By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says the government has not decided whether to relocate San Pedro’s John Greif II Municipal Airport, after Mesopotamia Area Representative Lee Mark Chang challenged the government to show why the existing airstrip should close.
During Thursday’s House sitting, Chang said he was not opposed to building an additional airport on northern Ambergris Caye if there was a demonstrated need. He asked the government to publish its traffic figures and safety assessments, compare the costs of keeping and relocating the existing airport, and explain what would happen to the downtown property if the airstrip closed.
The San Pedro Town Council has already voiced opposition to closing the existing airstrip. The Department of Civil Aviation has also announced a study aimed at expanding air traffic capacity and improving route efficiency. Chang said the government should wait for that work before making any commitment to close the airport.
Briceño said the existing airport cannot be expanded and argued that congestion during peak periods makes long-term planning necessary. He said preliminary work identified land owned by the Social Security Board as a preferred site, but stressed that the studies and plans are not finished.
The Prime Minister said the proposal would go to Cabinet once the work is complete and that the government would consult the town council, tourism groups and the wider community before proceeding. He also said the existing airport would not be shut before a replacement opens if the government decides to go ahead.
The post PM Briceño says no decision made to relocate San Pedro airport as Lee Mark Chang questions case for closure appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says the government has not decided whether to relocate San Pedro’s John Greif II Municipal Airport, after Mesopotamia Area Representative Lee Mark Chang challenged the government to show why the existing airstrip should close. During Thursday’s House sitting, Chang said he was not opposed to building
The post PM Briceño says no decision made to relocate San Pedro airport as Lee Mark Chang questions case for closure appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
