The battle of the newcomer, Belize Water Taxi Association versus the
long established Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association is only just beginning.
The newcomers started operating on Saturday from their office which is right
beside the Caye Caulker Water Taxi. It has been tense and tough, and tonight
there are two important developments. First the City Council reviewed the application
for a trade license from Belize Water Taxi. Though the Port Authority has given
the new group a permit – the City Council had not given its stamp of approval.
And after hearing representation from both sides the Belize City Trade Licensing
Board voted three to one in favour of granting a license for the Belize Water
Taxi Terminal to operate from its location right next to the Caye Caulker Water
Taxi Terminal on North Front Street.
The Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association maintains that it welcomes
the competition but insists that it must operate from a different location because
of the congestion that it will create. And it was because of that concern that
the Mayor of Belize City Zenaida Moya says she is the one vote dissenting. She
says she could not agree to granting the license. She differed with two other
councillors Leila Peyrefitte and Calvert Quilter who sit on the Licensing Board.
Today she told us why she could not vote in favour of the Belize Water Taxi
Terminal.
Zenaida Moya, Mayor of Belize City
“The decision made was for a license to be granted to the new entity,
I think it is the Belize Water Taxi Terminal to operate at the location which
is right next to the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
I understand that you vehemently objected to this license being granted. Why?
Zenaida Moya,
“Yes I objected to it, the license being granted for the carrying
out of business at that location. I have no problem with that new business operating
within Belize City but just not right next to the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association’s
location. Why? Because one we already have to deal with a traffic congestion
right there at that location, it is a huge problem. I believe anybody who travels
along that way in the morning, in the afternoon, whenever, they will see that
it is a huge problem. We have to really put out extra manpower there, it costs
the council a lot of money so definitely the traffic congestion there is a problem,
that is on land.
On sea I also see it as a huge problem having more vessels there operating
in an already congested area. I see that as another problem, safety concerns
for the customers. I also see another concern in the fact that we’re dealing
with a group, in this case it is the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association’s
whose very livelihood is dependent on definitely the tourism industry, and we
are already trying to control that area when it comes to traffic congestion,
but they have a lot at stake. These are not wealthy persons, I don’t know
of any of them that are hugely wealthy, but they have put all their monies on
line into this particular business and I feel very concerned that their whole
livelihood and the money that they have invested could be deeply jeopardized.
I won’t support it and as the Chairman of the board I don’t
support it and as Mayor of Belize City I don’t support it operating there,
being given a license to operate right next to the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association.
I have to also understand that the board is made up of other individuals and
if those other individuals supported it I have to understand but it is something
that I certainly don’t support, even in terms of signing off on the license.
I will not sign off on that license, I guess the deputy chair will have to sign
off on that license.”
While licenses are usually granted for one year, in this case the Belize
Water Taxi Terminal service license was initially given for six months. At the
end of that period the permit will be reviewed.