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Jules Vasquez reporting
In an area dominated by canfields, the runway at Tower Hill doesn't look like much, just a strip of clear earth in an abundance of green.

But today the UDP political brass came out to ground break for a re-fitted air-strip. Leading the way was UDP hopeful for Orange Walk East Elodio Aragon Jr. He's also a member of the newly reconstituted Board of the Airports Authority:

Elodio Aragon, Jr. - Standard Bearer OW East
"Since the new board has taken over we have done a new strategic plan as to where we want not only in Orange Walk but across this country to say where we are and where we want to go. Orange Walk was a strategic place because that is the next place that needs to develop."

And the priority is placed on Orange Walk because of Lamanai, which is nearby:

Elodio Aragon, Jr. - Standard Bearer OW East
"We have a big tourist industry in Orange Walk that is developing right now on a day to day basis. We have the trps that go to Lamanai, very famous - people come already pre-booked when they reach to Belize to visit Lamanai and to reach to Lamanai they come through the airstrip. Now, the present condition of the airstrip doesn't allow for planes to land at all times because of the condition, especially a little rain, the plane cannot land and therefore a lot of these cancellations that are taking place."

Hon. Gaspar Vega
"I was talking to the minister earlier, Minister of Tourism and he is saying that the growth that this runway is showing is much greater than the runway at Ranchito showed at the stage that this is. I am certain that we will get a lot of economic benefit it. Just Lamanai, like when we have the busses parking at what use to be Jim School pool, everybody still remembers that - it's incredible and a lot of people don't like to come to Belize City from San Pedro then catch the bus and then come to Orange Walk, so these types of tourists will start making use of this runway."

Elodio Aragon, Jr.
"Likewise our Belizean people, our Orange Walkenos, who live and work in San Pedro - a lot of these people traverse on a day to day basis. A lot of people have to fly to Ranchito etc. and then end up in Orange Walk. We are going to change that around."

That change is being ushered in by contractor, the ubiquitous Imer Hernandez, which caused us to ask…

Jules Vasquez
"Are you able to assure us that there was a competitive bidding process because we see Imer Hernandez and he gets pretty much every job in the north."

John Waight, General Manager - BAA
"I figure that this would come around because I see his name appearing like you said. But be that as it may from a very competitive process he was the best in terms of price and we know his track record - he has a quality track record."

Jules Vasquez
"But it seems, just from an outsider perspective that every public works contract in the Orange Walk District ends up with Imer Hernandez. Is this because he is a relative of yours?"

Hon. Gaspar Vega
"I think him being my relative most naturally helps, but not just because he is my relative he is getting the job. I am certain that he gets the job because he has the capacity; he has proven to be able to deliver good work. It's as simple as that."

Jules Vasquez
"Are the people who issue the contracts compel to choose him, is there is a competitive process or is there a directive that says that you all have to give this job to Imer because this is in my back yard?"

Hon. Gaspar Vega
"No, not really. I had nothing to do with this. This is completely out of my reach. Jules, I just want to tell you that no matter what happens, people will make their own conclusion. All I am saying is that I don't have anything to do with it. You have Berber and Lopez who can't finish a job to Yo Creek - who can't finish the job in Progresso, San Estevan - nobody speaks about that. They subcontract Imer to do some work for him; it must be that he is doing good work."

This contract is for 764 thousand dollars, and the work will start on Monday. It should take four weeks - during which time the airstrip will be closed.

John Waight, General Manager - BAA
"It was going to be done by chip and seal that would have cost much less, the thing about that it only lasts 5 to 7 years the most. Chip and seal is almost outdated now, you got to go either concrete or you go hot mix and with a couple hundred dollars more we decided that we will go hot mix with that. This will be there for at least 15 or so years."

Presently, Tropic Air has two scheduled flights to Tower Hill, Orange Walk. The Airports Authority hopes to increase that. The runway is located just about a mile away from the BSI factory. That's sugar country, but western Orange Walk is also known for drug flights. Today we asked a man uniquely equipped to weight those considerations - Elodio Aragon - about it. He's the former Deputy Commissioner of police - and we asked him if it is a security rise:..

Jules Vasquez
"Might this airstrip used for illicit purposes?"

Elodio Aragon, Jr.
"Definitely that will always be a concern for any airstrip. But I am sure that the Belize Airport Authorities will be putting the mechanism to ensure that we keep that at a no. Definitely this airstrip has been here, if anybody wanted to deal with it illegally they'll have to take the risk and they could have been doing it many times. The fact is that as far as I know from when I was in the police department and being here on the ground that has not been the case."

The airstrip will be close for four weeks while construction is underway - that timeline of course depends on when the heavy rains arrive.