Conversations a la Roatan (The CoastWatcher: Caribbean West)
News from the Honduras Bay Islands and North Coast
02 June 2001
By Pierre Renaldo, The Coastwatcher©

I always enjoy talking with the locals, exploring their views on various current matters. It is interesting to note that these people are of quick wit and most affable, always ready to let you know their innermost humble opinions on just about any subject.

The main point of one discussion was the recent approval by the Municipality of Roatan to improve and expand the large public pier so that it can accommodate the larger cruise ships that have expressed their desire to make us a port of call.

If four ships a week become a reality that will really put this place on the map. It was exciting and I was anxious to talk to some of the vendors around the public pier about the great news. They would be happy indeed. Enthusiastic even.

The first lady I talked to was the one I knew best. She used to have a clothing store in our office building. Nice lady. Here is how our little talk went.

Me: Good morning Consuelo.

She: Good morning Mr. Pierre.

Me: Well, I'm sure you have already heard the good news about the pier improvements.

She: Tha's true.

Me: They said four ships a week.

She: I know.

Me: That's going to keep you very busy.

She: Tha's true.

Me: You will be making much more money than with only one ship per week.

She: I know.

Me: You will have to order much more merchandise for the added business.

She: Tha's true.

Me: I'm very happy for the merchants down here.

She: I know.

Me: It was nice talking to you.

She: Tha's true.

Me: Goodbye Consuelo.

She: Goodbye Mr. Pierre.

I had a similar discussion with one of the van drivers I ride with when my truck wants a day off. He said it was very good for the taxis, and that some people were even worried that there would not be enough taxis to take care of all the passengers on these much bigger cruise ships.

Now I'm beginning to worry. What if they decide to bring in more taxis? How could we ever get through Coxen Hole with more taxis on the road?

If they bring one of the bigger cruise ships in on Monday I'm going to start taking Mondays off. I know it will be impossible to drive through Coxen Hole on Monday.

I wonder if some of the passengers will get trapped there like I did last week. Monday is the worst day of the week to go into Coxen Hole because all the restaurant people do their shopping there on Mondays. Boy! Can you imagine some of those cruise ship passengers getting trapped in a taxi that can't move, right in the middle of Coxen Hole?

It's a good thing we have a Med Evac helicopter here!

More taxis? Oy vey!

Well, I'm sure it will all work out. But what will they do with all those taxis on the days that there are no cruise ships?

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Another big plus. The road between Flowers Bay and Coxen Hole has been closed for five days! Even on Sunday. I had to drive all the way in as far as the new widened area almost at the cruise ship pier in order to find out the road was closed on a Sunday morning. Just a fifteen mile detour (each way) for the drivers trying to get from Flowers Bay to Coxen Hole.

And yet another big plus. The road from West End to West Bay is completely paved. Honest! It only took two and one half years for six miles of road, and no special bridges and much reworking of work already done several times, but at last it is completed. If you think you have seen slow motion, I have a new definition for the phrase. Just come and watch these guys.

The road building contractor of course is very well connected in Tegus so there is nothing we can do about him. If he was operating anything like this in the U.S. he would be in jail for a long time. But in good old C.A. political connections are like striking gold. You don't even have to know much about road building either. Or building bridges.

But all in all I am very pleased. It is good for us and extraordinarily good for tourism.

Remember to check my books on retirement and building in the third world. There is timely information for you at: http://www.eroatan.com/cgi-bin/pierre.cgi?books

That's it for this week. Stay tuned for more exciting news.

For questions and comments write to me at: elouis@globalnet.hn

Ciao
Pierre

By Pierre Renaldo, Mountain Coastal S.A,. General Contractors, Construction Management and Construction Consultants.