Week of March 3, 2005                               Volume 7, #9 1. Belize Has New Airline 2. Government Sells Mar de Tumbo Road 3. Reef Radio’s Radiothon for Ryan Richards 4. Over 300 Students Enjoy Hol Chan Educational Program 5. Town Council News Briefs 6. Rehabilitated Caye Caulker Airstrip Inaugurated

Belize Has New Airline Tradewind Airlines, a new Belizean Airline, today (Tuesday, March 01, 2005) announced that it has begun non-stop express cargo flights from Belize City, Belize to Miami, Florida. “We are very happy and proud of our new service to Belize,” stated Tony Diaz, Manager of Sales and Marketing for Tradewind. “Belize is a very important market that has maintained a healthy growth in tourism. This growth has created the demand for a dedicated air cargo service, like that which Tradewind now offers.” Tony Diaz said that the airline’s new service will help Belizean companies, freight forwarders and the general public expedite products, spare parts, parcels, and documents. As a result of this new service, Belize exports and imports will increase. “We expect to offer the best customer service in the cargo industry,” Diaz added. “The employees of Tradewind Airlines are airline personnel with many years of experience. They know how important every shipment is for our customers. They have a great passion to provide quality and professional service to corporate and individual customers.” Mr. Diaz, formerly with TACA, is well known in the airline and tourist industries. He dedicated many years promoting Belize in the international markets. His efforts substantially increased the number of tourists visiting Belize. Contact information for Tradewind Airlines is listed below: Tradewind’s Sales Office (BELIZE) 42 Albert St., Belize City Telephone 501-CAR-GOEX (501-227-4639) Tradewind Airlines (MIAMI) Tradewind Airlines c/o Cargo Services Miami International Airport 1601 NW 70th Ave. Miami, Florida 33126 Telephone: (305) 599-9333 Toll Free 800-597-6010 Fax (305) 599-6262 Photo Caption: Tradewind Airlines cargo aircraft makes its first run from Miami, Florida to Belize on Tuesday, March 1 Government Sells Mar de Tumbo Road The San Pedro Town Council informed Ambergris Today this Tuesday that a major portion of the Mar de Tumbo Road has been sold by the Government of Belize to private interests, despite the Council’s objections to the sale. According to the SPTC, this news was confirmed at a meeting on Monday, February 28, with the Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. John Briceño. Attending the meeting with the Minister was Area Representative Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., and Mayoress Elsa Paz. “Minister Johnny Briceño confirmed to us this Monday that a major portion of the Mar de Tumbo road has been sold to the private interest represented by Seferino Paz/Banyan Bay,” stated Mayoress Elsa Paz to Ambergris Today this Tuesday. “The sale was done despite objections from the Town Council addressed in a letter to Hon. Johnny Briceño more than two months ago. We are disappointed since the Mar de Tumbo area is a very popular recreational spot for residents of San Pedro Town, and we are concerned about future access to the beach/swimming area.” The letter written by the San Pedro Town Council on December 6, 2004 and addressed to Hon. Johnny Briceño, Minister of Natural Resources, states: “The San Pedro Town Council writes in reference to Mr. Seferino Paz Jr., request to acquire a portion of Mar de Tumbo Road to construct a building and leaving 10 ft of the road as beach access. In a meeting of the San Pedro Town Council held on December 6, 2004 it was unanimously agreed that the SPTC will not endorse/support any recommendations for the sale of a portion of Mar de Tumbo Road, since the San Pedro Town Council will soon be undertaking a beautification and electrification process of Mar de Tumbo Road. The main reason for the impending improvement is that this is the main entrance to one of the few public beaches in San Pedro. In accordance to S.I. 33 of 1991 in which the access was declared a public road and the Council intends to maintain it as a public road. Your kind cooperation and consideration will be greatly appreciated.” Despite their objections, government sold the portion of road (approximately 40 ft wide) to Seferino Paz. This Tuesday, the SPTC started the relocation of the newly installed light posts at Mar de Tumbo to the San Pedrito area. Other concerns to the Council are the very limited fire access that the remaining 10 ft portion of road presents to the Fire Department and the limited space left for island residents to continue enjoying the Mar de Tumbo beach area. “We believe that eventually the private interest will want to privatize that popular beach and swimming area,” a Town Councilor expressed his concerns to Ambergris Today. “What else will government think of selling next…Central Park?” During their meeting with Minister Briceño this Monday, Mayoress Paz was also told by Briceño that the big portion of land north of Ambergris Stadium, which the Council had plans to use as a Track and Field complex for the youth of San Pedro, has also been sold. According to the Mayor, the 1-acre piece of land was confirmed sold to Marion McNab, CEO in the Ministry of Education. “With this kind of behavior being demonstrated by this government, we feel that there is no interest on their part for assistance to the community of San Pedro,” stated Mayoress Elsa Paz. “It seems that they want to block all the positive projects that the Town Council wants to undertake for the residents of San Pedro.” Photo Caption: Road which provides access to Mar de Tumbo beach.   