Lack of safety mechanisms in the construction of artificial beaches and structures close to shore proves to be another big factor in the disappearance of the mangroves. To avoid public scrutiny, much of the mangrove destruction/construction is done under cover of night and on weekends. The mangroves are cut, then compacted and filled, sometimes burned, or removed from the site. "Pure greed. Everybody that has two cents wants to buy land and put a hotel on there," said Brady.
The increase in mangrove cutting in the first months of 2006 could be attributed to the change of the local government. Many feel some people are taking advantage of the inexperience of the new Roatan Municipal government and testing how far they can push the laws protecting the environment. "Whether we like it or not, the economic aspects dominate [the government's priorities]," said Brady. "They're loving it to death."
Joe Solomon, Municipal Judge, says that many local people build high expectations in foreign investors without disclosing the restrictions on developing local properties. Still, there are plenty of people who well understand environmental laws and choose to ignore them. One of the more typical cases of the destruction of mangroves comes from West End's Mangrove Bight where in the last decade a dozen cases of mangrove destruction took place.

A Marine Park ranger inspects the mangrove destruction at a Mangrove Bight property belonging to Anthony Grayson and managed by Carlos Montoya.

In a recent case in February, Marine Park rangers witnessed the cutting of thick mangroves on property belonging to Anthony Grayson, a US businessman. Even though Grayson, who comes to Roatan sporadically, declined to talk to Bay Islands VOICE about the matter it is actually Carlos Montoya, his property manager, who is responsible for coordinating cutting the mangroves and bringing in truckloads of gravel to create fill for an artificial beach. "He knew exactly what he was doing," said Salomon about Montoya. While Grayson and Montoya have avoided appearing at the DGIC regarding the mangrove cutting case, Marine Park has filed a case against them in the fiscalia. "We look at this as a criminal case," says Joe Solomon.
In fact, destruction of mangroves is by definition considered a criminal act and the majority of cases have been forwarded to the fiscalia. But developers are taking advantage of the failing system. Many property owners feel that their seafront property is worth more without mangroves and with a beach. "They want the law to apply to everyone but themselves,' said Brady.
Mangroves are protected by a number of legal documents: international, national and specific to Bay Islands. The superseding document is an international law, a RAMSAR Convention, to which Honduras is a signatory. The Honduran constitution protects mangroves as a "national asset" and acts against them are considered criminal. Forestry and fishing laws both protect the mangroves in their regulations as well.
'Acuerdo Municipal No. 2' from 1991 controlled all development done on the Bay Islands. In 2005 another, even more stringent, law controlling development in the Bay Islands was passed. Each Bay Islands Municipal protects the mangroves, and the municipal environmental unit is responsible for protecting the plants. Honduras may have one of the toughest environmental laws on the books, but the history of applying it is negligible. Although each governmental entity down the ladder can make mangrove protection more stringent, they cannot erase the protection that is assured to the trees. Environmental permits issued by a Municipal are often not enough on their own to ensure a project is legal. Many projects, dependent on their size and scope, require Ministry of the Environment (SERNA) approval. Brady says that she never heard of any project that SERNA did not approve, nor does she know of any fines or legal judgments that were passed against an environmental case on Roatan.
Mangroves are not the only shore type entity protected by law in the Bay Islands. The iron shore, or exposed coral, is also protected, yet several West Bay and West End developers took advantage of the lax enforcement of environmental laws. "People can get away with murder. You should take TJ [Lynch] on the plane and have him deported," said Julio Galindo, a West Bay Development Association president and municipal council member, about the destruction of iron shore by a Canadian developer and realtor at the Costa Tesoro project in West Bay.
While deportation in such cases remains unlikely, a first time environmental violator is more likely to get a slap on the wrist and buy himself out. According to Fatima Ullao, Bay Islands DGIC chief, the Roatan Fiscalia has worked out "a substitute penalty plan." for first time environmental offenders. For cutting mangroves, the offenders buy the fiscalia a computer, and DGIC ends up with an occasional printer-scanner.
Not everyone is pessimistic about the reduction of mangroves in the Bay Islands. According to Gerardo Salgado, sub-secretary of SERNA, barring a natural disaster, the number of mangroves on the Bay Islands 10 years from now should be no fewer than there are here today. "If we follow, implement and enforce the results of the PMAIB technical findings we are going to improve the overall environment of the Bay Islands," said Salgado.

Some resorts like AKR, Palmetto Bay Plantation and Barefoot Cay see mangroves as an asset in attracting tourists. An AKR bungalow amongst mangroves.

While most Bay Islands developers focus on run of the mill tourists looking for a sandy patch of sand, others focus on attracting more educated and wealthy tourists looking for an unique experience. "The challenge is to be creative enough not to destroy the nature around you," said Gary Chamer, owner of eco-friendly Palmetto Bay Plantation. Also AKR, Mango Creek Lodge, Barefoot Cay developed trails through mangroves and built buildings without destroying them.
Bay Islands will be getting more nature reserves and parks. Astrid Mejia from PMAIB says that within two to three years the Bay Islands will have 12 designated marine and land protection areas. At least the three land parks will all have a ranger staff, a ranger station and marked borders.

