Port Loyola Residents Demand Benefits from PBL Expansion

As talks continue about major cruise and cargo upgrades at the Port of Belize Limited, residents in Port Loyola are making it clear that they don’t want to be spectators in their own neighborhood. They’re asking for solid guarantees that the people who live closest to the port will actually benefit from the jobs these massive projects promise to bring. Their concern isn’t new. Communities impacted the most by big developments often say they’re the last to see real opportunities, left to “share the crumbs” while others walk away with the bigger rewards. This time, Port Loyola residents want assurances up front, not after the fact.

 

Windell Lemoth, Port Loyola Resident

“Previously when we were having this discussion, one of the things that came up is that we want employment to come up for our area. We have vulnerable populations, our people want to work as well.”

 

Bruce Diaz, Stevedore

“So if this takes place and the project goes through, I hope it has a lot of opportunities for employment for the immediate community. We nuh the cut short nothing or step on our own toe.”

 

Lynn Young, Board Member, Port of Belize Limited

“He is right, I grow up on southside Belize too and the lack of jobs and projects have really underdeveloped the southside of Belize City and it was the father of the nation that says progress bring problems. We cant back down from doing a project because we have some challenges. We have to get together and overcome the challenges. We have to meet it head on and do it together. We have differences of opinion on how we do it, but one thing I am very encouraged by is that everybody recognize we have to get it done right. When you look at some of the challenges we have at the port right now, if we continue like this we are going to have to shut it down if we don’t do something about it, that is the reality.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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