On November 4, 2026, a growing public controversy has erupted across Ambergris Caye, a popular Belizean tourism hub centered on San Pedro Town, over the government’s planned new northern airport facility, with core disputes now centering on two pivotal questions: whether the island can sustain two fully operational airports rather than shuttering the existing John Greif II Airport, and whether local residents are entitled to a binding public referendum to decide the outcome of the high-stakes, multimillion-dollar infrastructure project.
Andre Perez, Area Representative for Belize Rural South, laid out the administration’s phased development framework in an exclusive interview, rejecting initial assumptions that the new northern airport would replace the existing southern facility. He explained that roughly two-thirds of Ambergris Caye’s total landmass stretches north of the island’s main bridge, an area already undergoing rapid tourism and residential expansion, making the northern airport a justified investment to serve that fast-growing segment of the island. Perez emphasized that the two sites could operate as complementary assets: the northern airport would cater to resorts and communities in the island’s expanding northern corridor, while the longstanding John Greif II Airport would continue serving the dense, established tourism and residential zones around southern San Pedro Town, eliminating the need for lengthy cross-island transit for visitors booked at southern properties.
However, the debate has shifted beyond infrastructure logistics to democratic governance, as local community groups push for formal resident decision-making power. Jose Arceo, Co-Chair of Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development, announced that a coalition of local organizations would hold a press conference the following morning to formally launch an initiative demanding a public referendum to guide the island’s long-term development, arguing that permanent residents, workers, and families who call Ambergris Caye home deserve explicit, binding input on major projects that will shape their community’s future. The San Pedro Town Council has publicly expressed support for keeping the existing airport open while signaling tentative backing for the proposed northern facility, but has not taken a formal stance on the referendum push.
Perez pushed back firmly against the call for a referendum, questioning its practicality and cost. He noted that a prior referendum on marijuana policy in nearby Caye Caulker had yielded minimal results at significant taxpayer expense, arguing that setting a precedent of holding referendums for every major government decision – from land allocation to school construction – would grind public administration to a halt. He stated that his administration preferred to hold direct public consultations to gather community feedback, rather than investing public funds in a standalone island-wide vote on the airport project. The news outlet confirmed it will release additional in-depth coverage of the unfolding controversy during its Thursday evening newscast.