Economy - Greater Belize Media

Tropical Wave Causes Flooding in Belize City

Belize City was under water for the most part of the morning. After a heavy, early morning downpour brought on by a tropical wave, numerous streets were inundated by floodwaters. Classes had not been called off, and so students made their way to school. That is until institutions across the country began sending kids home due to the weather. Floodwater was a major inconvenience to pedestrians and low vehicles alike, but most people pressed on. The Belize City Pumping Station was activated and according to the experts, it helped to decrease floodwaters along key streets in downtown Belize City. News Five’s Paul Lopez went out early this morning. Here is what he found.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A few hours of downpour on Friday morning led to flooding across Belize City. Vehicles and pedestrians alike had to traverse through several inches of water along main thoroughfares. One woman was seen cautiously stepping off the sidewalk and unto the street with water above her ankles on Mahogany Street. The downpour and flood led many schools to call off classes for the day and send students home.

Darwin Retreage, Belize City Resident

“You guh round and tek a circle around there, you will see a lot of people downstairs, a lot of people yard flood out. We yard flood out, it flood.”

Paul Lopez

“What you think happens if the rain continues like this?”

Darwin Retreage

“Well if it continues people downstairs house flood out. Deh wah have to deal with people appliance and carpet and so.”

Kerry Sandoval, Belize City Resident

“Cho everywhere flood boss, everywhere. Watch how high the water, right now my yard flood. You cant even walk. Flooded bad, watch yah when I walk this morning I the look to slip down because the yard flood.”

Paul Lopez

“What you think will happen if it continues?”

Kerry Sandoval

“Cho, everywhere wah flood tonight boss, everywhere.”

In response to the floods, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner left his office and hit the streets to assess the situation firsthand. We met him at the Yabra Pumping Station. The station came on line in October 2023 to mitigate flooding in the Old Capital.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“Obviously as you can see here, the four screws are working efficiently. Really putting out like one cubic meter per screw. So, we are looking at four cubic meter per second of water being pulled. As we sit, based on the engineers, this is just taking off the top of the water currently. We have not locked off the gates as yet, because water is being pushed out in its natural form in different areas of the city.”

Ramon Menjivar, the Assistant City Engineer, further explained that the pumping station should reduce the floodwater’s runoff time by fifty percent.

Ramon Menjivar, Assistant City Engineer, Belize City Council

“The system allows us to activate the pumps and get the water much faster, not necessarily much faster than what is dropping, because you have to compare the rainfall dropping on a land mass, as compared to the facility of the pumping action.”

Paul Lopez

“What should be people’s expectations in terms of how fast the water should run off, compared to not having the turbines in place?”

Ramon Menjivar

“I would say about fifty percent right now, so if we expect the water to run off in six hours, we could have the water with the pumps activated, two to three hours.”

In the immediate area of the pumping station, residents were complaining that floodwater inundated their properties like never before. They questioned the effectiveness of the pumping station, while pointing out an accumulation of garbage in the canal.

Darwin Retreage

“We never does have this problem from when this mih build. Before this build water does run off quick. Less than half an hour. Since this build, this dah wah problem for this community around here. You go around and take a circle; you see a lot of flood people the flood out. You take a picture over there you will see how the garbage pile up, when this the stir up people the tek lick with the mud scent.”

Bernard Wagner

“Flooding is everywhere globally. If you look at Miami, our people need to appreciate that climate change is here and they have to play their role in keeping their yards clean of shrubs, ensuring the drain in front of their yards are clean. It is not just a city council task to take on drainage in front of residents. You should have that civic pride to take pride in your property to ensure that you aid in alleviating flooding in your neck of the woods. We will do our best, but you always require participation by the residents. This is not a one person activity. It requires participation, collaboration, everyone on board. It is not only Belize City, flooding occurs globally, all across the world.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Mayor Says Carnival Should Be Postponed If Rains Persist

And while, that was the situation in Belize City, News Five received reports of flooding across the country, especially in the west where several streets were seen underwater in Bullet Tree, Cayo. But all roads lead to the Old Capital tomorrow for the 2024 Carnival Road March. Today, the Chairman of the National Celebrations Committee, Minister Francis Fonseca told News Five that based on the expert advice of the Chief Met Officer, the Belize Carnival Association, in consultation with the committee, will proceed with the road march as scheduled. When we asked Mayor Wagner for his thoughts, he had a different view.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“You have to play it by ear. I believe you have to be able to see that the rains will to some extent continue and you don’t want indecision, you don’t want indecisiveness. Carnival is about an activity where you want the sun, an experience. So if you are in and out and not sure, you will turn people off. So you have to be decisive in your decision making, will you have it or not have it. So you have to start making plans, if you are not having it then what other dates are we looking at. People will not go and stand up in rain, it is a reality. And so, the organizers have to quickly decide, even if the rains stops, will the streets still have moisture? Will it still draw the same sort of excitement? I am all for the carnival being celebrated on another day?”

