A Research Project in Roatan, Honduras

Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands, located 35 miles north of mainland Honduras. The island is approximately 3 miles wide and 30 miles long with a resident population of 65,000. The local economy is dominated by tourism- the tropical setting with resorts, beaches, and reef diving are the primary attractions. Visitation has increased substantially- from 15,000 in 1990, to 700,000 in 2010, and 1 million plus expected in 2011. Visitors arrive by airline, ferries from the mainland, or cruise ships that make frequent stops at the two docks recently constructed for them.

Colonia Policarpo is the largest of four colonias clustered in a relatively new settlement that lies on a steep hillside on the northwest side of the island near Sandy Bay. Most of the colonia residents have migrated from mainland Honduras seeking service and construction jobs in the tourism industry. Policarpo has approximately 520 households and 3,000 residents, half under age 16. Prior to 2006, most colonia residents obtained their drinking water from rainwater catchment or shallow hand dugs well subject to pollution. Since that time Living Water 4 Roatan (LW4R), a non-governmental organization, has worked with Policarpo residents to develop a self-sustaining water system that provides treated drinking water to households on a limited basis.

The Global Partnership Project student organization at Northern Arizona University (GPP-NAU) is collaborating with this community, LW4R, and a local health clinic in an effort to improve the quality of life in the colonia. This partnership is considered to be a multi-year endeavor between NAU and Colonia Policarpo. The long term goals for this and future trips include:

- Build relationships in Roatan and within the colonia community.
- Provide for adequate sanitation systems to all residences to reduce the chances of disease outbreaks such as cholera, malaria, and dengue fever.
- Expand and improve the water system, reduce the energy costs for operating it.
- Provide for adequate solid waste collection and erosion control.
- Perform social network mapping and interviewing to gain a better understanding of the community and their needs, particularly for public works improvements.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Day 11 - Sun 6.12.2011

               We stayed in the cool of the hotel most of the day, transcribing notes and working other project documents. Dale and Sam Gray arrived today from Arizona, Dale serves as an advisor and benefactor to NAU-GPP and has extensive international aid experience. We met with them at their hotel along with Dan Taylor (local developer who is on Mayor Galindo’s advisory council for infrastructure) and Mitch Cummins (Roatan Rotary) for dinner and conversation.


                Dale explained his perspective of GPP- NAU’s involvement in Roatan in big picture terms such as looking for projects to benefit the island instead of just the colonia. Mitch and Dan explained that for our efforts to be accepted and gain cooperation and involvement by the locals, we need to also work on projects that benefit the islanders instead of just the colonia. Islanders see many charitable organizations helping the mainlanders, which they feel makes it easier for them to stay and continue settling.  The islanders need similar help themselves in most cases. Have to be very much aware of the tension between islanders and mainlanders.
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