BELIZE NEWS

[LoveFM.com]

BELIZE AUDUBON SOCIETY CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY DAY
May 20, 2009

The Belize Audubon Society and other conservation group will join the rest of the world on Friday in celebrating International Biological Diversity Day. Each year the day is set aside to increase the understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues and the long term effects it could have on humankind if it is not corrected. One activity that the society along with its partners is highlighting is Green Wave Belize. Amanda Acosta is the Advocacy Programme Manager at the Belize Audubon Society explains.

Amanda Acosta; Advocacy Programme Manager, Belize Audubon Society

“Green wave is an international kind of multi-year program and we focus on children and youth. We educate them about the importance of bio-diversity for our well being and that of the planet. The focus of the campaign is to empower children and youth to make a difference. The theme is “One School; One Tree; One Nature”. The Belize Audubon Society has been working with six of the sponsor communities; there are communities that surround protected areas, particularly Crooked Tree, Biscayne, Armenia, Roarign Creek, Maya Center, Maya Mopan and a school Belize City.”



According to Acosta, The intent is to educate future leaders to halt the future loss of biodiversity and at the same time empower children and youths to make a difference. She tells us more about how this campaign will get started on Friday.

Amanda Acosta; Advocacy Programme Manager, Belize Audubon Society

“What we have is that we have taken the children. We are doing presentations on bio-diversity in the schools in all these communities we will have tree planting ceremonies. Our focal point will be Maya Center where we will be having a ceremony with the Village Council, school and villagers. We will be planting not only one tree but we will be planting 45 trees for the community. It will be a lovely event involving some Maya ceremonies in the tree planting. We are seeing that there is a reduction in bio-diversity worldwide and the importance here is to raise awareness educate other about how we loose bio-diversity. This includes things such as deforestation, development, choral reefs, degradation and illegal activity. This includes illegal incursion and the cutting down of forested areas.”

The tree planting ceremony will take place simultaneously at 10am worldwide. In Belize City the event will be held at the Memorial Park in collaboration with the Belize City Council and Saint Mary’s Primary School.

[jsmither]

Review of Punta Gorda, Belize
May 27, 2009 by John Smither

The country of Belize is small in size and made up of just six districts, from north to south they are:- Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo. Punta Gorda lies in the extreme south of the country, is more commonly referred to by Belizeans simply as P.G. it is the largest town in the south of the country, as well as being the main town of Toledo District. The road to P.G. is by way of the southern highway, the only road in and out. It is now a paved road for all but about ten miles that is currently being upgraded. Before this the dusty, potholed dirt road was often impassable in wet weather and was not a good option. Apart from boat the only other option to get to the town was the expensive one of flying. Two companies currently operate a service into the town, flying 10-12 seat planes from other destinations within Belize.

With a population of around 5000 people this town has not so far benefitted from a large influx of tourists. With many Mayan ruins in the Toledo district to choose from, this mostly remote and least explored part of the country offers the more adventurous tourist a wealth of discoveries. Within the town itself are many small family run hotels. A number of North Americans and Europeans have made this their home and are trying to make a living here. Without an increase in the number of tourists it is hard to see how many will prosper in this sleepy town. Fishing had long been the major industry for the town, and with many of the outlying villagers turning to farming the land it is possible for them to make a living. With little to no industry here many choose to leave given the choice. Until 1992 the British Army had a base here in PG, and the hotels and bars made a good living from the soldiers as they recuperated in the town during any time off.

The first settlement in Punta Gorda appeared in 1832, when Garifunas (see my article titled 'the People of Belize', for a description of this colorful group of people) emigrated from Honduras. The town today is a colorful mix of this group as well as Creoles, Kekchi Maya, Mopan Maya, Chinese, East Indians as well as an influx recently of US, Canadian and British expats.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... elize.html

[amandala]

Rapid survey shows significant decline in business, and worries over the months ahead

The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) held its Bi-Annual General Meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City, where executive director, Nicole Solano, unveiled the results of a recent 10-day rapid survey, which gives an insight into the state of Belize’s tourism industry.

