Big Creek until after the hurricane season is over. Island Oil is one of a half dozen companies that has rights to explore for oil in Belize. It has rights to drill for oil on about 490,000 acres just off Placencia and Monkey River. Some observers say they are concerned that drilling near the barrier reef could adversely affect the environment. (July 21, 2007)
DENGUE FEVER CASES REPORTED IN BELIZE At least 47 cases of suspected dengue fever have been reported in Belize, according to the Health Ministry. Of these, 17 were confirmed positive for classical dengue in Corozal District, all in May, and 10 in Belize District, in June and July. Cases also have been reported in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras. Through mid-July, Honduras reported 6,038 cases of classical dengue and 397 cases of the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF); a total of 11 people have died in Honduras. Panama has recorded 1,252 cases of classical dengue this year; Guatemala has reported 1,402 and one death; Costa Rica has reported 8,300 cases of classical dengue; and Nicaragua has reported about 5,500 cases of confirmed or suspected classical dengue and 245 cases of suspected and confirmed DHF, with a total of 5 deaths. The dengue virus is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms of dengue fever include sudden onset of high fever with body temperature of up to 105 F, chills, headache, joint and muscle pain and swollen lymph nodes. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, eye pain, rash and general weakness. (July 21, 2007)
AMERICAN CITIZEN MURDERED IN TEAKETTLE VILLAGE A U.S. citizen, Peter Phillips, 43, was murdered July 16 in Teakettle village. The Belmopan teacher was found outside a house in Teakettle that he was taking care of in the absence of the owner, another American. Phillips had injuries to his head. He had been housesitting for a few days at the home of Joe Yeager in Teakettle. Yeager and his family recently returned to the U.S., after Yeager was attacked, following a dispute with a Belizean involving a family matter. Police reportedly think that Phillips may have been the victim of mistaken identity. A police spokesman indicated that police have "strong evidence" against a local villager and have charged him. Phillips was a teacher who had taught for about a year at Belize Christian Academy in Belmopan and also recently had been teaching history at Galen University in San Ignacio. Teakettle is a village on the Western Highway about 6 miles west of Belmopan. (July 17, 2007)
MARKET FOR WATERFRONT PROPERTY IN PLACENCIA BOILS UP Several beach resorts and other waterfront properties that have languished on the market, sometimes for years, have reportedly been sold. Among these are hotels Mariposa, Maya Breeze Inn, Lubi Hati, Rum Point Inn and Serenity. Observers say they think the new activity in Placencia stems from developers interested in building condos or other residential developments on the peninsula. Several new condo projects are underway or planned including Grand Reef, a six-story upscale project with 33 planned units, and condos at Coco Plum and the former Saks, among others. According to local sources, Port of Belize owner Luke Espat in association with Lord Michael Ashcroft has purchased the Rum Point property, and some locals say they've heard a Sandals-type development is planned here. Mango's of Maya Beach is back on the market, and Sugar Reef has been sold -- supposedly this bar will move to the sea side. Some international hotel chains reportedly also have expressed an interest in Placencia, as well as in Ambergris Caye. (June 16, 2007, updated July 17, 2007)
HOTELS AND RESORTS ON THE MARKET
Among the hotels and lodges and other tourism operations reportedly for sale, or recently sold, in Belize are the following, with reported asking prices. Additions, deletions and corrections invited.
