Community and Society
Caye Caulker Says No to Legalizing Marijuana in Historic Referendum
On Wednesday, October 8th, the majority of Caye Caulker residents, known as Hicaqueños, voted against the proposal to legalize cannabis on the island. The final tally recorded 857 ballots cast from 1,454 registered voters, with 79 percent voting “No” in the historic marijuana referendum.
Community and Society
Amber Isle Launches Full Bus Operations Across San Pedro
San Pedro’s new public transportation service, Amber Isle, officially began charging fares on Wednesday, October 8th, following a period of complimentary runs held from October 3rd to 7th. Operating six buses, the service now covers a wide range of routes across the island, including key areas from San Mateo to Secret Beach and Boca del Rio to south of the WASA water plant.
Community and Society
Team Chingon Wins 5th Reef Adventures Lionfish Tournament
Team Chingon emerged as the champion of the fifth annual Reef Adventures Lionfish Tournament after capturing an impressive 608 lionfish. The team also won the prize for the smallest lionfish. In second place was Team Elite Divers with 532 lionfish, earning the award for the largest specimen. Team Carma placed third with 523 lionfish.
Community and Society
Steven Cruz to Lead New National Garifuna Council San Pedro Branch
A new executive board headed by Steven Cruz was elected on Sunday, September 28th, to lead the National Garifuna Council (NGC) San Pedro Branch. The election, held in San Pedro Town and presided over by NGC President Alex Nolberto, resulted in the selection of Cruz as president, Alex Noralez as vice president, Eden Velásquez as secretary, Florett Flowers as assistant secretary, Julie Zúñiga as treasurer, Gene Lopez as assistant treasurer, Joseph Elijio as delegate, and Elroy Castillo as alternate delegate.
Community and Society
Islanders join National Coastal and Riverways Cleanup
Several groups across the country participated in the National Coastal and Riverways Cleanup on Saturday, September 27th. In San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, three cleanup efforts were organized, including a sargassum removal along the eastern coast and a road and beach cleanup in northern Ambergris Caye. Together, participants collected large amounts of trash and sargassum.
Community and Society
Pre-bid session held with contractors for San Mateo pedestrian bridge
For several months, stakeholders have discussed a project to deliver essential services to the San Mateo subdivision. The plan, which includes multiple infrastructure upgrades, has received the green light following consultations with the San Pedro Town Council and the central government’s procurement team. Among the scheduled works is the construction of a pedestrian bridge linking San Mateo and the Boca del Rio subdivision. On Thursday, September 26th, a pre-bid meeting was held in San Pedro Town with prospective contractors, during which the procurement team outlined the application process.
Community and Society
San Pedro Taxi Drivers Voice Concerns Over Cart Rentals, Fares, and Public Transport
The taxi industry in San Pedro says it is facing several challenges. These include competition from golf cart rentals, disputes over fares, and the recent launch of a public transportation pilot program. Drivers report that these issues are affecting their daily operations and income.
Community and Society
BEL Provides Updates Following the Major Outage on Friday, September 26
At 1:52 p.m. on Friday afternoon, BEL experienced a sudden loss of supply from one of its major suppliers, Mexico's Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), following a major system collapse in the Yucatan Peninsula. At the time of the supply loss, CFE was carrying 46% of the total system load with the remaining load being supplied by BEL's Westlake Gas Turbine and the Fortis Belize and Hydro Maya hydroelectric plants. BEL's grid protection system activated immediately to restore the system balance by shedding load in various parts of the national grid. This resulted in outages in service areas countrywide except for Belmopan, Ladyville, and parts of San Ignacio and rural Belize District.
Community and Society
New Police Station for Caye Caulker; San Pedro Slated for Improvements
Following a nationwide tour, the Honorable Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, announced several upcoming projects for police formations across Belize, including the construction of new stations. The first was confirmed on September 18th in the southern community of Bella Vista. Other municipalities identified for new facilities include Santa Elena, Corozal, Orange Walk, and Caye Caulker.
Community and Society
San Pedro Expands Road Paving Projects
The San Pedro Town Council is pressing ahead with additional street paving, part of ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure in low-lying and flood-prone areas. The work is concentrated on streets such as Marina Road, Hurricane Street, and areas within San Mateo, San Pedrito, and the Escalante subdivision. Along with paving, the projects include drainage system upgrades to protect residents’ properties and improve water flow during heavy rains, reinforcing the town’s resilience and accessibility.
Community and Society
Mayor Announces Paving of Southern Ambergris Caye Road
After years of anticipation, Mayor Gualberto “Wally” Nuñez announced on September 20th that paving will soon begin on the road leading to the southernmost point of San Pedro Town. The project, covering approximately 6.5 miles, will be carried out with support from the central government and in partnership with the Southern Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch (SACNW).
