The annual summer camp held on the Yarborough Green by City Councillor Phillip Willoughby has become a tradition. It annually caters to 250 children who can participate for free from the start of July right up until the end of August. And the cam requires no pre-registration, no big to-do, just show up – attendees just need to show up preferably with a pair of football boots and they are good to go. Jerome Peel Off Maheia is the driving force behind the effort and he told us why it is important.
Jerome Peel Off Maheia, Organizer
“Kids between the ages of eight to seventeen years old, kids who don’t have nothing to do this summer who are free to come to the camp.”
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
“This is the fourth year running, the Belize City Summer Camp. It will be fun, it is always fun for the various activities that we have lined up and scheduled during the various sessions. We are taking this opportunity again for youths to come out, be a part of something positive. Kids, parents, like to complain that there isn’t enough positive activities to encourage the youths to engage in. We are asking those persons to come out and also participate, cheer, and encourage our kids to stay positive during the summer.”
Jerome Peel Off Maheia,
“It will help out the kids from getting themselves involved in mischievous acts and keep them positive.”
NEMO Releases Hurricane Preparedness Booklet
And never too shy for shameless self promotion, Willoughby also announced
the release of the NEMO safety brochure which is loaded with useful information in the event of a storm. He told us it will be widely available at public places.
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
“These booklets, the Belize NEMO Hurricane Preparedness Bulletin will be available in the various churches around Belize City, the various polyclinics, health centers as well as in certain business houses where the residents of the city normally congregate, visit or shop. They can pick up their pamphlets at the counter and so forth. It is just to help bring up the awareness in what to do, preparedness during any disaster.”
Jules Vasquez,
However you can’t live in a booklet, it won’t shelter you during the storm. Are you all also taking measures to ensure that the safety of shelters is optimal?
Phillip Willoughby,
“Well those were the preparatory work that we did in the off season. Right now you know that hurricane season commences somewhere around June to the latter part of November. This is an all around season but we have done the preparatory work since the commencing of the year.”
Jules Vasquez,
So our preparation for the hurricane season is at an optimal level right now?
Phillip Willoughby,
“Yes sir, I believe it was earlier this month we had a hurricane exercise to test the mechanisms, the systems, the agencies and so forth and all of that has been proven positive.”