CAYO Mopan River Resort, Benque Viejo, US$2,850,000
Parrot's Nest Lodge, Bullet Tree, US$460,000 Roaring River Lodge, US$250,000 (SOLD) Inn at Xunantunich, Succotz, US$375,000 (with terms) Casa Maya, San Ignacio, US$1,400,000 Black Rock Lodge, US$1,100,000 (SOLD) Parrot's Nest, Bullet Tree, US$550,000 Royal Mayan Resort, Benque Viejo, US$1,750,000 Warrie Head Ranch & Lodge, near Georgeville, US$1,500,000 Windy Hills Lodge, US$2,500,000 Touch of Class, Santa Elena, US$250,000
PLACENCIA Miller's Landing, US$1,500,000 Manatee Inn, Placencia Village, US$375,000 Mango's of Maya Beach Serenity Resort, Placencia, US$2,000,000 (SOLD) Singing Sands, Maya Beach, US$890,000 Luba Hati, Seine Bight, US$3,095,000 (SOLD) Green Parrot, Maya Beach Nautical Inn, Seine Bight, US$1,700,000 Sugar Reef (SOLD) Macovy Blues Hotel & Restaurant, reduced to US$399,000 (with terms) Mariposa Beach Suites, Placencia (SOLD) Maya Breeze Inn, US$1,100,000 (SOLD) Rum Point Inn (SOLD) Soulshine US$550,000 (SOLD)
HOPKINS AREA Kanantik US$10,000,000 Toucan Sittee (SOLD) Jaguar Reef Lodge, US$4,705,000
BELIZE CITY AREA
Global Village Hotel, Belize City El Chiclero Inn, Burrell Boom, price reduced to US$795,000 JB's Restaurant and Cabanas, Western Highway, US$300,000 Howler Monkey Lodge, Bermudian Landing, US$250,000
AMBERGRIS CAYE Rubie's II (not original Rubie's), San Pedro, US$399,000 Corona del Mar, San Pedro, US$2,700,000 Lili's, San Pedro, US$1,500,000 Royal Palm, US$6,000,000 Seven Seas Resort/Timeshare, US$1,950,000 Copacabana, US$375,000
COROZAL Hokíol Kíin Guesthouse, Corozal Town, US$598,000 Las Palmas, Corozal Town, US$2,900,000 TJ's/International Cozy Corners, US$399,000
CAYE CAULKER
Iguana Reef Inn, US$3,500,000 Seaside Cabañas, US$2,400,000 Belize Odyssey Resort, Caye Caulker, US$3,500,000 Tropics Hotel, Caye Caulker, US$995,000 Barefoot Caribe (formerly Sobre Las Olas), Caye Caulker, US$1,800,000 Loraine's Guest House, US$450,000 Bel-Isle Condos (unfinished), US$600,000
TOLEDO Sea Front Inn, Punta Gorda, US$1,200,000 Tranquility Lodge, Jacinto, US$240,000
OFFSHORE CAYES Blackbird Caye Resort, Turneffe Atoll, US$8,000,000 Slickrock Adventures camp, Long Caye, Glovers Atoll, US$1,400,000 (doesn't include island real estate) Caye Chapel Island Resort, Caye Chapel, somewhere north of US$50 million Isla Marisol, Southwest Caye, Glovers Atoll, US$5,000,000
(July 22, 2007, updated February 12, 2008)
NEW BOOK ON BELIZE'S BEST LODGING AND DINING SPOTS PUBLISHED A new guidebook, Belize's Best Hotels & Restaurants, has been published as an eBook. The author is veteran travel writer Lan Sluder, who has written a number of travel and retirement guides to Belize. "Although I've done a number of general guides to Belize, including Fodor's Belize 2007, I wanted to focus this guide specifically on hotels and restaurants, so that Belize travelers could book hotels and choose restaurants with confidence," Sluder said. It was published as an eBook in .pdf format, so that it can be updated regularly. The book sells for US$15, but for a limited time it will be downloadable from this and other web sites at no charge. The guidebook can be viewed on either Mac or Windows systems. (June 16, 2007)
NEW HOTELS OPEN IN CAYO Ka'ana, an upscale boutique hotel, Casa del Caballo Blanco, a small lodge focused on birding and birders, and Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge, off the Cristo Rey Road, have recently opened in Cayo. Ka'ana, on the Western Highway near Mile 69, has 14 units, a spa and restaurant. The ownership is associated with Belize Natural Energy. Casa del Caballo Blanco, in Bullet Tree, operated by a couple from California, has six cabañas. Macaw Bank, operated by a couple from the U.S., has a restaurant, bar and four cabañas with two more under construction. Also, Black Rock River Lodge, on the market for several years, recently has sold and is now under new management by people who have operated a hotel in Mexico. (June 15, 2007)
