SICA Meeting

The SICA meeting went well. High security and many heads of State attended. The staff did a good job of getting ready and hosting the dignataries.

Casitas 2 is up for sale!We would like to move to a larger unit at Coco Beach and am excited to make the big move.There is a $1000 (USD) reward for anyone who finds us a buyer at our asking price of $359K (USD). All the furnishings go with the Casitas (except paintings and personals). Great rental income and only 5 a like it on the Island. If interested please contact me at Dietel8@aol.com or you can call at 360-687-4876 (this is a Washington phone number)

thanks Steve

SICA Meeting at Coco Beach

A series of meetings have started both at the technical and vice-ministerial levels, in preparation for the visit of the Heads of State of all Central American countries. The visit by the leaders is part of the Central American Integrated System conference which will end on Thursday when all leaders are expected to discuss a number of issues related to the region before participating in a joint press conference on Thursday afternoon.
The meetings at the technical level started on Monday evening while the vice-ministers met behind closed doors inside the conference room at Coco Beach Resort on Ambergris Caye. The meetings continued on Wednesday with senior officials, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the various countries. The 36th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and the Government of SICA will see the participation of six Heads of State including the Prime Minister of Belize, the Honorable Dean Barrow.

Most of the Ministers are staying at Coco Beach. Lots of BDF soldiers, Coast Guard and Police are here with snipers on the rooftops. Lots of work has gotten done to spruce up the resort.

HOA Meeting

For those of you who don't know, the HOA Meeting is scheduled for January 15, 2011 at 10:00 AM. Location to be determined.

Tanya and Fernando

Tanya and Fernando are getting married here in Belize on 1/22/2011. They have asked that we contact all the owners to extend and invitation to their wedding if you plan on being in Belize at that time.

Janine Mosness of D2 has tried to reach many of you through email, but since we do not have a current list of everyone's email, we are also posting this announcement on the blog.

If you have not already been contacted by email, would you please email Janine at http://www.alscuba@msn.com/ or reply to the blog letting us know if you will attend and how many. Please give your full names. We will pass on this information to the happy couple.

Thank you.

Condo For Sale

Unit B1

Oceanfront - 2 Bedrooms - 2 full baths with walk-in glass wall showers
1566 sq feet - living room, dining room, laundry room with washer and dryer, central air
Full size kitchen with granite count tops, Belizean hard wood cabinets, stainless appliances, dish washer

Fully furnished - we have lived here for five years

This luxury resort includes a pool bar, onsite activities center, and two sculptured swimming pools with natural waterfalls and islands.

Cullen Walker

Coco Beach Resort PO Box 1

Unit B1

San Pedro, Ambergris CayeBelize, Central America
scubawalk@aol.com

Belize Cell 011-501-622-8201

U.S. SKYPE Toll Free to Belize 804-212-3163

Asking price includes “Paradise” a 23 foot Belizean skiff with 100 HP Yahama 4-stroke outboard motor, fully equipped
$500,000.00 US Dollars

Hurricane Richard

I haven't heard anything official from Doug Penland but other residents that live around the Coco Beach area have reported that the storm did little damage. The local weather station on Ambergris Caye reported less than 2" of rain and winds of 40 MPH. Seems that all is well.

The storm center hit just South of Belize City causing heavy flooding and wind damage in that area. Check out the message board for pictures and damage report.
http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/391035/Re_Hurricane_Richard.html#Post391035

Kath and I have been in the States. Kath's Dad had bypass surgery on November 13 and he just returned from the hospital.

Richard

Looks like "Richard is coming to visit Monday night. Latest dicussion seems to indicate this may be a fairly strong hurricane by the time it arrives.

Jazz at Coco Beach

Click here: Ambergris Today - San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize


Danny & I were here when Ambergris Today visited. We had a great time.

Bananas

Raul just got a crop of Bananas from the trees at Coco Beach.

June Trip to Coco Beach

We brought my sister and her two children along and they loved everything about Coco Beach! This was our first time utilizing the pool in phase two and we got hours of fun out of the slide and grotto. Looking good!

Alex

Light rain this morning. Doesn't appear to be any damage to the beach or resort. I actually saw a little bit of the sun as it rose. Today should clear up and we can get back to having fun.

Alex

Tropical storm Alex is expected to arrive tonight around midnight. Winds of 50 MPH and lots of rain. At 6:00 PM tonight the water was rising and nearing the top of the pier. High tide expected at midnight.

