PM Briceño, “Belizean Students in Jamaica Safe Amid Hurricane Melissa”

Belizean students studying in Jamaica are safe despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Melissa, according to Prime Minister John Briceño. Speaking earlier today, the Prime Minister explained that unlike other Caribbean nations, Belize faces unique logistical hurdles in evacuating its students. PM Briceño confirmed that approximately seventy Belizean students remain in Jamaica, many sheltered at their schools or at the home of Belize’s honorary consul. Others are in designated safe zones. While evacuation isn’t currently possible, the government is committed to supporting those affected. Despite the difficulties, Briceño emphasized that the government’s priority remains the safety and well-being of Belizean students abroad.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think that the conditions are really different. The other Caribbean countries, they’re neighbors, you know.  A small little commuter plane like a Maya can just easily fly back and forth, moving their students. And some of us don’t read the fine print, for instance, Bahamas said, “We are going to take you to Bahamas, but you have to find your way back.” Ours is so much farther and so much more complicated. You would have to fly through the United States, and we do not have a fleet of planes that we could send. But more importantly, we have been reaching out to them and making sure that they are safe, and the latest report that we’ve had is that all our students that have remained are safe. Many of them are staying at the home of the honorary consul, I think it’s Mrs. Arthurs. And also, the others are either staying at their schools where it is safe or in an area that has been designated as a shelter during this period, during this hurricane. I wish we could bring all of them. Of course, I wish, but we have to work with what we have.”

 

Reporter

“Will you be able to provide them with supplies? I’m told [it’s] over a hundred students.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think it’s about seventy. I just checked with the Ministry of Education, and they told me it’s about seventy students. And yes, we will do everything, as soon as Hurricane Melissa is over and if they need supplies, we will find a way how to get those supplies to them.”

 

Reporter

“So, did we have direct contact with all the students?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“No, I don’t think we necessarily got [in touch] with all of them. You know, they usually have some leader that would be sending out messages. But that more something that the Ministry of Education can better give you more information. But one of the nurses reached out to me. I think it was seven of them doing their master’s or something, and they quickly reached out to me, and I said, okay, we’ll help them. So, they came to Belize, and we’ll work on how we can assist them. We’re funding a portion of what they will spend to get out of Jamaica.”