The results of the BTIA survey, culled from online responses from 122 respondents – the bulk of them hoteliers – signal a worrying state of affairs. Roughly 23% of hotels are planning on closing during the slow months (the next five months from May to September) until the sector makes an upswing.

According to Solano, the survey respondents indicate that while many of them are doing OK for the moment, they are worried about the times ahead, even as they hold out for what they hope will be better times ahead, in the 2009/2010 season.

Most say that they operate with minimal staff, and because they have opted to reduce rates, revenues are down, though no concrete dollar figures were provided in the reports.

Apart from the hoteliers – a small sampling of the over 600 hotels existing in Belize – there were also tour operators, transportation providers, and food and beverage enterprises who participated in the survey. The largest percentage of the respondents is based in Placencia, Stann Creek.

Specifically, the survey covered 79 hoteliers, 10 tour operators, 2 respondents in airline/water taxi/public transport, 3 in gift shops/arts & craft, 3 in consulting/professional /corporate services, 4 restaurants, and 21 in unspecified categories.

As the accompanying graph indicates, 57% of those who took part in the survey, conducted between May 11 and 21, complained that their businesses have suffered declines in activity since January, and the #1 factor blamed for the decline is the global financial crisis.

However, that was not the only negative influence that the industry has had to contend with. The other factors blamed for declining business are high airfares, taxation, crime in Belize, lack of effective marketing, the swine flu (A/H1N1) scare, low product and service standards, and safety standards for tours and equipment, in that order. Still, the tourism enterprises do not think that the impacts are that severe.

The industry stakeholders are predicting that the economic storm will continue to affect them even in the months ahead. For example, 70% are predicting a decrease in business at the close of 2009, and a third are projecting that business will fall off by more than 20%, while four of the respondents are giving up, and they said they would either sell or close down their businesses.

Belize City tourism enterprises suffer particularly from the bad rap the City gets because of crime, and some tourists advise others to stay away from the Old Capital, and go to the ruins and the cayes, instead.
It is interesting to note that even though the prospects for some tourism businesses seem rather grim, there are others who are experiencing better fortunes, despite the ongoing financial challenges.

The survey report says that 17% of those who responded are actually projecting an increase since 2009 began. Even though roughly 40% had reduced staff numbers or their hours, 15% had actually hired more workers.

So what are those businesses that have been growing, doing that others have not been?

The bottom-line message seems to be that Belizean tourism stakeholders simply need to get the word out more – and the word that gets out must be enticing to visitors.

The majority of respondents who experienced growth in the first part of 2009 cite an increase in word- of-mouth referrals as the top reason for increase in business. Heavy investment was the next factor cited, while the third reason was having a new and innovative product.

The BTIA hopes to use the results of the rapid survey “to advocate and lobby with the Government of Belize, on behalf of the tourism private sector.”

The BTIA points to declarations made by its regional affiliate, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), calling out governments of the region for allegedly not grasping the enormity of the challenges facing tourism, in light of the 3% decline in tourist arrivals in 2008 compared to 2007. The BTIA reports that the CHTA is planning a region-wide publicity campaign to call on governments to give more support to the sector.

At today’s meeting of members, the BTIA had a guest speaker from the USA, Dale Stewart (www.dalestewart.com), who reminded tourism stakeholders in Belize of the need to market Belize as a unique destination, offering what he described as customized tours, high on interaction and educational content, and using the local expertise available to make the visits of tourists more enlightening and enjoyable, and an experience they could not get anywhere else in the world.

He also said that Belize could easily become a mecca for educational tourism.

At the very start of his presentation, Stewart noted that despite the global economic crisis, some businesses have actually experienced growth, and the key, he said, is to “keep an open mind.”

A businessperson will run into trouble, he cautioned, “…if you let all the doom and gloom that you hear out there drive the decisions that you make.”

The global economic downturn, said Stewart, should be viewed as an opportunity to reassess business fundamentals, to be smart with money, as “cash is king,” and to make extra investments in marketing and strategic planning.

He also urged adaptive leadership: “Adaptive leadership is about making rapid decisions during times of crisis, and making decisions during these times of crisis when things are happening to our industry or happening at your homes or business.”