Too Wet or “Wet Dah Wet” for Carnival?

The rain certainly did not stop this week’s mas camp events. Several bands danced under the rainy night skies. They told us that their costumes are durable, and that rain can’t stop the Soca jam. Today, we also sought the opinion of Belize City residents on whether the carnival road march should be postponed. Here is a perspective from one carnival band leader and a resident we spoke with.

David Matus, Band Leader, Titans Mas Camp

“As you can see we started off in the rain, because no rain cant stop this jam. So if you are worried about the weather, the weather is not going to stop us. Our customs are durable. You could use it every time, nothing will go wrong with it. So it is durability at its best.”

Kerry Sandoval, Belize City Resident

“Cho, I feel like deh have to cancel that. I am not into the carnival. I go to church and thing. I am not into the carnival. I not even care. But you cant have carnival on the tenth of September that is what I want to make them know, cause yeah we have to celebrate the tenth and twenty-first. After that year, they could have their carnival and dash out.”

Bulldozer Accident Results in Damage to Coastal Highway

If you were travelling along the Coastal Plain Highway this afternoon, you may have had to navigate large craters and stretches of broken road. This was due to the extensive damage caused by a bulldozer earlier today. During periods of torrential rain, motorists are already advised to exhibit extreme caution when travelling along the Coastal Plain Highway; however, this incident forced drivers to become even more vigilant to the dangers on the road. Reports are that the mishap was caused by the pin securing the tow hitch breaking off, resulting in the bulldozer sliding off a flatbed and breaking the road below it. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing responded to the incident and began repairing the damage. No injuries have been reported at this time.

Public Officers Recognized for 35 Years of Service

The Ministry of Public Service today recognized twenty-three public officers who have dedicated thirty-five years of their lives to public service. A recognition ceremony was held where these public officers received a certificate. Additionally, their names will be added to the Public Service Walk of Fame in Belmopan. This year, the Keeper of the Flame Award was bestowed upon Former Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser. We heard from the Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher as well as Fraser.

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service

“It is always a pleasure to share his special day with you. It is a pleasure to be here with my chief, Miss Sharon Fraser who is now the keeper of the flame. That sounds like something out of game of thrones. So, I had to ask what does that mean? The keeper of the flame is a public officer who gives twenty or more years of service and even after retiring continues to do a lot for the public, continues to contribute to her country and the people of Belize. I can’t think of anybody who fits this than Miss Sharon Fraser. Congratulations to all of you on behalf of the prime minister and the government of Belize. I thank you all for your service. Thiery-five years is a testament to your service, your dedication and your commitment to providing the best service to the Belizean people.”

Sharon Fraser, Former Chief Magistrate

“I must say that the name suits the award, keeper of the flame. I guess some additional pressures are being brough on me, because if I think I can just go off quietly into the sunset. That is not what I imagine keeper of the flame should be doing. But I am keeping the flame and I will continue as long as I am allowed to. I want to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the ministry of public service and the persons in the public service who are always supportive of me, who would have listened to the advice I have given to improve the service.”

E-Buses Generate $33,000 in Five Weeks

The Belize City Council’s recently launched e-buses have generated thirty-three thousand dollars in the span of four weeks. That number is expected to increase over the same timespan because schools have reopened. Today, Mayor Wagner told reporters that four thousand commuters rode the buses during the first week of school. It is a significant amount of income that would otherwise go to the traditional transport system in the city. Mayor Wagner says people can no longer be subjected to substandard services.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“Remember I gave out the preliminary figures for a five-week period and the five-week period saw fifteen thousand people utilizing the buses which generated something like thirty-three thousand. We have had a second week, following that five-week span and what I can tell you is that within one week, after that five-week span, we have had over four thousand people riding the buses in one week, after school had opened So that is like thirty percent of the previous four weeks in terms of ridership being generated in one week, so it is this push by the people of Belize City that they are very pleased with the E-transit program and they are clamoring for additional buses. You can’t subject people to substandard service. We are living in the twenty-first century. The reality is climate change is here. People are looking for cleaner energy. We are not certain what is driving this surge in respiratory illness, cancer, you never know. These are clean transportation, clean energy, clean buses, our people deserve only the best. I can’t be concerned about what was. I can only be concerned about what is and is to come.”

Four E-Taxis to Hit the Streets Soon

With the rollout of the Belize City e-buses, the council is now looking at putting its e-taxis on the road. The council acquired four taxis. They are now vetting applications for drivers. Mayor Wagner told us more.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“Actually if you pass by our depot, you will see the four taxis are there. We are right now in the phase of getting taxi drivers. We have applications. We are vetting the applications. Those taxi men that are vetted and accepted will have the opportunity to drive to own a new e-taxi and generate revenues for their families. We don’t want to drive anybody out of business, but we want to transform the public transport system within our own city.”

