The water flowed in this weekend, 66,000 gallons of it, and then the fun followed at the YWCA's swimming pool on Saint Thomas Street. It is the city's only public swimming pool but since the start of the year the pool has been empty because the cash trapped charity was unable to sustain its high maintenance cost. So they turned to BWSL and BEL and after some lobbying the utilities agreed to turn the water and lights on. So at least for these summer days there will be a cool spot at Y. Their annual swimming classes began this week and volunteer Barbara Harris gave us the rundown.
Barbara Harris, YWCA
"We wanted to have the swimming program as usual as we do every year because we know the children look forward to it especially in the months. So thanks to Belize Water Services and Belize Electricity limited we are able to begin again. So we offer this ‘Learn to Swim' Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and it is for three weeks. And the children come for like an hour and learn and then we charge $40 and that covers the whole three weeks."
KS: And the good news in all of this is that the pool is filled up and working?
Barbara Harris,
"Yes and that was done free of cost by Belize Water Services and we are very grateful to them for that."
KS: So the kids can come here and learn how to swim?
Barbara Harris,
"They can come to learn how to swim. If they are not able to take part in the whole swimming program and pay the $40 the pool is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. because at 5:15 p.m. we have swimming classes for the older people who want to learn how to swim."
KS: So they can also come to the pool and just have fun?
Barbara Harris,
"Yes from 1 to 5 in the afternoon and we are also hoping on Saturdays to start what we call a toddlers for the younger children to learn how to swim."
KS: What age are you talking about for the younger kids?
Barbara Harris,
"Most of them are between 6 years and up and some of them have been doing this every year so they are at different levels and they come to see how they can go further."
The classes run for three weeks and cost $40. Of course in the afternoons it is free for all when the pool is opened to the general public. While they have assurances that the pool will still stay up and running for the summer, YWCA administrators say no long term financing plan has been secured.