Open Manholes, Open Lawsuits: City Pays the Price

The Belize City Council says manholes are costing them significant sums through litigation. Last week, the council announced that it has covered more than four hundred manholes. Today, Mayor Bernard Wagner indicated that the work of replacing these drain covers is never ending. But he says the council has made it a priority because people are suing the council.

 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“Manholes are an ongoing project. You will never end with manholes. I just saw a manhole there that needs urgent repairs. It continues to cost us from the point of having to replace them but from the point of people suing the city and we continue to take a hit by lawsuits in respect to manholes. So the city has prioritized manholes in terms of awareness in respect to if a manhole is missing we put the necessary tape there to warn residents, but we also have to call on the business owners in the city, the taxi drivers and the motorist not to drive a vehicle over the manhole. It cost the city double through litigation or replacement.”

 

The council has established a reporting mechanism for residents to inform them of broken drain covers. The WhatsApp number is 673-9055.

 

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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