News of Belize
BZEFIRST
arrivals by air to Belize increased 1.6% in 2001 over 2000, to 133,774.
September arrivals, following the terrorist attacks in the United States, were
down 22% and December arrivals were down about 8% from the previous year.
November was flat and October actually saw an increase, but statistics for
these months are misleading because Hurricane Keith cut travel to Belize
dramatically last October and part of November. Belize eked out the
year-to-year gain despite the impact of Hurricane Iris, the recession in its
major market, the U.S., which contributes more than three-fourths of air
visitors to Belize, and cutbacks in air service by TACA and American airlines.
Tourism operators say that since Christmas tourist business is picking up,
especially on the cayes. However, by international standards, tourism in Belize
is still a drop in the bucket: On the average day in 2001, only about 366
international visitors arrived by air at Phillip Goldson International Airport.
SALE OF PASSPORTS DISCONTINUED After years of controversy under both the PUP
and UDP administrations, the economic citizenship, AKA buy-a-passport, program
has been halted as of January 15. Applications still in the pipeline will be
processed, but no new applications are being accepted. The Qualified Retired
Persons Incentive Act program, designed to attract retirees aged 45 and over to
live in Belize, continues and is not affected by the discontinuation of the
economic citizenship plan.
GOVERNMENT TO PRIVATIZE 'FOUR Ps' -- PORTS, PRISON, PRINTING AND POST OFFICE
Belize ports, prisons, printing department and post office soon will be in
private hands, if plans announced by the government materialize. Already,
electricity, water and telephone services have been privatized.
TWO KILLED AT CAYO LODGE; SIX GUESTS TERRORIZED, ONE RAPED; NO ARRESTS YET In
late December, a gang believed to from Guatemala killed John Luce, the American
manager of Black Rock Lodge on the Macal River near San Ignacio, and assistant
manager Mario Cocom. They then attacked six guests who were staying the lodge
and raped one woman, an American. According to Caesar Sherard, owner of Black
Rock and also Caesar's Place on the Western Highway east of San Ignacio, the
killings were the result of an unresolved argument between the Luce and a
Guatemalan family. A police investigation continues, but to date there have
been no arrests. Black Rock Lodge is located only about 3 miles from the
Guatemala border. In the wake of this and several other incidents involving
tourists in western Belize, several lodges in Cayo have beefed up security,
hiring guards or taking other measures to assure the safety of their guests.
Most visitors to Cayo say they feel completely safe, but travel agents and
others in the tourist industry say they have received a number of questions
from would-be visitors to Cayo, expressing concern about travel to the area.
The U.S. State Department so far has not issued a new travel warning about
Belize. Indeed, the State Department's warnings about Costa Rica, Belize's
Central American neighbor which gets more than four times the number of
American visitors as Belize, but which attracts a similar type of visitor, is
much stronger. The State Department's Consular Information Sheet on Costa Rica
says, in part: "Crime is increasing and tourists are frequent victims ... In
recent years, several Americans have been murdered in Costa Rica in urban,
rural and resort locations. Many of the perpetrators have been arrested, and
some convicted. Other assailants remain at large. U.S. citizen women have been
victims of sexual assaults both in cities and in rural areas." The State
Department also has strong words about crime in Honduras and Guatemala.
PLACENCIA RECOVERY ON TRACK Most of the debris from Hurricane Iris has been
removed, and the peninsula has water and electricity again. Nearly all the
hotels north of Placencia village have reopened, as have some in Placencia
village. Still, with many businesses having little or no insurance to pay for
rebuilding, full recovery is likely to take many more months. Several of the
cayes off Placencia, including Laughing Bird Caye, were severely damaged by the
storm. (A complete status report on Placencia, courtesy of Mary Toy of Kevin
Modera Guides, is available on the Current News page of the Belize First Web
edition.)
GREENBACK SHORTAGE CONTINUES It's not a currency crisis, according to
government officials, but the shortage of U.S. dollars continues to be a
problem for Belizean businesses. Many businesses must pay for imported products
and shipping in U.S. dollars, as the Belize dollar can't easily be converted
outside of Belize. Being unable to get sufficient American currency through
legal channels, business owners are in many cases buying dollars on the grey
market, paying Belize 2.20 to 2.40 for 1 U.S. dollar, 10 to 20% higher than the
2 to 1 peg. Other businesses are requiring payment from customers in U.S.
dollars. Rumors continue regarding an official devaluation of the Belize
dollar. Such rumors have occurred regularly over the years, but no devaluation
has taken place. As Belize imports far more than it exports, a devaluation
could be devastating for the country, according to conventional economic
wisdom. A weak Belize dollar would drive up the cost of many products, creating
inflation. A devaluation would probably not boost tourism to Belize, as most
hotel and tour prices in Belize are denominated in U.S. dollars. The government
has moved to crack down on grey market money changers, claiming that only the
Belize Central Bank can designate who can legally hold American dollars. The
Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has gone on record supporting the
concept that all Belize adults and businesses should have free access to U.S.
currency.
SAM PEDRO GETS SECOND OFFSHORE MED SCHOOL The Medical University of the
Americas began operation in mid-January with 35 students in residence on it
temporary campus in San Pedro at the Belize Yacht Club. If students in clinical
rotation are included, the school has 75 students. St. Matthews University on
San Pedro has 185 students in full-time residence, according to school
officials; including students in clinical rotation and students at its campus
in Maine, the school has about 485 students. A third offshore school, Belize
Medical School, is in Belize City.
FROM BELIZE FIRST www.belizefirst.com