PUP STALWARTS DEFECT; PM SHUFFLES CABINET AGAIN In the continuing political crisis for PUP PM Said Musa, Deputy Prime Minister John Briceño has left the government, and in another of a long series of shuffles the PM has removed Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde from the Cabinet. National elections must be held by March 2008 at the latest, and observers say that the PUP is likely to lose big. (June 7, 2007)
DEMONSTRATIONS IN BELMOPAN PEACEFUL A crowd of several thousand demonstrators, mostly UDP supporters, showed up Friday (May 25) in Belmopan to celebrate "victory" in the Universal Health Services dispute. The demonstrations were peaceful. (May 26, 2007)
"I AM NOT A MONSTER" In an interview May 24 with Channel 5 TV, Prime Minister Said Musa had these words for the Belizean people: "My message to our people is, I am not a monster. I am not trying to do something to destroy their lives, to hurt anyone. The government is here to try and serve the people. Serve the people: that has been our motto. And I would ask our people to give us a chance to work this thing through, let’s not resort to extreme measures, there is no need for this. There is no need for violence; there is no need for disorder." (May 25, 2007)
POLITICAL CRISIS IN BELIZE HEATS UP; PM BLINKS Demonstrators are set to return to Belmopan Friday, May 25, protesting Prime Minister Said Musa's plan to use BZ$33 million in public funds to bail out investors in United Health Services, a private hospital in Belize City. Police had initially denied the permit for the demonstrators, citing the potential for violence, but the Belize Supreme Court ruled that the police could not refuse the permit. Meanwhile, PM Musa is struggling to keep his PUP cadres in line. He fired two cabinet ministers, Cordel Hyde and Mark Espat, but at least four other PUP honchos have indicated they cannot support the UHS loan. With a 21 to 8 PUP majority in the House, the PM can afford only 7 defections. A vote against the loan approval would be considered a no confidence vote, requiring immediate national elections. Some advisors recommended delaying the UHS vote, and late Thursday the PM appeared to do so, pulling the loan motion, cancelling the Friday session and announcing that the hospital would be sold to private buyers. It's unclear whether the demonstrations set for Friday will be held, or not. (May 24, 2007)
FIVE BELIZE HOTELS MAKE ZAGAT LIST OF TOP HOTELS Five Belize lodges and resorts made the 2007/2008 Zagat World's Top Hotels, Resorts & Spas guidebook: Blancaneaux Lodge in the Mountain Pine Ridge, Turtle Inn in Placencia, Chaa Creek near San Ignacio, Kanantik near Dangriga and Cayo Espanto off Ambergris Caye. Of these, Blancaneaux had the highest ratings in Belize for rooms (28 of a possible 30) and service (27), while Chaa Creek scored highest on facilities (25), and Chaa Creek and Blancaneaux tied (23) for dining. Cayo Espanto and Kanantik were newcomers or write-ins and were not scored. All Zagat survey guidebooks are based on the composite scores of consumers who have visited the hotel or restaurant. A total of 1,287 hotels worldwide were included in the new Zagat guide. (May 21, 2007)
GIANT RED CLOUD OF DUST TO COVER BELIZE? A cloud of dust from the Sahara desert in Africa is expected to spread over Belize and much of Central America over the next three days. People with asthma and other breathing difficulties are potentially at risk. Media in Belize so far have not reported on the giant cloud, but those in other parts of Central America have. La Prensa Libre in Guatemala City reported: "Una nube gigante de polvo, procedente de África, estará llegando hoy a Guatemala y el resto de Centroamérica, por lo que autoridades pidieron precaución a las personas con problemas respiratorios y alérgicos, pues ese fenómeno permanecerá en el ambiente por unos tres días." (May 19, 2007)