Reef Radio’s Radiothon for Ryan Richards Twenty-year old Ryan Richards was impressed and touched by the community support demonstrated by residents of San Pedro Town this past Sunday during the Reef Radio/Friends of Pediatrics Belize Radiothon held in his name and for his cause. The radiothon helped raise over $9,000 for Richards, a young man battling with failed kidneys since June 18, 2004, due to malignant hypertension. Doctors say that Richards has end stage renal failure and needs hemodialysis twice a week, which costs $485.00 per treatment to keep him alive. His parents, Therese and Gilroy Clother, have spent all their savings for their son and it is very difficult for them to come up with more funds. With the assistance and humanitarian efforts of Friends of Pediatrics Belize and the Belize Kidney Association, Ryan Richards is seeking medical treatment for his life-threatening condition at a state hospital in Mexico City. It is hoped that Richards will be able to obtain a living donor transplant from a younger sister, at a cost of around $30,000 (the most affordable rate that can be obtained). While the radiothon was ongoing last Sunday at the San Carlos Medical Clinic, young Richards was able to attend the fundraising efforts in person. “He is a very quiet person, and he was very appreciative of the assistance rendered by the community and the organizers,” said Eiden Salazar Jr., of the Reef Radio. “Ryan told us that it was his first time in San Pedro, and God willing, he will be back to visit this wonderful island.” During the day’s event, Dr. Grinage and Dr. Santiago, a Pediatric and Kidney specialist respectively, were providing free clinics for children and adults at San Carlos. In a related effort in Belize City, the Rotary Club and Love FM were able to raise over $8,000 last Thursday for Ryan. Anyone who wants to provide assistance to Ryan Richards can do so by writing a check made out to “Friends of Pediatrics” and mailing it to “Friends of Pediatrics” P.O. Box 1443, Belize City, Belize or to Ryan Richards, Atlantic Bank Account Number 210-7000-17. Please give generously to keep him alive. A heartfelt thanks is given to the Reef Radio, Friends of Pediatrics Belize, Belize Kidney Association, Milagro Garel, Dr. Giovanni Solorzano/San Carlos Medical Clinic, and all those who assisted greatly towards this noble cause. God Bless! Photo Caption: Ryan Richards Over 300 Students Enjoy Hol Chan Educational Program The Hol Chan Marine Reserve Coral Reef Expedition Program, funded in large part by PACT, has proven to be successful and fun for all participants. Since January 18, the Hol Chan staff, including manager Miguel Alamilla, boat captain Eldar Badillo, education coordinator Cordelia Shal, Peace Corps Volunteer Laurie Smith and rangers Grimaldo Acosta, Roberto Bradley and Ian Pou have been taking all standard 5 & 6 and San Pedro High School students on snorkeling trips to the marine reserve. Prior to the trips, Cordelia Shal and PCV Laurie Smith went into each school to give presentations to each class about the reserve (a refresher from presentations given last year), talk about the common species found there, and remind the students to practice “reef etiquette” while at the park and do their part to keep the coral reef healthy. T-shirts, Reef Identification cards, and bookmarks with reef etiquette rules were given to all students and teachers. The main goal of the project is to teach students about the importance of Hol Chan and the preservation of our coastal ecosystems, while giving both students and teachers the opportunity to experience the coral reef first-hand. So far, 300 students have benefited from the snorkeling trips, and four more snorkeling trips will happen this month with San Pedro High School students. A glass bottom boat trip is also scheduled for this Saturday, March 5. By the end of March, over 350 students and 26 teachers will have benefited from the program, which Hol Chan hopes to continue next year. The trips will be followed up with an essay competition in the primary schools and a poster competition in the high school, asking students to reflect on their experience and display their talents in writing and drawing. Three winners will be chosen from each contest and prizes will be given at this year’s Reef Festival on April 24th. This program represents a culmination of what the HCMR education program has been focusing on for the past year: the education of the next generation of San Pedro residents, tour guides, and conservationists. Schools which have benefited from the program are LIFE, Island Academy, Isla Bonita Elementary, San Pedro Roman Catholic School, St Peter’s, New Horizon Seven Day Adventist Academy and San Pedro High School. Be on the look-out for announcements for Hol Chan’s Reef Week 2005 from April 18 - 22, a week filled with activities revolving around coral reef education and conservation. Photo Caption: Students enjoy their exploration of the Great Barrier Reef of Belize. Town Council News Briefs Central Park Not Sold Contrary to rumors being circulated, the San Pedro Town Council wants to assure the general public that Central Park has NOT been sold or leased. As previously announced in a