Sam's Club

Hi to all, we are planning a visit to Sam's club on our next trip. Has anyone taken this trip? I wanted to get some feedback on how easy or difficult it is to bring items back. Do they allow one day visitors or do you need a card? Any feedback is appreciated

Gloria

Employees

Irwin (Tuff-E-Nuff Tour sales) and Marika (Coco Beach supervisor) left Coco Beach Resort on May 19th and returned to Denmark. They will be going to Africa in the late summer to start new jobs. We wish them safe travels and success in their new positions.

Water shortage?

11 inches of rain today and more to come. The cistern is full. Rain has washed away part of the beach.

Guests arriving at 3:00 PM today

Belize Aqua Sports

Coco beach has a new water sports operator. Belize Aqua Sports, owned by John McAfee, has set up shop and are offering a variety of water activities. Hobie cat, water bike, kayak, wind surfer and paddle boats are available for rent.

The pool slide is complete and operating

Banana update

The pod opened and the hands of bananas are starting to spread out and turn upwards.

Exciting News -We are expecting!

As many of you know, a group of owners went on a trip to Punta Gorda in July 2008. Donna brought several Banana plants back to Coco Beach and had them planted. One of the trees grew and grew but didn't bear any fruit. Today Raul showed Kath a huge seed pod of future Bananas.

Tanya's party

BIRTHDAY GIRL & Fernando

Cullen and Birthday Girl, Why does Al have such a big grin?

Janice & Me

The group Mary and Doug

Mary Janine & Al

Maintance Scott and workers fixed Tanya's bike.

Cynthia, new General Manager.

Had a great party for Tanya on her Birthday 4/22/2010. Cullen Walker blessed us with brownies and and Kath with her famouse rum balls. A few new faces in the crowd.

Our fish story

We have a great stay once again at Coco beach, here are a couple of our trophy catches

in tne luxury schooner the "Colorado" For you that don't know that is Al and Janine's boat.

I will have more pictures of Tanya's birthday party(29th) in the next couple of day.

Also will have the back pool 27' slide that is on the testing phase.

Pool Slide

Fernando was working on the pool slide today. It should be operational in a few days.

Construction on the restaurant has stopped. We heard that the construction was making too much noise for the guests and would be restarted in slow season with a completion by next December.

Property Taxes

From the minutes of the March 25, 2010 Ambergris caye Chamber of Commerce meeting:

Mr. Claudio Azueta attended the meeting to answer questions about the property tax increase. He is on the Appeals Board but until the recent announcement on tax increases there have not been any appeals. The property tax rate has not changed but the assessed values have changed. All property will be charged at 1-1/2% of the undeveloped value and if there is a structure, an additional tax of 2-1/2% of the yearly rental value is charged. Essentially this has led to a 3500% increase in the taxes. Many people are upset about this sudden increase in property taxes. Most people feel that the tax rate is very low and an increase would be acceptable but this is an unreasonable hike. It could also allow selective application of the tax. Mr. Azueta recommended that if you feel that your tax has increased unfairly, write a letter to: Chairman of Valuations Appeal Board San Pedro Town and deliver it to the Town Council Office. This tax increase is being shouldered by those that already pay taxes but there is 3-4 Million dollars in uncollected taxes and no penalties have been assessed for non-payment. Most felt that an attempt should be made to collect these taxes before assessing more taxes on those that do pay. It was suggested that if an outside collection agency was hired to collect the taxes owed that it may be more successful than having the Town Council try to collect them. The current law on the books to deal with non-payment of taxes allows the Town Council to inform the owners that taxes are due, then file in court and after 1 year, the property can be seized. So far, some Chamber members had paid their taxes recently but the rate was the same. Claudio knew of others whose rates had gone up the 3500%. The new tax rates will apply to 2010 taxes.

Our taxes have been very low. We may see a change this year.

Construction news

Construction at Coco Beach continues.

Hotel: The reception area is being finished. Doors and cabinets are being installed. Additional office space was added onto the original reception area. There is still a lot of finish work to be done on the rooms and hallways. No word on whether the fourth floor will be added.

Restaurant: Still a ways to go on the restaurant. Roof is just being poured.

Pool: The pool is filled. Work continues on the rock pile. It will be interesting to see the final look of the slide feature.

Dock: Latest word on the activity building is that it will be a Tuff-E-Nuff dive/excursion office.

Lazy Croc on our last day 2/12/10