COST OF FUEL RISES The prices of gas and diesel in Belize have increased again. Current prices in the Belmopan area (courtesy of Trevor Vernon) are:
Premium Gas BZ$9.96 Regular Gas BZ$9.75 Diesel BZ$7.15
(May 19, 2007)
POLICE USE TEAR GAS AND RUBBER BULLETS TO BREAK UP BELMOPAN PROTESTORS Belize police fired rubber bullets and tear gas cannisters to disperse a crowd of several thousand protestors May 18 in Belmopan, according to media reports. Protestors reportedly smashed some windows in government buildings and vandalized some vehicles. The demonstrators were protesting the government's BZ$33 million bailout of Universal Health Services. (May 19, 2007)
TROUBLE STILL BREWING OVER UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES BAILOUT Prime Minister Said Musa is hanging tough on his BZ$33 million bailout of Universal Health Services despite overwhelming public opposition to spending public money on the failed private hospital in Belize City. Within the governing PUP, several PUP representatives and even Cabinet members appear opposed to the government paying the U.H.S. loan. The government's Financial Secretary, Dr. Carla Barnett, has tendered her resignation. The PM did not inform her about the loan guarantee. With a 21 to 8 PUP majority in the House, the PM can afford only 7 defections. A vote against the loan approval in the House would be considered a no confidence vote, requiring immediate national elections. Several demonstrations are planned in Belmopan May 18, both for and against the bailout. (May 17, 2007)
ARTISTS FEATURED ON NEW BELIZE STAMPS For the first time, a group of Belizean artists are featured on a series of postage stamps. Artists honoured are Manuel Viamor, George Gabb, Reuben Miguel, Penn Cayetano, Benjamin Nicholas and Louis Belisle. Nicholas, born in Barranco, lives in Dangriga. Viamor, originally from Corozal, now lives in Chetumal. Cayetano, from Dangriga, makes his home now in Germany. Gabb, Belisle and Miguel are deceased. (May 17, 2007)
BELIZE TO GET OSTEOPATHIC MED SCHOOL? A U.S. group is exploring the idea of opening a new offshore medical school in Belize, this one devoted to training osteopathic physicians, according to reports received by BELIZE FIRST. Doctors of osteopathy receive a DO degree rather than an MD degree, though both are physicians and generally receive the same professional rights, at least in the U.S. The group is seeking formal commitment from the Belizean government to welcome the school and a statement from the government that it supports the concept of an osteopathic school and also grants DOs full rights and privileges within the country. However, the osteopathic group also has been in contact with Doug Singh, a prominent UDP politician. Members of the group plan to come to Belize in September or October to look for a location, according to an email from Terry Fowler, DO, PhD, a member of the advisory committee considering opening the school. Dr. Fowler, originally from Canada, formerly managed a group of hospitals in Southern California and, after going to osteopathic medical school at Western University of Health Sciences, is now an osteopathic physician in California. Doctors of osteopathy practice a whole-person or holistic approach to medicine. A key part of osteopathic medicine is a technique called OMT, or osteopathic manipulative treatment. OMT allows physicians to use their hands as a primary tool to diagnose and treat illness and injury.