Stewart also raised the point – not a new one for tourism leaders – that Belize, as a whole, needs to be marketed as a destination, and rather than being copycats in promoting Belize with standard images, leaders need to use their creativity to ensure that when Belize is presented to the world, that it stands out in a way that will invite people to visit for an unforgettable experience.

Stewart noted that there are still many abroad who are clueless about Belize, and he pointed to his own mini-survey, which he did in South Carolina before coming to Belize, on what he described as a high-priced airline ticket, with a cost that could have taken him halfway around the world.

“Where is Belize?” he asked Americans.

“I got everything from it’s somewhere on the other side of Yucatan and it’s part of Mexico…one of them thought it was in South America; one guy thought it was somewhere off the coast of Africa…,” he said, and added that some guessed the official language of Belize to be Spanish.

“I was amazed that they did not know that Belize was an English-speaking country,” he said.

At the recent Fifth Summit of the Americas, Prime Minister Dean Barrow learned that Barack Obama, US president, also did not know of Belize, though after hearing about Belize from PM Barrow, he began entertaining prospects of an imminent visit.

Official state visits can do a lot for a country’s international prestige. For example, this week’s state visit by the President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, has catapulted Belize into the spotlight, as one of the top names being discussed in the international news media, particularly in light of the fact that Ma makes his first official showing in Central America on Belizean soil.

Before his departure on Friday morning, President Ma plans to do some sightseeing, as he is scheduled to go on tour at Hol Chan Marine Reserve on Ambergris Caye.

http://www.amandala.com.bz

[KEVINBRASS]

A Getaway in Belize, Roads Optional

AMBERGRIS CAYE was a sleepy destination for divers and fishermen 15 years ago, when the singer and songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker and his wife, Susan, built their house on the Caribbean waterfront.

ince then, it has become Belize’s most popular tourist destination. High-end residential developments now dot the island. It is even possible to find a good bottle of French wine in San Pedro, the island’s main town.

But Susan Walker, who is based in Texas, is convinced that Ambergris will maintain its distinct island charm.

“This place is just funky enough to keep the people away,” she said.

Despite the recent growth, Ambergris resists many of the trappings of high-end tourism found on other Caribbean islands. The water along the 25-mile-long island is too shallow for cruise ships and mega-yachts, and there are few big resorts. There is also a dearth of top-end restaurants, spas and glitzy discos. The nearest golf course is 40 minutes away by boat.

Still, since 1993 the island’s population has jumped to an estimated 12,000 from 2,500, including a wave of Americans and Canadians who bought second homes or retired on the island. Ambergris is “booming, but it’s booming nice and quietly,” said Chris Allnat, owner of the Pelican Properties real estate agency.

Most of Ambergris’s new development is north of San Pedro in an area still primarily accessible only by boat. Last year a small bridge was built over the Cut, the nickname for the channel that separates the much larger northern part of the island from San Pedro and the south. But cars are still banned on the one bumpy dirt road that stretches through that northern section of the island.

There is talk of paving the north road but limiting its use to golf carts, which are still the main mode of transportation on the island. “We do not want it to be suitable for carrying cars,” said Diane Campbell, a local developer. “We’re trying to decrease the number of cars.”

Ms. Campbell and her husband, Bob, have built six small residential projects on the island. Their latest is Solaria, a collection of three waterfront houses with wide verandas, priced around $900,000 to $1 million.

Most of the developments on the island range from 20 to 70 units. Government restrictions limit buildings along the waterfront to three or four stories, which has kept projects small.

“They don’t want to change the feel of the place,” said Macarena Rose, president of the Belize National Association of Realtors.

Agents say prices for houses have spiked 20 to 30 percent on Ambergris in recent years, but are still relatively inexpensive compared with those on other Caribbean islands. A two-bedroom waterfront condo typically sells for $300,000 to $500,000.

Few pristine lots are available, and many parts of the island are swampy and only stretches offer white sand. In the last three years, waterfront land has jumped from $3,500 to almost $6,000 a linear foot for developable beachfront property in the north, agents say. (In Belize, land is commonly priced by the length of its beachfront, and prices are quoted in United States dollars.)

