|
DestinationsBelize |
 |
Guide and Tour Services |
Placencia | Links |
| Rates |
Zabaneh Response to
Village Council Letter and Business Letter
| (Please note: the Zabaneh letter was faxed and the fax is of extremely poor quality. Therefore, the following has been retyped. |
| April 25, 1999
Mr. Glen Eiley, Chairman Dear Mr. Eiley: I received the letter from you purporting to have been from your Council and the people of Placencia. I am trying to recover from the blow of the bombastic terminology you used (or whoever wrote the letter) to vituperate a concept for potential economic growth of our area, and the South which areas have been late In [sic] the development of Belize. It is sad that so often good ideas for the advancement of our country do not reach any other stage but the concept stage because of a certain narrow-mindedness of some individuals who refuse to see the forest because of the trees. The concept proposal of my dream is a link, be it bridge or causeway, between Independence and Placencia, definitely has at this stage what you describe as "wild conjectures" and "conclusory statements", but what, I considered, could have been premises upon which to build. My proposal, written as is, definitely is not an in-depth study, but a presentation of ideas and concerns that I have gathered over the thirty-three years of my living in the area, enjoying what I thought was an amicable, good, and trusting relationship with the people on the peninsula, especially those in Placencia. An official verbal, referendum-type survey was not done, but I did do a survey, talking to people. Many times over the years, the wish for such a connection has been expressed, especially in emergency situations, but the time was not then, maybe not even now; however, as our area grows and the problems of progress arise, new ways of thinking must be developed for the benefit of all our people. There is always a concern at change. We are afraid of the unknown. Remember when your road was being pushed; remember when your airstrip was being built. Yet some of those very people who voiced vehement disapproval now greatly benefit from both facilities and will forget that they opposed the issues. To say that the Village was "deliberately excluded from any part of a causeway discussion", Mr. Chairman, is untrue. I spoke to you, hence my informal letter to you and the copy of the concept. I spoke to your Vice-chairman who was very supportive and would have liked to discuss it further. The leadership of the village was approached. I spoke to a number of villagers who considered the idea something that could work. Unfortunately, because of time constraints, my meeting with you could not be held, but it was not a cause of worry for me as I anticipated your support. I thought I enjoyed your trust. In a friendly meeting, I did speak to the Minister of Economic Development and sent both him and the Minister of Tourism a copy of the concept proposal for their consideration and support and encouragement with the hope that they would share the belief of my proposal as one of the ways of helping to fulfill Government's promise of empowering the South. I spoke to the Prime Minister who listened attentively. He did ask the all-important question of finance, but I informed him that this idea was important to me and that I was trying to do most of the groundwork, at no cost to anyone but me so that in the event the idea failed to materialize, no one would be affected but me. So often projects kill themselves before they even get off the ground. I did not want that to happen in this case. Was this such a heinous offense then that you had to accuse me of intentionally misleading our government? You make it sound as if I were part of a conspiracy. How could I mislead a Government of which I am very much a part? That's treason. I certainly understand your wanting to be a part of the action, and you were, and would have continued to be right up to the reality, if it came to be. I sought your opinion and support, if favorable; if not, then certainly not for the reasons you state in your letter which all have been touched upon in my justification and would have been thoroughly investigated when the in-depth study was done. The meeting of such magnitude which you called was a little premature and I am sure there are still many unanswered questions in the minds of those unopinionated villagers who have the building of their community for their progress and development and that of their children at heart. Mr. Chairman, the people of Independence and the Peninsula have many links. We share water; we share electricity; we could share the progress and development of the South as one of the best tourist areas in Belize, offering countrywide access to our attractions from a municipality - the twin towns of Independence and Placencia, linked by a bridge. I liked the thought - I had hoped you would, too, and if you did not, then you could have been a little kinder in your rejection of a good intention on my part. I do not deserve the public embarrassment you seem to want to cause me for whatever purpose. It is unfounded. The eye of storm is that one specific spot in the center of a hurricane that is calm. Everything around the center is violent and turbulent, but the center remains peaceful. I will sit in the eye of this storm for a while, and when the smart of your letter and your other efforts at belittling me wear off, maybe we can talk over the matter sensibly, putting aside all personal and political barriers, and in the final analysis come away with a more positive attitude toward whatever plans for development may come to the Southern areas of our country, whether they be through my efforts or the efforts of others who love Belize. My best regards to you and your community. Sincerely, Beth Zabaneh |