Area Rep Says, “No More Docks” in San Pedro Town

Perez pointed out that property owners are also blocking off beaches on Ambergris Caye. He added that the island is cluttered with docks because every property owner thinks they deserve one. But he made it clear that this stops today, putting real estate agencies on notice.

 

Andre Perez, Area Rep., Belize Rural South

“We need to get to the root of the problem, and one is the real estate agencies. We are working with them, and we had to sit down with them, let them know it cannot be that you cannot be selling a property and letting them know that with that property you are able to get a golfcart, a dock, develop anything. This is what real estate must look at. There is a development of a piece of property to the back where they want to develop and put lots, yet it is in the middle of the reserve. That property was given way back. They want to develop it, and the real estate agency says you can get golf cart rental and all of these things, when you are not guaranteed these things. So, it starts with the real estate agencies. They need to get their act together and let them know that when you sell a property to somebody you cannot guarantee these things. We have people soliciting our offices saying minister or mayor can you help me, these people want a golf cart, they want this, that is a different matter. When you have the investors coming in and saying they promised me a golf cart, a dock, that was only to sell. We must look at that, because the real estate companies are not driving the real issue of buying a property and what it entails, the responsibilities. Buying a waterfront property does not guarantee you tat you will be building a dock. In fact, we are making it clear, no more docks. We need to do beach reclamation and beach reclamation does not mean that belongs to you. Even the restaurant trying to take that space and say we will have more beach, we need to put something there, you can. You can do it temporarily, but you need to pay something to the village council or town council. But it cannot be permanent.”