Community and Society

On Thursday, January 9th, a group of taxi drivers, accompanied by their federation leaders, protested outside the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) facilities. They were seeking a meeting with Mayor Gualberto "Wally" Nuñez to address concerns regarding soliciting at the island's water taxi terminals and local airport. The drivers stated that, for years, golf cart rentals have negatively impacted their operations by soliciting at these entry points to San Pedro. They aimed to find a solution that benefits both stakeholders. Although the Mayor was unavailable to meet with the taxi federation members, he conveyed his commitment to meet with them soon, along with Area Representative Honorable Andre Perez and Minister of Transport Honourable Rodwell Ferguson through a spokesperson.

The Government of Belize, through the Supplies Control Unit (SCU) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, has been working to monitor grocery store prices nationwide. On Tuesday, January 7th, the SCU released a list of stores that were found to be violating price regulations. Among those cited were 28 stores from San Pedro Town in Ambergris Caye and six from Caye Caulker. In total, 152 stores nationwide were penalized for breaching these price regulations.

Over the years, traffic congestion in downtown San Pedro has been a persistent challenge that some stakeholders in the public transportation sector believe is negatively affecting the visitor experience. San Pedro Taxi Federation members have pointed to insufficient enforcement at the local airport and water taxi terminals contributing to this issue. Although the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has previously implemented restrictions on golf cart rentals at these points of entry—prohibiting them from parking and soliciting business—the problems at these locations continue.

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), in partnership with the Government of Belize and with funding from the World Bank, continues to work diligently on deploying a 10 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in San Pedro Ambergris Caye. The project will be developed at BEL’s property behind the BEL Substation on Pescador Drive, San Pedro, and is slated for completion by 2026.

The San Pedro Town Council has proposed designating Caribeña Street and a section of Laguna Drive near the high school as no-parking zones. This proposal may raise significant concerns among residents and businesses. One of the primary issues is traffic congestion, which will likely worsen as vehicles circle the area in search of parking, especially during peak school hours when parents are dropping off or picking up students.

With the new year comes new beginnings. For the last twenty years, I have had the honor of being the editor of The San Pedro Sun.

The situation regarding the relocation of the artisan market in San Pedro Town has escalated due to a recent injunction to stop the ongoing construction project. The Ministry of Tourism and Honorable Andre Perez plan to establish a new artisan market at El Embarcadero on Nurse Shark Street. However, this proposal has encountered opposition from local artisans, fishermen, and residents, who argue that the site is unsuitable and threatens their livelihoods.

Located in the peaceful surroundings of the Grand Baymen Resort in San Pedro Town, Sharkheads Poolside Bar & Grill offers a unique dining experience that seamlessly blends local culture with the flavors of Cajun cuisine. Founded by the dynamic couple Troy and Cinda Terrebonne, originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and Pensacola, Florida, USA, Sharkheads was inspired by their love story that began in Gulfport, Mississippi, in September 2019. After getting married in September 2020, they embarked on an exciting adventure to create a welcoming space for locals and visitors.