San Pedro Vendors Protest Relocation of Artisan Market, Citing Tourist Traffic Worries

Several vendors and fishermen from La Isla Bonita gathered this morning to demonstrate against the San Pedro Town Council’s decision to relocate the community’s artisan market. The few dozen people waved placards and signs opposing the market’s relocation and urging the council to rethink its position.  They say the proposed market area has low tourist traffic and will not have enough stalls to house the over twenty people currently operating near the Saca Chiapas Field. They say the move will cut deep into their profits and will not be in their best interest. However, the town’s Area Representative Andre Perez believes otherwise. This evening, Perez spoke to our newsroom about the rationale behind moving the marking. 

Andre Perez, Belize Rural South Area Rep: “It’s hard when time comes for change for the betterment, it’s hard to accept some changes but certainly once we settle in this place here offering them better facilities you know and the view as well that Sunset boardwalk is very beautiful which also needs upliftment as well so it’s two things in one. I think what we want to aim is that we’re looking at this project as another project that is going to enhance this community. While there are some people that are not happy some of the villagers want to move, some of them don’t. Not all want to move you know let’s make it clear. And also there are also other vendors that are around the areas around in the beach who do their work as well and we are going to move forward with this project and we shared with them we are going to invest in the place here and that place is going to be filled up. Our choice is to offer to the vendors who are there at the moment right there by the Sacachispas Park so they remain with the first choice to work with things there. That’s basically it but the most important thing I think is that it is really that we’re looking for the greater good of this community. I know that some of the neighbors are not too happy about developing the place but I’ll forward you some pictures and see exactly how it really looks. The Embancadero also needs improvement you will see there is a lot of sludge and silt so we need to fix that as well and also let it be clear also that Mr.Valentin Rosado who is the engineer that works there the environmental engineer that works that town council he’s having a plan as well to enhance the place by planting mangroves. That is also going to be that part as well to enhance the place properly lit up. It’s not only for the tourist it will be also for the community to take a walk with your family in that place so it is not only designed strictly for tourists we’re catering also for the community. It is a beautiful place to be walking to see the sunset. It’s a win win for all I don’t see any harm, I don’t see anybody getting affected negatively but rather improving the community. “

Reporter: How many persons will be able to be housed at the new market ? 

Andre Perez, Belize Rural South Area Rep: “Presently it’s designed for ten stalls to be installed but that’s the first phase but once it is coming up we need to look at the second phase which is actually on the side by the area of the border management to the left hand side we’re actually opening up another road there filling it up and we should have a lot of space there to develop and another artisanal market.”

Additionally, the vendors were upset over not being consulted on the venture by either the San Pedro Town Council or the Belize Tourism Board. Perez conceded that more could have been done to reach out to them and chalked up some of the concerns to a change in design plans.

Andre Perez, Belize Rural South Area Rep: “We have so any projects laying up ahead and in the past when you engage in consultations, I’m not saying we did we did indirectly have talks with them some of the people came to see me in my office, when we went on the campaign trail in 2018, 2020 again in the elections we spoke with them and we kept on saying to them we will fix this place. We told them already we’re coming. Everybody knew that time for a change and Embarcadero we’re discussing is a place that we want to change and I will send you the pictures, those pictures were taken this morning to show you exactly what it is we are up against. I think that is what really does justice that it’s more than what’s the consultation it’s basically I don’t want to call it a no brainer but when you look at the reality, you take a walk and you say hey we don’t need any consultation this is a win for all, this is a win for the vendors and a win again for the neighborhood or where we will be uplifting the area because the area that we are suggesting is a place that needs a lot of beautification, cleanup and everything. So yeah I think that you know if I would do it again certainly some more consultation but I don’t see the harm. I do not see the harm at this point in time. So I think that that is important right now. The design was a mistake when it shows a two story that was the initial start that we discussed that but we made a change to do one story and I think this where there was also a bit of confusion and I think that is where the controversy really started when they realized that we’re talking bout two story. So we’re doing some changes right now and I think very soon by the first week of October we should be moving on with it very much.”

The protest lasted for less than an hour.