Town Council press release, Central Park is undergoing much-needed renovations with the kind assistance of Captain Morgan’s Retreat. In return for this kind gesture, the Council has agreed to lease the information center (only) to this enterprise. Pescador Drive Improvements Continue In keeping with their target schedule, the placing of cobblestones on Pescador Drive continues. Banning any unforeseen delays, the next phase should begin in a couple of weeks, taking this project to the San Juan Statue roundabout. The work will go as far as the contributions go (with the hopes of improving the entire Pescador Drive). The Council also wants to clarify that a Belizean contractor was hired to do this project, contrary to what a few people might say. Bids were put to tender and Medina’s Construction (a Belizean company) was ultimately hired. Anyone wishing to contribute to this project may do so at the offices of the San Pedro Town Council (tel: 226-2198/2788) or donations can be made at Atlantic Bank account #100031822. Boca Del Rio River Clean-up This Sunday, March 8, San Pedro Town Councilor Nano Guerrero is spearheading a river clean up. The Boca Del Rio River which separates San Pedro Town and North Ambergris Caye has recently seen a large number of debris. The Town Council has decided to do a general clean up of this area this Sunday commencing at 7:00am. Boaters are asked to exercise caution during this clean up. They are also reminded that all this area is a “No-Wake Zone” and should be respected as such. The general public is also asked not to dispose of their garbage in the river. Together we can make this island “Mas Bonita”. Project Inaugurations On Thursday, March 3, the San Pedro Town Council will officially inaugurate the school building that they constructed at the Roman Catholic School. The building consists of two classrooms that cater to a total of 60 students. Due to the large number of students attending this school, the Council decided to embark in this project so that the students can enjoy a quaint and spacious learning room. The official inauguration of this building will begin at 2:00pm at the school grounds. Immediately following this ceremony, the public is invited to witness the electrification of San Mateo Area. The San Pedro Town Council has been working diligently to provide electricity for the residents of this area and this has now become a reality. - Press Release, San Pedro Town Council, Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - Photo Caption:1. New Central Park Palapa/Information Center. 2. Work on brick street continues. Rehabilitated Caye Caulker Airstrip Inaugurated The newly rehabilitated Caye Caulker Airstrip was commissioned and inaugurated yesterday by Government of Belize officials after being closed for eight months due to safety concerns. Attending the ceremonies were Tourism Minister Godfrey Smith, Works Minister Jose Coye, Minister Vildo Marin, and Chairman of the Caye Caulker Village Council Alberto Villanueva. Last year, both Tropic Air and Maya Island Air informed the Director of Civil Aviation of their decision to cease airline service to and from the Caye Caulker airstrip on June 1, 2004. The airlines addressed their concerns in a letter, which stated: “The hot, low air density months of operation are upon us. Aircraft performance during these months is reduced to minimum acceptable levels due to denigrated airfoil performance under this environment. Given adequate runway surface conditions, this would not pose an unusual safety issue. However, the nature of the condition of the Caye Caulker airstrip is such that aircraft control at low landing/take-off speeds across a broad portion of undulating airstrip surface has become a safety of flight concern for operation at this airstrip.” These undulations were severe enough to place excess stress on their aircraft landing gear and structures. “Hence, we have determined that it would be prudent to cease flight operations to/from the Caye Caulker airstrip commencing June 1, 2004,” said the letter. Following last year’s closure, Ministry of Works personnel sacrificed the existing pavement, graded and rolled the entire runway in case it needed to be used for emergency landings. After analysis and design, the rehabilitation works to the airstrip was divided into two components- earthworks and surface dressing. The earthworks component consisted of restoring the runway profile to a uniform slope, widening the runway to 40 feet, rehabilitating the apron and taxiway and constructing a new taxiway to allow for multiple uses. The surface dressing consisted of the application of a double-surface dressing to form a 40-foot wide runway, paving of the apron and taxiways, and the line marking of the runway. The earthworks contract was signed at a sum of $657,448.93 and despite delays due to inclement weather and logistical problems, the portion of the rehabilitation works was completed early in January 2005. The contract for the surface dressing was signed on January 10, 2005 for a sum of $148,055. Not only did Caye Caulker residents inaugurate their renovated airstrip on March 2, but they were given an extra treat during the day by Tropic Air, which offered residents of the “Isla Cariñosa” $25 one way tickets to all their flight destinations. AMBERGRIS TODAY Dorian Nuñez 501-226-3462 San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye Belize, Central America ambertoday@btl.net