Letter to the Editor

"I am calling upon the elders and other religious leaders of our community to join me in demanding of our police and civic authorities the following: Central Park is meant to be a sacred space for our families, our children, and our guests. But it has become a den of drug dealers, gangs and drunks. As a community, I believe we must demand a permanent police booth in Central Park to act as a Deterrent. Secondly, any bar or nightclub anywhere in San Pedro, but especially around Central Park, that becomes a hub for gang activity and the sale of drugs, must be shut down permanently. Central Park is one of the few spaces we have for our children, and it must be a safe zone for families and guests."

"In the month dedicated to women, Belizean communities should start eradicating the widespread practice of catcalling. The problem with this action is hidden in its very name: catcalling. The 'men' of Belize are cat-calling a human being who deserves respect, not objectification."

"I have a US$ Atlantic Bank Credit Card with spending limit of $3000USD. To ensure I have that spending limit I gave the Atlantic Bank $3000USD to hold in a Collateral Account. I collect a wee bit of interest on that Collateral Account but cannot touch it if I want my spending limit. So, it is not really a Credit Card (credit gifted from the bank – based on my income and other regulations), it is a Collateral Card. Now, Atlantic Bank (via Central Bank) has reduced my spending limit to $1000USD because of COVID-19 and the government needs access to US Dollars. They tell me it was a unilateral reduction of spending limits – meaning it was done to everyone. Well, they have my money."

One thing is for sure, Covid19 knows how to STOP an entire working society. But what are we learning if anything? As a business owner, I sit like many others wondering what can be done today and what tomorrow will look like. If I am correct in my predictions, we are in this for many more long months and those months seem....wasted.  We are not doing enough.

"The gift that this Prime Minister could at this time effectively give this Nation is campaign funding legislation. He could pass it in one sitting of the House, as he has been won’t to do. Nobody could formally vote “no” on it and it would curtail the flow of illicit funding and force the Government in power to find legitimate substitute sources to carry on all types of informal subsidizing of constituencies. Maybe then they could focus on programs to encourage light industry or agriculture and then on formal social programs to assist the really needy. This would bring the real statistics of poverty and unemployment to light. It would be tough going for a while, but we would emerge a stronger, prouder self- reliant people"

Most people who come here to visit from other developed countries were taught the speed limit was 15 mph in school zones, 25 mph in residential areas and progressed to 35 mph and up, depending on street conditions and location.

Woke up yesterday morning to see this beautiful creature with this on her back. People pick up your garbage! Remember when San Pedro was a simple fishing village and people took pride in their surroundings.

"This has been going unchecked for years, no matter how many complaints the -police department receives. Let us make one thing perfectly clear; fireworks are illegal in Belize - period. They may be legal in the country claiming us, Guatemala, but in independent Belize, they are illegal."