PSU Says Former Auditor General Didn’t Serve the People of Belize

The Government of Belize is looking for a new auditor general. Dorothy Bradley occupied that post for over thirteen years, after stepping down as Chief Elections Officer. In 2021, Bradley retired from the position, but a constitutional revision was made to bring her back on a two-year contract since the government could not source an adequate replacement. During her tenure, under both the Barrow and the Briceno administrations, Bradley received criticism from the unions, including the Public Service Union, for the handling of the audit on the Immigration and Lands departments. Now that Bradley’s contract has expired, the government is seeking a replacement. We spoke with President of the PSU, Dean Flowers, who reiterated his sentiment that the government needs to do better moving forward.

Dean Flowers, President, PSU

“The reality remains that even if we want to recognize the limited work that was done as it relates to some of the special audits, the immigration audit, the sports council audit, the, I believe it’s Julian Cho audit. These were no initiatives of Bradley. These were forced as a result of irregularities that were uncovered and therefore, she was mandated. In essence, for ten years she did nothing on her own in her capacity to address the issue of corruption. At every turn that we had a report to examine and criticize and to create or to establish a Senate select committee. It was as a result of public pressure. It was as a result of corruption that was exposed, not by her office, but rather by either whistleblower on the inside or some disgruntled citizen. And so, we really need to reflect on that. We also need to reflect on the fact that even when these irregularities were highlighted in these specific reports that I mentioned, what became of them? Who were who was held accountable? It demonstrates the lack of training and the lack of expertise in auditing by miss Bradley. To have ensured that we would have gotten people held accountable and convicted of the irregularities, especially where the immigration audit was concerned. That was a waste of time at the end of the day. Why? Because it was thrown out. We spent a lot of money to conduct that audit. We spent a lot of money to conduct a Senate inquiry. And because of failure to follow simple audit procedures before you present a report, it was a waste.”

P.S.U. says No Less Than $250K for New Auditor General

The search is on for a new auditor general, and the Public Service Union is demanding that adequate compensation be afforded to the successor of the post. In 2021, the government explained the challenges they encountered while attempting to source a replacement auditor general after Dororthy Bradley’s retirement. Subsequently, Bradley was reappointed under a two-year contract which expired on August thirty-first of this year. President of the PSU, Dean Flowers maintains that unless the government increases the salary and staff for the post, Belize will never be able to fill the position with a qualified individual. Here’s what Flowers had to say.

Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U.

“It is important that we ensure that no other head of department who does not have the requisite skill set is transferred over to be an Auditor General. But that this administration at least demonstrates to the Belizean people that they are serious about good governance. And it starts with ensuring that the search for an Auditor General, which should have started two years ago, A person is taken seriously, and that the newly appointed is properly compensated. We would have complained about the quality of justices that we were getting in the judicial system. Immediately, the Belizean people were told you have to pay a chief justice. quarter of a million dollars to ensure that we get better people in the judiciary. And so we’ve seen those salaries gone up. What more office should be better and highly compensated than the Auditor General post? Compared to a two billion budget, quarter million for an Auditor General is really immaterial .And so I would hope that the government of Belize Will ensure that the salary for the Arta general is increased to ensure that we get a suitable, qualified and an experienced person, whether from Belize or within CARICOM, but we need somebody with competency who can transform that department and properly train the public officers in there because even that.Leaves a lot to be desired, believes, needs to now transcend or move into producing financial statements that are internationally recognized public sector accounting.”

Government and Union Representatives Meet

It has been a few months since the Joint Unions’ Negotiating Teams met with government representatives and there are a few matters under review. One is a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Government of Belize and the Public Service Union (PSU), the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM). That was signed in May. But there’s a new one on the table, about which discussions will commence shortly. Following the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hydel gave reporters a summary of what was discussed.

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister

“We have a Revenue Enhancement Committee at work. We have a cost savings committee at work. We have a pension reform committee at work – all these committees are working very hard and so we should be getting reports from them pretty soon. We also had a consultancy on the government pay and grade, trying to modernize how that is done. And there is an interim report that’s been provided, circulated to the members and they will have intensive discussion and deliberation on that. Revolutionary stuff is in there.”

Reporter

“What are some of the considerations that will have to be made for a new collective bargaining agreement?”

Cordel Hyde

“Well, we are not there yet. In a matter of months or so, the unions will present to government their plan, their proposal and we will then – government’s side will then look at that and see what’s workable, what can be done in the short term, what will take some time, what’s the sticking points, what are our priorities. So we’ve only just started to kind of like talk through a timeline, talk through how this will be done. In terms of the meat of it, we’re not there yet, where the unions will work in earnest over the next eight weeks to come up with, those points and then we will deal with it from there.”