And now that Mexicans can travel more easily in Belize, is the Prime Minister still pursuing Tren Maya to extend its route in Belize?
Well, it may seem like modern fantasy, but the PM says it can be determined after a proper study is done:
John Briceno:
"Well, so far what we've been doing is that the IDB is working, is doing a study to see what it would take to get Tren Maya to Belize. As I said earlier or before, that if we can get Tren Maya to come into Belize and then connect on to Guatemala, it will open up not only the tourism industry, but also using the airport facilities. We're in the process of building a new port-the southern part of Mexico needs to use this port as we modernize it. We're going to make it easier to transport goods from the port into Mexico, and in Guatemala on the Atlantic side, they're having a lot of problems. Their port is too small for the amount of commerce that's coming in, and I'm told there are times when a ship would have to wait three weeks or more to discharge. So once you put these modern facilities in Belize, then they can come to Belize and transship from Belize into Guatemala. So there are a lot of opportunities with the connection of Tren Maya."
Jaleeza Roberts:
"That's viewed as underperforming in Mexico, so is it realistic to really invest and bring that here to Belize as well?"
John Briceno:
"Well, obviously it is a large investment for Belize, and it's something that we have to take great care whenever we do that. The Tren Maya investment is not something that was expected to be able to work overnight-it will take time, it will take years. For instance, if you build an airport, you don't expect on day one it's going to be profitable. It takes time to be able to build the clientele or the customers that will be able to use it, and we recognize that fact. But as it is right now, we do have Mexicans having to move their products, their imports into the southern part of Mexico through Belize. And so we believe that we can do... there are different ways that we can take a look at it. So that's something that we're... already, and we don't have all the answers, that's why we want to see how it will be able to work for Belize."
Tren Maya opened for operation in December 2023 and, according to international news reports, is facing lower-than-expected ridership, high costs, and ongoing economic challenges.