For foreign buyers, Belize offers many attractive features. English is the primary language, and the currency is fixed at two Belizean dollars to one United States dollar. It also makes it easy to retire there, simplifying the process for foreign citizens to establish residence and transfer possessions into the country.

Tony Newshel, a New Jersey resident and an avid scuba diver, said “the ease of being in Belize” and the island’s relaxed atmosphere played large roles in his decision to buy on Ambergris. Three years ago he and his wife, Ginny, paid about $500,000 for a two-bedroom waterfront condo in the Phoenix development near the heart of San Pedro.

From an investment standpoint, the changes on Ambergris have been completely for the better, Mr. Newshel said. “The town is able to handle more people, more conveniently.”

CHANGES include paved roads around San Pedro, two supermarkets and a number of new restaurants.

The Phoenix, where the Newshels bought an apartment, is billed as the first upscale development in San Pedro. The 30-unit complex was built by Jerry and Linda McDermott, who ran a popular bar and hotel on the site for 20 years. “We’re trying to create a new niche in the market,” said Mark Maggiotto, the Phoenix’s general manager.

Twenty-four of the 30 condos have been sold since the project went on the market in 2005, Mr. Maggiotto said. The six remaining units — not on the waterfront — range from a one-bedroom for $399,000 to a three-bedroom unit for $589,000.

In recent weeks, agents on Ambergris report a slowdown in buying activity as the troubles in the American economy ripple through the market. But sales could get a boost if direct flights to Belize City are initiated from Europe, as is widely anticipated. Last year the main runway at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City was expanded to accommodate bigger jets. (People usually connect to San Pedro on small planes.)

And even Susan Walker realizes that, although the charm may remain in tact , there will be more development in the island’s future. “I think it’s inevitable,” she said.

[DenRoyGarcia]

The Artistic Note - A Series in Tribute to Belizean Artists

Talented Belizean musicians often make the proverbial leap from performing with prominent bands to braving it solo.

After 11 years in music, Denroy Garcia, popularly known as “Mackoy,” has made that transition from performing with Griga Boyz, Punta Rebels, Collie Rebels, Gilharry Seven, and Danger Zone, to now establishing himself as a recording artist in his own right.

The former member of Griga Boyz has compiled 9 of his songs on a culturally dynamic and pragmatic album aptly dubbed Real Issues.

Mackoy explains that his songs address key social issues that confront Belize, such as crime, and the lack of family values.

“Seeing my country Belize being plagued by crime, violence, and teenage pregnancy, I...decided to put this CD together, and name it Real Issues...After all, we’re living in a real world,” Mackoy says in introducing his album.

He then makes an explosive segue into the song “Vamp,” featuring Punta Rock star Supa G.

Supa G and Mackoy get right into dealing with the hard issues with “Vamp,” throwing the evil of domestic violence into sharp focus.

They use lyrics written in both English and Garifuna, sung to a hip-swaying, racy Punta Rock beat so reminiscent of the Punta Rebels/Griga Boyz days that ushered in a last decade of Belize’s ethnic dance beats.

The artist expresses his love for Nigerian movies and his fascination with Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze (who are so short, they often play the role of two mischievous boys). The dedication is captioned “One Putu”, and it points to the importance of parental discipline.

Featuring the female artist Serina, the soca-flavored song “Got to Learn” encourages self-pride and self-esteem among men and women, and urges them to treat each other better.

Real Issues culminates with a somber piece titled “Gun Shot,” featuring Junimar, which makes an appeal to stop the senseless killings that leave families grieving and grappling with their loss.

Mackoy hails from Georgetown Village, Stann Creek. The love he has for his culture and his down-to-earth upbringing come out clearly in his music.

The artist acknowledges the love and support of his network. Firstly, he expresses gratitude to his parents: Delbert Garcia, Sr. and Adette Garcia, and his brothers for their unconditional love and support.

He also acknowledges fellow artists, Junimar, Bas Elroy, Timo, Supa G, and all musicians who helped make his project a reality.

Finally, he sends out his love to all fans (old and new) who have supported and continue to support his work.

Mackoy’s Real Issues will be available at all music stores.

The artist can be contacted at 624-0602 or denroygarcia_23@yahoo.com.