 convened a meeting to address several challenges the area is facing.){kind=link}
On Friday, August 7th, members of the Secret Beach Association (SBA) convened a meeting to address several concerns affecting stakeholders and the growing tourism destination northwest of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. Among the main issues discussed were security, public health, road infrastructure, and garbage collection. Several government officials and agencies were invited to participate in the discussion; however, some were not represented at the meeting.
The SBA had formally invited Area Representative Honorable Andre Perez, Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR), the Fisheries Department, the Chief of the San Pedro Police Formation, the Health Department, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC), and its Sanitation Department. Perez, representatives from HCMR, the Fisheries Department, and the Ministry of Natural Resources were absent. Mayor Gualberto “Wally” Nuñez was also absent but was represented by Rene Guzman. Alex Ek represented the SPTC Sanitation Department, while representatives from the local Fire Service and Health Department were also in attendance.
Stakeholders had also hoped that representatives from the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) would attend in person. However, Tourism Security Specialist and Security Liaison Herman Blease and Director of Cruise and Capacity Development Lloyd Enriquez participated only via Zoom.
Blease noted that tourism security encompasses visitor safety, environmental resilience, public health, emergency preparedness, and the protection of a destination’s reputation. “Every stakeholder has a role to play,” he said. “Government agencies, local businesses, residents, investors, and community organizations must work collaboratively to identify the risks before they become incidents.” He encouraged such discussions to strengthen the tourism sector. Blease and Enriquez added that the BTB stands ready to work with tourism stakeholders.
SBA President Iris Solis and Vice President Alexandra Hauptli said Secret Beach needs greater attention from local and central government authorities. Among their concerns is the need for improvements to the road infrastructure leading to the popular destination. Hauptli noted that development in the area is outpacing the existing infrastructure.
After thanking participants for attending, Solis and Hauptli outlined the issues affecting the Secret Beach business community before opening the floor for questions and suggestions.
Garbage disposal emerged as one of the main concerns. Several stakeholders said visitors have complained about the amount of garbage in the area. Currently, the SPTC Sanitation Department does not provide garbage collection services at Secret Beach, and residents and businesses must hire certified garbage collectors. Stakeholders said the current arrangement has not adequately addressed the problem and asked whether the SPTC could establish a designated garbage collection day for the area.
Ek could not commit to the request but said the Town Council is working on a plan to address the garbage problem at Secret Beach. Although he could not provide a timeline, he committed to following up on the initiative and providing stakeholders with additional information.
The urgency of addressing garbage disposal was also discussed in relation to public health. Health Inspector Florencio Tun said his department remains available to work alongside the community. He noted that water samples had been tested in the past, with most results coming back negative for contaminants. Tun said the department is considering conducting another round of testing to continue monitoring water quality along the island’s western coast.
Security was another area of concern, with stakeholders discussing the need for increased patrols by both private security personnel and the San Pedro Police Formation. Representatives from the island’s police formation and the Belize Coast Guard were present and took note of the concerns raised.
The meeting also addressed wildfires, which have affected the Secret Beach area on several occasions. Fire Chief Kenneth Mortis said that despite limited resources, the Fire Service will continue responding to fires reported in the area. He advised against slash-and-burn practices, which have been identified as contributing to past fires. Mortis also reminded attendees that burning garbage and other materials in the open is illegal without proper authorization.
A follow-up meeting is expected in the coming weeks. Before concluding the discussion, stakeholders requested an update from the SPTC Sanitation Department on its plans to address garbage collection at Secret Beach. Along with improvements to security, health services, and infrastructure, stakeholders identified proper waste management as a priority as development and visitation continue to grow in the area.