Perez: Once Alaia Abides by Rules, They Should Build Seawall
Andre Perez
Two days ago, Alaia Belize Resort announced on its Facebook page that as of May first to November first of this year, it will be constructing a new seawall. The resort says the new infrastructure is expected to enrich its luxury resort experience, and create an expanded pristine beach with over eight hundred feet of ocean frontage for its guests. The work will cause intermittent interruptions on its beachfront. The seawall is also expected to address the problem of beach erosion that has been affecting the area, and the Area Representative for Belize Rural South, Andre Perez says that if the resort abides by the regulations, they should be allowed to build their seawall.
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“When they approached us at the very beginning they were acutely aware about the beach erosion in that area. In the case of Maritumbo, it was a beautiful beach. I used to be there when I was coming for vacation. I was living back in – I was not living here back then in the 1980s – college days. It was a good place, but eventually it was sold off, and I think the – it was privately owned, I think it was. But the easement in there was sold off to join the two – Alaia and Banyan Bay into one. That was done some couple of years ago without the consultation of the people, and this is where we are at right now. For us to look at it and completely condemn it and say, “no,” we can’t do that. We as – we are elected officials [who must] work along with developers as well. So when they approached us, we told them the most important thing is to follow the procedures that the laws of the land govern, reaching out to DOE, getting all of these things in place – Natural Resources, Mining, anything that they need to do. Once they are in place, I don’t see why I can say that I do not support it. And that’s what I told them, get everything in place and we will go with them. We cannot go against what the government, the departments are saying that needs to be done. But I will tell you about this area here. Since it’s been developed, there are no palm trees, nothing, everything is gone. There’s beach erosion because there is a break in the reef directly in front, so they’re always suffering with that, and especially when it comes to sargassum at the same time. So all of these things, in the name of looking at the development that the people have invested, it’s millions of dollars. So we cannot turn our backs on ways to say that – perhaps the only option for the moment is a seawall.”
Reporter
“Now, we know that the beach reserve is always for the government and people of Belize. How does this affect that right that all citizens have?
Andre Perez
“No, but no one is saying that people can’t walk through that place there. It will still be open, and by law, anyone can walk through and stay there. I haven’t heard Alaia say that no one can go there, it’s private, no one can walk through that beach.”