When the UDP was last in office in the late 1990s, one of its initiatives was to attract offshore, for-profit med schools to Belize, and the PUP to some degree followed up on the initiative. The track record of these schools, however, has been mixed. Most have but few students and faculty and very limited equipment, disagreements among faculty and administration have taken place at several, and some of the schools have opened and then quickly closed. One of the first schools, St. Matthews in San Pedro, pulled up and moved to the Caymans. Its successor, Medical University of the Americas, reportedly has not enjoyed great success in Belize and has opened a branch in London. St. Luke's in Belmopan has closed. Hope University School of Medicine, a "Christian medical school," is open in Belmopan. American Global University School of Medicine, another small, unaccredited school, also is open in Belmopan, on the third floor of a three-story building. InterAmerican School of Medical Science in Corozal was opened in 2005 by the Pavlic' family. Only Central America Health Sciences University near Belize City, which opened in 1996, seems to have been fairly stable and able to generate an on-going base of students. Successful offshore med schools, which typically charge US$10,000 to $25,000 per student per year for tuition and fees, can be quite profitable for their owners, according to several business analysts. Most attract students, often from developing countries, who are unable to get into regular med schools in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. or elsewhere. Offshore medical schools wishing to open in Belize must pay BZ$100,000 to the Belize government, then pay an administration and "accreditation" fee of BZ$50,000, plus an annual BZ$20,000 license fee. The schools are approved and regulated by the Belize Medical Schools Accreditation Committee, a six-person committee under the Ministry of Health. (May 16, 2007, updated May 17, 2007)
FIRES BURN IN MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE As the dry season continues, several fires are burning in the Mountain Pine Ridge, according to local reports. This is a photograph of one of the fires, by Katie Valk of Belize City and Placencia. Wild fires also have been burning around Belmopan City. (May 16, 2007)
FIRST ENDURANCE HORSE RACE HELD IN CAYO Kim Chanona on Sunrise from Hershey on May 12 won Belize's first modern endurance horse race, followed by Cesar Xi on a horse from Banana Bank. Nineteen horses were entered in the race. The winner finished the 18-mile course in just over one hour, 35 minutes. The race concluded at San Lorenzo Farm near Xunantunich. It was hosted by Hanna's Stables, and sponsors included Hanna's, Chabil Mar Villas, NICH, Citrus Products of Belize Ltd., BNE and Banana Bank. The first-place finisher took home BZ$1,000, and the runner-up BZ$500. Race coordinator was R. Juan. (May 15, 2007)
FIRST QUARTER TOURISM NUMBERS UP AND DOWN Tourism arrivals at the international airport were down in January and February, a surprising result in the peak tourism season, but then March saw a more than a 10% jump from the previous year, to a record 25,000+ arrivals by air. Altogether, arrivals by air at Phillip Goldson International totalled 59,261 during the January-March 2007 period, or an average of about 658 tourists a day. Overall, overnight tourism by air, sea and land rose 2.4% in the first quarter, to 77,757, somewhat behind world and regional averages for tourism growth. The Belize Tourism Board saw the figures as "steady." Cruise ship tourism also rebounded, to almost 277,000 for the first three months of 2007, up over 10% from 2006 following two years of declines. Neighboring Mexico had 3.6 million international tourism arrivals during the January-March period, representing an increase of 8.3 % compared with first quarter 2006 results. Results from the Caribbean are still coming in: Some countries, such as Barbados, are reporting declines in tourism, while others, including the Dominican Republic and Bermuda (technically in the Atlantic) are seeing double digit increases in tourism in the first quarter. (May 15, 2007)
SAN PEDRO CHAMBER OPPOSES NEW AMBERGRIS PORT The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce has decided to send a letter to several governmental entities, including the Belize Port Authority, the Department of the Environment and the Geology Department, objecting to a new, privately owned port and marina on the south end of the island. The Chamber and local businesses and home owners say that the port will create new heavy truck and container traffic on Coconut Drive. (May 15, 2007)
