And in other news..It's September, and after two and a half very iffy pandemic years, school is finally back in session with full classrooms.
But for the students of Unity Presbyterian, the road to school has gotten much harder to traverse. That's because the street they're meant to walk on, Antelope Ext, has been partially washed away causing an active traffic hazard as pedestrians and drivers jostle for limited dry pavement.
We made our way through the potholes just in time for the last bell of the day and here's what we saw when the children headed home.
Antelope street is a mess, with the area right in front of Unity Presbyterian now more waterway than the street. And that's thanks to all the potholes that haven't been fixed.
It's a situation that's been left unchecked for far too long and with a. Very rainy Septemeber, some residents are finally fed up
Darien Guillen, Resident, Antelope Ext.
"I grew up in these streets throughout my entire life. I grew up since I was a little kid and then for the past few years I haven't seen this street in the such horrible condition like right now."
Darien Guillen, Resident, Antelope Ext.
"I just feel bad even for the parents to but their kids new uniforms, brand new school bags, everything and just to come to school and get all muddy up, and get all wet."
Standard two teacher Stephanie Wade says that more than just annoying, the streets can also prove dangerous.
Stephanie Wade, Teaches Standard II, Unity Presbyterian
"It's very frustrating especially when it is raining, one time I remember. There was a shooting in the area and it was very hard for us to get all the children together in the yard because it was so much water all over the street also we always do an annual parade to commemorate the patriots and this year we are thinking that we have to cancel that parade because of the condition of the street."
And while the potholes are a nuisance and a hassle for both pedestrians and motorists they make coming to Unity presbyterian downright miserable.
Stephanie Wade, Teaches Standard II, Unity Presbyterian
"Sometimes when it rains the students stay at home and the parents say that they don't want their children to come because of the condition of the street. It's hard for them to commute through the street."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So, this is really affecting the education of these kids. Yes it is, yes it is because whenever we don't have the full quorum we can't execute the lesson that day so it is pushed back and we are already behind because of the pandemic so this is very horrible for us."
And when a street gets this bad the natural question is whose responsible: the area rep or the city council?
Plain facts are they have both neglected their duties - and been allowed to do so:
Cherisse Halsall:
"Why do you think they have been so easily able to neglect this street?"
Irma Montez, Standard IV
"Well, I think that the reason why they neglect the street and it's easy for them to do so."
"I think that the reason for that is that the residents of this area, I don't think that they really are behind them and they are not really complaining to them and also it is an impoverished area and these people are not really behind them and they are satisfied with whatever the government gives."
Edwin Edwardo Chaman, Works at Unity Presbyterian
"I'm not fully sure, maybe he has other stuff I can't blame the guy, he's busy we are all busy, we are all adults right so if he's busy I understand but at least to put some notice on these streets will be helpful. I mean this is his area, right? This is actually the, what do you call it, Collet area, the Collet area needs attention I mean look it firkin streets like this, taxi's can't even get here."
Cherisse Halsall:
"When a customer comes to you and they say take me back by antelope street, my kid goes to school there, what is your response?"
David Robateu, Taxi Driver
"Hmm, Not only, we start from Elston Kerr street which is terrible too then going to Antelope street well normally we say you know what sometimes we charge them more but most of the time we tell them no I don't want to go to Antelope street because Antelope street is very very bad."
"Trust me I just change some pushing just now because of the same holes and things. And especially with the rains it gets worse."
And Ms Wade says the street has made her school commute the worst type of daily adventure.
Stephanie Wade, Teaches Standard II, Unity Presbyterian
"I traverse from here to home in Taxi and the taxi refuses now to bring me to school so now I have to walk from the starting of the cemetery to here because they don't want to bring me down this way."
"It's horrible sometimes I need to put on slippers to reach to school and then wash my foot and put on back my shoes and this has been this way for years even with the past government this street has been that way."
The residents who alerted us say that they called the city council to try and get some attention for the area but they were told that nothing could be done during the September celebrations.
7News also reached out to the area rep Patrick Faber for comment. He responded saying, quote: "The condition of the streets and drains in all of Belize City is the sole responsibility of the Belize City Council. It may just be unfair speculation that the people of Collet are being punished for not voting for the PUP either nationally or at the municipal level and that the street is merely not fixed because it houses the office of the UDP area rep, but I can come to no other conclusion. Any protest against the right authorities (The Belize City Council) is more than justified and supported by my office." End quote.
