The 1970’s and 80’s with the growth of the commercial fishing industry, and more significantly the mid 1990’s with the beginning of the development boom, attracted waves of settlers from mainland Honduras to the islands. The second and third generation of these settlers (those born here) now own property and businesses and speak English. The Bay Islands settlements of Barrio Los Fuertes and Colonia Policarpo Galindo are where the voters are, and for the first time in History we have a Governor who was not born on Roatan and whose native language is Spanish.

For the first time, the majority of councilors on the city council are Hispanic, but they are Bay Islanders now and have the strongest voice in local government affairs. This, of course, is why the newer communities that are predominantly Spanish-speaking are developing at a quicker rate (roads paved, rural electrification, potable water); this disproportionate rate of development is compounded also by the indifference of the English descendants and the absence of social cohesion within predominantly Creole and English communities.

I have read quite extensively about the early English settlers on Roatan in particular, and the impression I get is that they were an extremely resourceful and resilient people, working hard at farming and trading and extremely God fearing. I get the distinct impression that they were very disciplined, respected authority, and were prudent about who they put in charge.

Their culture and habitat are rapidly disappearing.

In 1844, even prior to becoming a British Colony, Royal Naval officers visiting Roatan were surprised at how well land regulation among islanders was organized and how the islanders were respectful and considerate of each other. Statistics show us that the Bay Islands produced and exported to the United States 1.8 million bunches of plantains in 1855 and up to 3.6 million by 1859. By the turn of the century, 5% of the total national exports came from Bay Islands farms . And why did this come to an end? Much as most good things in the Bay Islands come undone, instigated by Tegucigalpa (ergo Central Government).

Lt. Colonel Juan Barahona (Tegucigalpa appointed Governor 1917-1919) put pressure on Bay islanders applying huge levies thereby forcing them to sell to the mainland for much less than what they were selling to the US for and eventually this, compounded by Hurricanes was the end of the era of Agricultural success of the Bay Islanders and the first successful attempt at Honduranizing the Bay Islands.

Bay Islanders need to wake up and realize that their culture and habitat are rapidly disappearing under their very noses, the environment is being stressed to the breaking point (we will soon be an eroded Haitian wasteland with no water resources) and the central government walking away with millions in tax revenue that we could use here for roads and waste to energy plants. Bay Islanders need to be inspired by those intrepid, brave, resourceful men and woman who came before them like Uwins Elwin, Joseph Cooper, the Haylocks and the Kirkconnells.

Independence is a pipe dream – it is unconstitutional and would not garner any international support. Let’s be realistic but autonomy is feasible and can be negotiated within the framework of Honduran and international law; but this requires leadership and the age old Islander ingredients of initiative, grit, and resourcefulness. The ZEDES debacle showed us that it was possible to work together towards a common end, Spanish and English Islanders alike. Bay islanders of all ethnicities need to take charge of their birthright once more and right the ship before it capsizes, we still have time.

Roatan’s Charter City Project Grows Despite Controversy

Próspera’s planned towers on Roatan will easily surpass Cayman Islands where only a couple of ten story buildings have been built to date. The Colors, Cayman Island’s tallest building in Georgetown at 40 meters, is only nine stories tall. The Colors will pale in comparison with the Duna tower that is being constructed just east of Crawfish Rock.

Próspera had a busy 2021, and 2022 is looking even busier. The company acquired a joint venture in Pristine Bay, a development residential community located around a 18 whole golf course. The over 400 acres large investment by Próspera took place after its original Guatemalan developers lost it to its lender Banco Atlántida.

In spring of 2022 a school opened its doors on site of properties Próspera recently acquired. Guidepost Montessori, a middle school opened its doors under the company’s framework. The school is managed by Academy of Thought and Industry and it operates out of a building that used to house the Sky restaurant on the ridge above French Harbour.

There was not the business that took advantage of Próspera’s umbrella that sees itself as an economic development hub. According to Gabriel Delgado, Próspera’s Chief Development Officer, six other businesses already call Próspera their base.

While that expansion is impressive what Próspera is planning for Roatan in the next several years is nothing short of transformative and revolutionary. Próspera’s website sees its impact expand exponentially. Its projects “foreign direct investment of at least $500M and new jobs created (direct) of at least 10,000” by 2025. “We are working ourselves to the bone to get there,” said Delgado.

On an island of around 100,000 people theses numbers are staggering. If Próspera’s goals will ever be achieved the key will lie in tying the project to Honduras’ “Zonas de empleo y desarollo económico” [ZEDE] – Zone for Employment and Economic Development.

Próspera wouldn’t have been formed and the capital couldn’t have been attracted, if it wasn’t for ZEDE. These Honduran laws have come under a lot of criticism especially in the last two years. While Próspera is likely to be grandfathered in under ZEDE laws, current Honduran Congress is arguing that ZEDE law has not been ratified in a correct manner.

As of late legal uncertainty in Honduras’ congress abounds. It could be argued that current Honduran Congress, whose legitimacy is in itself questioned, is arguing that the last congress was illegitimate, and didn’t pass ZEDE laws correctly. Some argue that the ZEDE law needed to be passed with two-thirds majority of congress and it wasn’t. This confusion could spell trouble for Próspera.

What Próspera is planning for Roatan in the next years is nothing short of transformative and revolutionary.

One of the attractions of becoming part of Próspera and ZEDEs are the lower overall taxes: income tax of 10%, land tax of 1 to 2.5%, and 5% VAT sales tax. “Those are the taxes you pay to Próspera ZEDE. A percentage of these taxes are then paid to five destinations including central government and the Municipality,” said Erick Brimen, the man behind Próspera.

Erick Brimen is the company’s Venezuelan born and US educated CEO. His 2005 thesis in Babson College was “how one could direct market forces to solve social problems,” and he sees Roatan Próspera doing just that. While Brimen has been coming to the island since 2016, he has been thinking about Roatan since high school.

In 2002 Brimen heard a high school friend talk about Roatan and describing the island’s potential as being held back because of the lack of legal infrastructure that Cayman Islands had. That friend was Tristan Monterroso, a Roatanian pastor who now sits on Próspera’s council. “When Honduras passed the ZEDEs law and the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional it clicked on me that that could be a delivery mechanism for a place like Roatan to have more prosperity,” said Brimen.
Two islanders are now part of the project: Tristan Monterroso and Duane McNab, owner of Max Communications and Próspera’s Council Member.

Próspera has begun its operation on Roatan on an elongated, meandering 58-acre property just east of Crawfish Rock. The site has about 300 feet of beach but its 750-acre master plan calls for 1.2 kilometer beachfront. “Real estate is heavily financed with debt and other sources of capital,” said Brimen.

Próspera aims at not to be limited to one location on Roatan, and Brimen sees his project not only expanding around Crawfish Rock, but thought the island and beyond. “The idea is to have multiple hubs throughout the island that voluntarily annex,” said Brimen.

Brimen says that Próspera has already raised $17.5 million from investors, one of them being Pronomos Capital. Pronomos Capital bankrolls the construction of experimental cities on available land in developing countries. Pronomos is set up like a venture fund and is making investments in not only Honduras, but the Marshall Islands, Nigeria, and Panama.

Pronomos was founded by Patri Friedman, an American anarcho-capitalist transhumanist and a grandson of Nobel prize winner Milton Friedman. Pronomos in turn is financed by another transhumanist and billionaire Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal.

Próspera’s master plan on Roatan includes several high rise buildings, a Marine Center, a University and a Hospital that would provide jobs and create a hub and an “economic development platform” for entrepreneurs from around the world and Honduras. “A platform like Próspera is the future of the island,” said Duane McNab.