The Growing Tourist-Truck Conflict: A Common-Sense Solution
FINALLY, a common-sense solution to the growing tourist-truck conflict!!!
Visitors to the island over the past few years may have noticed the occasional large dump truck navigating our roads.
These trucks carry invaluable fill from both the UDP quarry, and a ½ mile further north, the PUP quarry. The trucks and their drivers are essential foot soldiers of progress. It would be all but impossible to transform life filled lagoons and dense mangroves into barren, subdividable lots without them.
But lately, there have been growing concerns…
Visitors to the island are complaining about golf cart and truck congestion, gridlock in town, driving in clouds of dust, and the near-complete decimation of carts on rutted-out roads.
The good news is these complaints have not fallen on deaf ears.
A few months ago, San Pedro Mayor Gualberto “Wally” Nunez announced a resolution that, starting in April of this year, large trucks would be prohibited from driving through the San Pedro Town Core. While many applauded this step, others felt it would not be enough. The mayor and San Pedro Town Council have now agreed.
“We’ve revisited the restriction on trucks passing through the town center,” said Mayor Wally. “We admit that while well-intentioned, it would simply be a band-aid on a much larger problem. A tourist vs truck conflict is NOT something we can allow to persist; it’s detrimental to the very future of the island. The sensible solution, to ensure sustainable progress, is to implement an immediate moratorium on tourists.”
Town Councilor in charge of both Tourism and Public Road Works, Ernesto Bardalez, added, “We can’t let tourists stand in the path of progress. The island has a limited carrying capacity, we must prioritize.”
The new plan is surprisingly simple.
All accommodations will now need to submit applications for the importation to the island of any and all tourists. Approval will be granted based on demonstrating an existing need for a tourist, and whether previous permits have already been granted to the same applicant. The town will partner with the Belize Tourism Board for oversight of the approval process, and promises that “permits to import tourists will be processed and granted by the BTB with every bit of efficiency as hotel licenses themselves.”
Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler summarized the initiative: “The BTB has long regarded tourists as an intractable component of progress in Belize. Tourists are, as the saying goes, a necessary evil. This new permitting process will allow the BTB to fully nurture and protect what is essential to a destination such as San Pedro. Progress.”
Local businesses are enthusiastically reacting to the change. Dan Wyman and Kimberly Norris, owners of the popular Truck Stop Restaurant have already pivoted.
“Offering food and beverages to tourists has been enjoyable” said Wyman, “but that was never the essence of what we wanted to accomplish here on the island. We love this community. We’re here to promote progress. We are thrilled to now fully embrace our name and become an actual truck stop.”
As we speak, the Truck Stop is in the process of removing their brightly colored shipping container food court and beer garden. In their place will be discreet parking spots that truck drivers can park in by the hour. Friendly, fashionable attendants will be employed to cater to whatever needs weary drivers might have.
Dan and Kim gave us a sneak peek at their new logo
Other businesses are sure to enthusiastically follow suit.
So the next time a blaring airhorn forces you over to the side of the road, or a downshifting convoy rouses you at 3:00 AM, know that the wheels of progress are turning and that the best is yet to come!
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Happy April Fools!
Good one! However, there are some common sense actions that could improve the issue. How about the trucking and quarry companies take more resonsibility for repairing/improving the roads? They do most of the damage and probably have the equipment and material available. Last summer there was a huge hole near mile 6 north. Golf carts were getting stuck and stalling due to water on the engine. This went on for about a week before it was filled. Of course the trucks could get through no problem.
Yes agreed. Especially since they are hauling fill that can be used for roads!
Thankfully I believe ownership takes my out of the ‘tourist’ category. April fools!!!
“It would be all but impossible to transform life filled lagoons and dense mangroves into barren, subdividable lots without them.” (Love it! Sarcasm meter triggered.) 🙂
Right? ha!
Well, well done, Rebecca! Laugh-out-loud funny—and sad—all in one!
Fantastic that this was my first email of the day!! Well played my friend 🙂
This is too funny. 10 for imagination
I love the sound of a straight pipe Jake brake.
The smell of diesel exhaust in the morning.
All true as I am a retired truckdriver.
Always give them a wave as our paths cross.
To cure the mass golf cart problem, try mass transit. A few overcrowded third hand school busses should greatly decrease the tourist problem.
Glad we own property there. Think I’ll come out of retirement so I can stop at the Truckstop.
And yes…..
Happy April 1st day!!!
The golf carts and chilled island life is what brings tourists. The golf carts are part of the life there. They make it a fun and happy place to come to.
Any word on paving the road at least to Sapphire Beach Resort?
“permits to import tourists will be processed and granted by the BTB with every bit of efficiency as hotel licenses themselves.”
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Reading your 1st April post, gave rise to an irrepressible stern right eyebrow raise! Well done – you got me. Funny article that made me laugh …. Thank you.
You got me, RC!!! I thought I was in The Twilight Zone reading this!
Ha. You were reading it a few days after April 1st…I can see the confusion!
Awesome https://lc.cx/xjXBQT