The deterioration of the beaches in San Pedro Town has time after time been blamed on the vehicular access to the beach front. In some instances, a number of actions have been taken to detour traffic to another access point. One of the areas that has been in the center of various standoff between local residents, local authorities and taxi operators is the corner of Sandpiper Street and the Beach Front just in front of Wet Willy’s Dock. Of recent, that access is now available to vehicular traffic in that area. For the past months, the posts have been moved from one location to another.
Mayor Elsa Paz explained that because the posts have become and issue of contention, a decision had to be made. “We have been back and forth with local residents in the area, business operators and taxi operators as to where the beach post should be placed,” she stated.
Mayor Paz explained that with the beach posts hindering access drivers would still make their way to the beach through other access points further down the road, something they [SPTC] had no control of. Mayor Paz ended by stating that the access was open temporarily since in early February the cobble stone project will commence from the roundabout and head to the end at the bridge in the Boca del Rio Area.
Mayor Paz advises motorist exert caution while using the beach front since it is widely used by pedestrians.
Police along with the San Pedro Fire Department responded to the scene where upon arrival they observed a two storey partially wooden and concrete structure with its southern portion engulfed in flames. The fire department managed to control the fire but the lower flat which houses a grocery shop (“One Love Grocery Store”) received damages. Read more on this story in Thursday edition of The Sun!
Other efforts to catch the LionFish are being encouraged and several organizations have mounted an educational campaign to alert residents about the lion fish perils. SeaSports Belize for instance, who are a local tour company in Belize City have issued posters of the LionFish which encourages the catching of the species, “WANTED dead or alive”. Some negative impacts caused by the Lion Fish if allowed to become widespread, can cause further declines in fish and lobster populations. Impacts can mean less fishery products and reduction in reef health. Thus, divers are advised that although the lionfish are a beautiful sight it is just as dangerous and divers are asked to capture it by using a net or pushing it into a bag. Reporting the sighting and its location is the next best thing! Read more on this story in this week's edition of The Sun!
On this day, students were acclimated to the center and were allwoed to browse thru the books. "A welcomed project", Principal Kay explained to us that the library will offer positive reeinforcements not only for students but teachers as well.
The Westerhaven cargo ship remains grounded on the Belize barrier reef 32 miles from Belize City in an area near Caye Glory. Continuing rough seas have prevented the Department of Environment from making an official assessment of the damages, but reef expert Melanie McField who accompanied our asspciates 7NEWS to the scene yesterday on swollen seas has says the ship damaged 10,000 meters of reef which amounts to a dollar figure of twenty million us dollars. Today, Chief Environmental Officer Martin Allegria told us that information received so far suggests that the ship was on autopilot when it veered off course. 
Martin Alegria, Chief Environment Officer (DOE)
