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The Bay Islands to Become a “Free Zone”?
A Conversation with the newly elected President Mel Zelaya

Just a few weeks after becoming the countries new leader, the newly elected President of Honduras Mel Zelaya came to Roatan to meet with all the Bay Islands newly elected officials. Also present at the gathering was a few of the new Ministers important to the development of The Bay Islands.

President Zelaya came to Roatan to share his plan with the newly elected Congressman of the Bay Islands Jerry Hynds, the newly elected Mayor of Roatan Dale Jackson, the newly elected Mayor of The Jose San Guardiola District Perry Bodden, the newly elected Mayor of Guanaja Richard Hairston, the re-elected Mayor of Utila Alton Cooper, the newly named Minister of Tourism Ricardo Martinez, the re-elected President of Canaturh Bay Islands Romeo Silvestri and legal expert Italo Tugliani.

Also invited to this meeting were business and community dignitaries from the island as well as real estate developers and the press. President Zelaya graciously gave of his time to most everyone at the meeting giving each person a few seconds to a few minutes of uninterrupted personal time.

During our few minutes together, I asked him to explain his reason for coming. I have been told for years that there has been talk of making The Bay Islands a “Free Zone,” but it never materialized. Never before have all the top political leaders been all aligned and in agreement that a “free zone” will be a tremendous boom to the area.

RB: Congratulations on your winning the election and becoming the new President of Honduras. Can you speak to the English speaking audience about why you are here in Roatan today and your plans for the Bay Islands over the coming months and years?

(Through interpreter Italo Tugliani) President Zalaya: I am here to announce the preliminary steps in order to issue a special law to declare the Department of the Bay Islands a “Free Zone” status that will include all four municipalities.

RB: Can you please tell us a little about this very ambitious plan?

President Zelaya: It is to create a political status to form enough security for the people of the territories, enough security for their investment, a privilege of their fiscal incentive or exemption where people are not going to pay governmental taxes, but instead will pay services tariffs for what is needed in the communities.

Also, a Commissioner is going to be appointed by me. This Commissioner will rule and govern these islands. All permits that need to be issued will be issued here instead of having to go to the state capital.

In the next few days to weeks, the official plan to make the Bay islands a “Free Zone” will be announced. You will learn all about it first hand in the Roatan Bruce Interviews column.