Caye Caulker Village Council Takes Stand to Protect Public Beach Access

The Caye Caulker Village Council has reiterated its commitment to ensuring equitable access to public beach areas and maintaining community spaces for both locals and visitors. In a statement issued today, the Council said that all individuals, regardless of their resources or connections, must be held to the same standard under the law.

The Council says it has proactively addressed the closure of two public beach areas and one street, adding that access to these spaces is a right for all Belizeans and visitors. “We agree unanimously, as does the law, that beach access must be available to all Belizeans and visitors. Furthermore, these areas are nationally owned areas that exist for the benefit of everyone in our community. For us this means visitors and locals alike,” the statement noted.

The statement explained that the council has engaged with government authorities and other stakeholders over the past two years. Key actions included:

September 6, 2022: A meeting was held with CEO Paul Thompson to address initial complaints.

2023: The Council engaged with the Ministry of Natural Resources and met with Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde to seek support in addressing the issues. The ministry conducted inspections of waterfront properties to assess compliance with national laws.

December 6, 2023: A formal letter was sent to Deputy Prime Minister Hyde requesting further information to assist the Council in resolving these issues.

March 2024: Following inspections, several properties were identified as being in violation of the law. The Council informed property owners of these violations and initiated dialogue to find resolutions.

The council says it has acted decisively when barriers were placed to restrict access to the beach and street areas.

“We cannot continue to allow the slow degradation of Caye Caulker’s public beach access. There is a due process with proper procedures and permission for the use of national land and beautification,” the Council stated. preservation.