TOURISTS ROBBED AT XUNANTUNICH Nine tourists in two groups and a tour guide at the Xunantunich Maya site west of San Ignacio were held up by a man wielding a shotgun and three men with machetes. The tourists and a Belizean tour guide, lost money, cameras and jewelry. The incident occurred around 9:30 on the morning of Monday, May 7, according to information from a police spokesman. An individual who was among those robbed said the two groups were among the first to enter the site in the morning. One group was from Chaa Creek and the other was from Hopkins. Among the tourists were three from Texas, two from North Carolina, one from Illinois and two from the United Kingdom. Xunantunich is regularly patrolled by Belize Defence Forces troops. It is as yet unclear how the robbery took place with BDF soldiers in the area. The robbers were believed to be Guatemalans, and they spoke only Spanish. A series of bandit incidents in Cayo in late 2005 and early 2006 impacted tourism there, until the Guatemalan gang leaders were captured. (May 7, 2007, revised May 8 and May 11, 2007)
SANCTUARY BAY PROMOTERS JAILED Two Americans involved in a major land development in Stann Creek District have been jailed in the U.S. Andris Pukke, founder of a credit counseling company accused of cheating 300,000 debtors out of millions of dollars and allegedly the original owner/developer of Sanctuary Bay near Hopkins, and Peter Baker, a long-time Pukke friend and associate who was a principal in Sanctuary Bay, were jailed by U.S. District Court Judge Peter Messitte in Maryland. Pukke was held in contempt of court for failing to turn over assets to a fund set up, in a U.S. Federal Trade Commission agreement, to repay the debtors. He will be held until he produces assets worth millions of dollars. Pukke maintains he has no direct control over the assets. Baker, the son of Joan Medhurst, whose firm in the 1990s had the international public relations contract for the Belize Tourism Board, was jailed because the judge concluded Baker and Pukke colluded to shield assets both in Belize and in California. It is unclear what if any impact this may have on Sanctuary Bay or on the dozens of buyers of lots in the development. Sanctuary Bay, which borders the Sittee River and Sapodilla Lagoon, has been has been offering 135 one- to five-acre lots for US$50,000 to $200,000 each. (May 7, 2007)
LIVE LIKE AN AMBASSADOR The former home of the U.S. ambassador to Belize in Belize City is for sale. The five-bedroom, five-bath residence in the upscale King's Park area is being offered for US$700,000. We wonder if a subprime mortage may be available? The ambassador and embassy staff have relocated to the US$50 million Amereican embassy compound in Belmopan. (May 1, 2007)
REPORT SPOTLIGHTS HIGH HOMICIDE RATE IN CENTRAL AMERICA A recent report by non government organizations in Central America puts the murder rate for Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador several times higher than that in the U.S. and Canada:
El Salvador has 55.5 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants Honduras 40.6 Guatemala 37.5
Canada has a homicide rate of under 2 per 100,000, and the U.S. rate in recent years has been around 6 per 100,000. There were around 80 murders in Belize last year, so Belize's homicide rate is estimated at about 27 per 100,000. The so-called North Triangle area of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala is believed to have more than 60,000 youth gang members. These gangs are responsible for many of the murders. (April 28, 2007)
POT AND KETTLE DEPARTMENT: U.S. OFFICIAL RESIGNS OVER HUMAN TRAFFICKING According to media reports, Randall Tobias, head of the Bush administration's foreign aid programs, abruptly resigned Friday after his name surfaced in an investigation into a high-priced call-girl ring. Ironically, less than a year ago the U.S. railed at "human trafficking" in several countries around the world, including Belize. Tobias submitted his resignation a day after he was interviewed by ABC News for an upcoming program about an alleged prostitution service run by the so-called D.C. Madam. ABC reported on its Web site late Friday that Tobias, who is 65 and married, confirmed that he had called the Pamela Martin and Associates escort service to have women come to his condo and give him massages. Tobias told the network, he