½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

I have access from here in the states. I have noticed a marked decrease in replies from members in Belize to other members questions.

thanks for your reply. We hope members from Belize will let us know if they've got access to the site (if they can).

I am happily receiving blog alerts and have been able to access the site from the States also.  No complaints here!

It doesn't look like anyone from Belize (except possibly me because I figured out a work around) has been able to access this site for a while, from the looks of it.  Leonard, you're right, there's been a distinct lack of activity for Expats living in Belize.  Hope the forum can figure something out.

Internet censorship and/or access control by any government, in the attempt to protect a family controlled monopoly is a very short sighted policy. The few dollars they are protecting will be far outweighed by the dollars lost when potential retirees chose another country to invest their retirement nest egg in. I see a dramatic reduction in construction of retirement homes, and a lot of unsold resort condos in BelizeÂ’s future. Not to mention the enormous loss of sales tax and import duty revenues. (Just my opinion)

Yes, Leonard, I agree with you in principle, but I'm having a hard time understanding BTL's motive if indeed it turns out they are intentionally blocking access of Belizean's to this site.  We all know they block Skype, but that's so that don't lose any long distance revenues. 

But this site takes no money out of their pocket and causes them no harm, so I'm at a loss as to why this is occurring.  I know other sites that bad  mouth them far worse than this one,and I can access them, so it's a mystery to me.

It's too soon to say for sure they are intentionally blocking it, but something on their server certainly has gone haywire, and they need to resolve it. However, it's nothing to get too upset about since there is a work around, but I hear what you're saying - it's the principle of the matter.

I agree, we do not yet know if in fact they are intentionally blocking it or it is a programming error.

I think if they are the motive is fairly clear, Loss of revenue. Once in-country for a period of time most educated, problem solving folks can, and do, find ways of circumnavigating any issues that cut in to their budget or are viewed as to “Big Brotherish”. We all have seen on this and many other blogs, recommendations and suggestions on  getting around the exorbitant duties, communication monopolies, etc... . These recommendations are innocent enough in their intentions. Just a fellow human being trying to help another with their questions. Unfortunately these helpful tips could be misconstrued as blatant attempts to somehow cheat the BG out of their much needed revenue. I can understand the BG position on this (if in fact they are knowingly involved), but I do not believe information control or censorship is acceptable in any form. It does not matter if it is by a government, news source or whatever. There simply has to be a better way.

Just my 2 ½ cents worth.

I'll be quiet now.

OK- now I'm starting to reconsider my trip...I'm trying to get AWAY from U.S. conspiracy theorists, not find them in another flavor.  Perhaps this topic could be moved to another slightly more agit-prop blog-site.  In the meantime, I'm unsubscribing from this particular blog.

At the moment I still don't know whether we are blocked or not.

I can't see any valid reason for that.

I've only been on this site for about 24 hrs from the USA, but I have notice on other blog lines that responses don't always seem to be current. Might be just me. I like this forum and hope it is not a long term problem.

OK, I'm going to try this blog again, although the flap about access really scared me off...Hello again to all.  I hope things have settled down a bit.  Any access updates?

Nope, I still can't access it from Belize, and I haven't heard anything from the forum about a resolution. I tried working w/ BTL, but they claimed they weren't blocking it, so I don't know where that leaves the situation.

Any ideas, Julien?  Thanks!

Sharon

Darn!  Yep, it's true that I wasn't able to access the blog while we were in Belize.  We just got back to Nevada and access is a piece of cake.  I can't remember what the message was when I tried, but it definately was not a problem with a slow connection; the message appeared immediately.  If anybody knows another way to get connected while in Belize, let 'er rip.  Thanks all.

OK, Julien, this is still a problem - any word on why?

Thanks for testing, Toni - I was wondering

Sharon

frankly, I am living on the other side of the planet and have no idea at all

I thought this could happen in KSA or Libya, but not in Belize ?