Utilans split over who should control the "Lance Bodden Community Health Center" while the Clinic's Committee members - who for four years helped to create, build and pay for the clinic and doctors' salaries - find themselves less relevant in a changing reality. Many Utilans accuse National and Liberal party activists of politicizing the clinic issue and while fighting amongst themselves, the community has managed to lose a clear voice about the Clinic's future in front of the central government.
The controversy surfaced in early January, during a meeting called by newly arrived clinic director: Dr. Matilda Medina. The meeting was held despite objections from Mayor Alton Cooper and another "Clinic Internal Help Committee" was chosen. Julia Keller, 34, a local businessperson was chosen as its president.
The situation escalated further on January 25, when after the swearing in ceremony, Mayor Alton Cooper and several Liberal Party activists marched to the clinic and persuaded Dr. Medina to leave the premises of the clinic, where she practiced and lived. "I understand their frustration and I don't feel angry," said Dr. Medina who moved to a Country Side apartment where for three-and-half weeks she continued to see patients while the clinic remained closed.
A few days later, during a town meeting, a new Clinic Committee was chosen and Lance Bodden was reelected as the Clinic's president.
According to Bodden, whose name the clinic bears, the worst case scenario is if central government keeps full control of the clinic, and fails at efficiently providing healthcare to Utila citizens. Bodden says that many potential clinic donors will not donate to a clinic completely under government control.

Bay Islands VOICE: This is your first ambassadorship. Why did you choose Honduras?
Ambassador Charles Ford: President Bush chose me for Honduras more than [it was] me choosing Honduras. The President, the Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce were looking at the Central American Free Trade Agreement. I've also worked in Honduras 30 years ago in the Inter American Development Bank and I have a background in Central America.
B. I. VOICE: The residency procedure in Honduras has frustrated hundreds of foreigners and Americans. Many US citizens living in Honduras spent thousands of dollars trying in vain to get it, or they remain in limbo corrupting immigration officials with bribes to remain in the country more than 90 days. Some have left Honduras altogether. Can the US government put pressure to simplify and regulate the Honduran residency requirement?
Ambassador C.F.: There is no more important goal at the embassy then supporting the interests of American citizens and businesses. (…) We'd like to sit down with the new authorities and see how we could work through some of these issues. (…) President Zelaya made it clear that he wants a smaller, more efficient state. He wants it to be an attractive place for tourists to come, live and spend money. So I think the good will is there.

On Valentines Day and his forty-first birthday, a Norwegian Dream cruise ship visitor George Puris, 41, lost control of his rented scooter and fell on the side of Roatan's West Bay road. While his girlfriend suffered an elbow injury, Puris, along with other injuries, suffered a severe head trauma and drifted in and out of a coma. Murray Russ, owner of Captain Van's that rented Puris the scooter, explained that "there was high speed and drinking involved."
Since Norwegian Dream had no adequate facilities to treat Puris' injuries the victims were taken by ambulance to Woods Medical Center (WMC). According to WMC staff, Puris needed specialized medical attention available only in La Ceiba or San Pedro Sula and due to swelling of the brain, the charter of an air ambulance service to Miami was not an option. Around 1am, he was flown at low altitude in a charter flight to La Ceiba and admitted to Clinica D'Antoni. Puris died around 3am.

Five foreign tourists remain under police watch during their holiday on Roatan.

On February 25 Roatan became a spark for the biggest scandal so far to trouble the barely week-old Zelaya presidency. An Albanian, two Bosnians and two Lebanese nationals who came in on a "Las Mobili" furniture award vacation at Henry Morgan, were told by Roatan immigration officials that they lacked proper visa documentations.
From the 250 passengers who landed on Roatan, only five came from countries that need conditional visas - all had "visa problems." The five had visas issued by three different consulates and none of the consulates had followed the visa with an "authorization cable" to Honduras' Ministry of Interior.
Roatan immigration tried placing the five tourists on the flight back to Italy, but the flight had only three open seats. The tourists had their passports temporarily confiscated and were allowed to stay at Henry Morgan Resort and take part in island excursions - all under police escort.
Mario Pacheco, Bay Islands Immigration Chief, explained that during his 20 months of serving as an immigration official in San Pedro Sula International Airport there were around five cases of foreign tourists who were sent back to their home countries for lack of an adequate visa.
"The authorities should be more flexible and analyze each case by case. They could contact the councils to receive the documents the following day," said Arianna Polenghi, director of MCTours, a tour operator that also works with Italian tourists. Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Lebanon are three of 43 countries that, along with a "conditional visa," require a telex to the ministry of interior: a procedural matter, and not related to potential terrorist threat. Ricardo Martinez, Minister of Tourism, said that within three months the "conditional visas" will be eliminated.