has been using a service with Central American women. Last yea,r the U.S. put Belize near the top of a list of countries involved in human trafficking. In June 2006, the U.S. put Belize and five other countries at the top of its list of countries failing to meet minimum standards to prevent trafficking in persons, such as allowing women to be brought into the country for purposes of prostitution. At the time, some observers said they believed the U.S. action was undeserved and perhaps a political move to punish Belize for its support of Venezuela for a seat on the U.N. Security Council. After only three months, the U.S. removed Belize from its list of "Tier 3 Human Trafficking" countries. (April 28, 2007)
CACAO FESTIVAL PLANNED FOR TOLEDO A new festival, Toledo Cacao-Fest, is set for 18-20 May 2007 in Toledo District. The festival opens Friday, May 18, with a wine and chocolate evening at the PG Sports Bar in Punta Gorda, with Govenor General Sir Colville Young in attendance. Saturday brings "Taste of Toledo," celebrating Toledo cooking and crafts, followed by "Harmony in Culture," with live music at local restaurants. On Sunday, the 20th, participants will have the opportunity to tour the "Cacao Trail," visiting organic cacao farms and Maya village, followed by a music and fireworks finale held at Father Ring Parish Hall. Details are available at www.ToledoChocolate.com. (April 9, 2007)
BELIZE TV STATIONS NOW OFFER STREAMING VIDEO OF NEWSCASTS Channel 7 and Channel 5 TV have begun offering streaming video of their weekday evening news broadcasts on their web sites at www.7newsbelize.com and www.channel5belize.com. The stations also continue to present transcripts of the new programs. (April 9, 2007)
SANCTUARY BAY DEVELOPER ORDERED TO TURN OVER US$40 MILLION A U.S. federal court judge in Maryland has ruled that Andris Pukke, a controversial U.S. finance, internet gambling and real estate entrepreneur who has been associated with Sanctuary Bay, an upscale real estate development in Stann Creek District between Hopkins and Placencia, is in contempt of court and must turn over US$40 million in alleged hidden funds and disputed holdings, including proceeds associated with real estate development in Belize. Pukke earlier had agreed to pay a restitution fund up to US$35 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission, which claimed he and his firm, AmeriDebt, used hidden upfront fees to unfairly collect US$172 million from about 300,000 American debtors. Despite the agreement, Pukke has so far only paid about US$10 million. The judge said he would consider putting Pukke in jail if he continues to shield his assets. The court-appointed receiver, in a motion filed in October 2006, requested that Pukke's longtime friend, Peter Baker, also be held in contempt for his activities. The judge agreed, ordering Baker to turn over a California mansion to the receiver. Baker, who has been Pukke's friend since school days, and who is the son of Joan Medhurst, whose firm in the 1990s had the international public relations contract for the Belize Tourism Board, has been in charge of Sanctuary Bay. Joan Medhurst and her husband, Colin Medhurst, also have been involved with the development, according to court records filed by the receiver. However, according to a statement emailed by Joan Medhurst, "Colin and Joan Medhurst resigned from Dolphin Development Company and Sittee River Wildlife Reserve in 2005 when Andris Pukke's receivership came to our attention. The Sanctuary Bay company was formed after our resignations, and we have had not been associated with Sanctuary Bay or any of the other companies associated with Mr. Pukke since 2005." Sanctuary Bay is selling some 220 lots in Stann Creek District and also claims to be developing a marina. (March 15, 2007, update April 29, 2007)
BELIZE BANK TEAM WINS RUTA MAYA RACE Belize Bank won the 10th annual Mountains to the Sea canoe race, a grueling four-day event traditionally held over the Baron Bliss weekend holiday. A team from Belize Natural Energy came in second. Local wags suggested that sometimes events like this are metaphors for what's happening in society at large. (March 14, 2007)
