Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) and the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) announced on October 15th that the Secret Beach area will be connected to the national grid. The partnership to extend electricity services to the popular destination northwest of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, aims to support sustainable growth and improve daily life for residents, business owners and visitors.
According to BEL, the connection will improve daily operations and let businesses safely extend their evening hours. “This dedicated electrical infrastructure will improve visibility and safety for residents, workers and visitors,” BEL stated in its release. “Establishments will be able to move away from costly, noisy fuel-powered generators, lowering operating costs and reducing their environmental footprint,” BEL added, saying that reliable electricity would help attract investment and strengthen economic development in the area.
Stakeholders and residents who rely on diesel-powered generators and solar panels to power their homes and businesses welcomed the announcement. Business owner Maresha Reid described it as a positive development for the area’s business community. “We operate on a diesel generator for nine hours a day with limited appliances, which limit us in many ways,” she said. “With this upcoming improvement, I can have better appliances and more for smoother operations.”
Reid said high diesel prices have pushed her electricity generation costs at Secret Beach above what she pays for electricity at her property in town. She also hopes BEL can install an internet tower nearby to improve connectivity, noting that weak or unavailable signals make processing credit card payments difficult.
Reid and other business owners said they plan to retain their generators as backup during planned and unplanned power outages. They expressed hope that BEL would be equipped to meet demand, particularly during peak periods when Secret Beach attracts large numbers of island residents and tourists.
Other residents noted that improved electricity infrastructure could encourage further development and increase traffic at Secret Beach. As the San Pedro Town Council continues paving the road to the destination, residents are calling for proper signage and stronger traffic enforcement.
Over the past decade, Secret Beach has grown significantly, with Belizeans and foreign retirees establishing homes and businesses in the area. Despite this growth, residents continue to face infrastructure challenges, including limited access to piped water and inadequate drainage. Stakeholders described the planned electricity connection as a long-overdue improvement for the island’s expanding commercial and residential community.