G.O.B. Approves New Subdivision in San Pedro

In September, News Five brought you the story of a proposed subdivision on Ambergris Caye, about four miles north of San Pedro Town. More than three hundred lots had been surveyed…half of them allocated to residents who paid for the survey, but the proposed subdivision was submerged. It caused somewhat of a stink when the news broke, and the project was put on immediate hold. The situation was more complicated than that, because the area of that proposed subdivision was smack in the middle of a zone proposed for reserve status. That proposal is before Cabinet for approval. Tonight we can report that there is some good news emerging out of that mess. Cabinet has given Belize Rural South Area Representative Manuel Heredia permission to survey land further north. Heredia told News Five that it is high ground, and that he plans to survey at least one hundred acres very soon for distribution. While it certainly wasn’t the case in the first proposed subdivision, Heredia says this one will be well thought out and planned properly.

Manuel Heredia Jr., Area Representative, Belize Rural South

Manuel Heredia Jr.

“We made a subdivision plan not only for now but for the next four five years to come which will have about one thousand and sixty-nine lots, and it will have over there also facilities for hospitals, schools, sporting facilities and you name it…a proper subdivision. And at the same time we are looking into the proper infrastructure where the power high tension lines from B.E.L….that is the designated road at this time…to make sure that we start working on that so there will be proper infrastructure to allow you to reach the area we are talking about. That is more or less a little further from the area we were developing. In the meantime we are talking with people who were concerned about the environment to see how we can handle the area that was surveyed. But at this point it is totally on hold, and I am hoping that very shortly we will survey one hundred acres of the land that Cabinet has allowed me to use, to make sure that our people will have the proper type of lots that are required.”

Reporter

“Sir can we ask then for an update on the status of the proposal to turn that area into an expansion to a reserve?”

Manuel Heredia Jr.

“Well at this point what I can tell you about Los Bajos…I totally support that. I was a pioneer of that project because that is a very sensitive area that was sold by the previous administration. Our administration had made sure that we got it back, and then it was encompassed in one of the biggest reserves that you could ever have. At this point it is between the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Natural Resources that are sorting out a few little details as to whose responsibility it is within the minerals and dredging and stuff like that. Once that is resolved I am sure the reserve will be made available.”

The area in question would be an expansion to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, since it is a valuable breeding ground for fish. It also has great touristic value, since it is a favoured spot for very lucrative fly fishing.