REAL ESTATE ACTION HEATS UP IN PLACENCIA Several Placencia beach resorts that have been on the market for years suddenly have sold. Rum Point Inn, Luba Hati, Serentity and Maya Breeze Inn reportedly have sold in recent weeks, after having been on the market for from three to over five years. In most cases, it appears the buyers plan to convert the properties to condos. Saks, formerly Kitty's Place, which sold in 2005, also is closing as a hotel resort and will be replaced by condominiums. Most of the condos on the peninsula are, or will be, rented as hotel accommodations by management companies acting for owners. Hotel occupancy rates on the peninsula, already low compared with other beach areas such as San Pedro and Caye Caulker, are likely to fall farther. (March 12, 2007)
DELTA TO LAUNCH WEEKLY SERVICE FROM LOS ANGELES Delta Airlines announced it will begin weekly service from Los Angeles to Belize City as of June 9. This is the first non-stop air service from the West Coast to Belize. Between Los Angeles and Belize City, Delta will have one flight per week in each direction. Flight 197 will take off from California at 11:59 pm on Saturday night, landing in Central America at 5:24 am the following morning. Each Sunday, as of June 10, Delta Flight 196 will take passengers back to Los Angeles at 7:30 am, touching down at 11:15 am Pacific time. Introductory fares of $229 for apply to one-way travel through September 11, provided you book by March 21. Delta currently provides daily service from Atlanta to Belize City during the high season, with reduced service off-season. (March 11, 2007)
POLICE COLLECT, DESTROY 611 GUNS Belize has strict gun control laws on the books, but the laws don't seem to do much to prevent guns from getting into the hands of bad guys. Over the past three years, police have collected or confiscated 611 guns, including 268 hand guns, 12 machine guns and one rocket launcher. This week, they publicly destroyed the weapons in a ceremony at the appropriately named Battlefield Park. The remains were then dumped at sea. (March 8, 2007)
CAYO Parrot's Nest Lodge, Bullet Tree, US$460,000 Mopan River Resort, Benque Viejo, US$2,850,000 Roaring River Lodge, US$250,000 Inn at Xunantunich, Succotz, US$375,000 (with terms) Casa Maya, San Ignacio, US$1,400,000 Black Rock Lodge, US$1,100,000 (SOLD) Royal Mayan Resort, Benque Viejo, US$1,750,000 Warrie Head Ranch & Lodge, near Georgeville, US$1,500,000 Windy Hills Lodge, US$2,500,000 Touch of Class, Santa Elena, US$250,000
Global Village Hotel, Belize City/Ladyville El Chiclero Inn, Burrell Boom, US$995,000 JB's Restaurant and Cabanas, Western Highway, US$300,000 Howler Monkey Lodge, Bermudian Landing, US$250,000
CAYE CAULKER Seaside Cabanas, US$2,400,000 Belize Odyssey Resort, Caye Caulker, US$3,500,000 Tropics Hotel, Caye Caulker, US$995,000 Barefoot Caribe (formerly Sobre Las Olas), Caye Caulker, US$1,800,000 Loraine's Guest House, US$450,000 Bel-Isle Condos (unfinished), US$600,000
Iguana Reef Inn, US$3,500,000
OFFSHORE CAYES Blackbird Caye Resort, Turneffe Atoll, US$8,000,000 Slickrock Adventures camp, Long Caye, Gloverís Atoll, US$1,400,000 (doesnít include island real estate) Caye Chapel Island Resort, Caye Chapel, somewhere north of US$50 million Isla Marisol, Southwest Caye, Glovers Reef, US$5,000,000
(March 4, 2007, updated July 22, 2007, updated February 12, 2008)
TWO GIANT DEVELOPMENTS SAID PLANNED FOR NORTH AMBERGRIS Reportedly two very large new developments are being planned for North Ambergris Caye. One is tentatively called Ambergris Caye Resort Development, on a site between Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve and the Bacalar National Park. Another development is south of the northern airstrip, on land being acquired by Michael Ashcroft. Stayed tuned. (March 2, 2007)
SAN PEDRO SEES 75% INCREASE IN TOURIST ROOMS A report by Wil Lala, DDS, shows that hotel growth on Ambergris Caye is accelerating, with almost 700 new rooms at hotels and condos under development. The increase in available rooms is outpacing the growth in tourism on the island. If the trends continue, it will mean a continued decrease in average occupancy rate for Belize's leading visitor destination. In 2004, the last time an occupancy study was done, annual hotel occupancy on the island was almost 47%, the highest level in Belize. Dr. Lala summed up the study that he conducted for the Ambergris Caye Chamber of Commerce: "My last survey was in January 2005 at which time there were 1,232 rooms. In the last two years approximately 300 rooms have been added. This means we have had a nearly 25% increase in rooms in the last two years. During this same time there has been only an 18% increase in passengers flown to San Pedro from Goldson International Airport. This would indicate a decrease in occupancy that many of the hotels are rep