With all that you hear about Crooked Tree Village regarding, history, culture and tourism, you would think that it at least had a water system. But it doesn’t. Why? Well, the technicians say it’s because of money, the politicians say it’s because of broken promises. But that should be at an end now. The European Union, the Government and the community have teamed up to deliver a water system to Crooked Tree. The ground for it was broken today and Roger Bradley from SIF says that it was about the money.
Roger Bradley, SIF
“This project was a bit too costly. Like agencies that channel money through us, the limit was $1 million, sometimes $500,000 and this project would cost over $1 million, like $1.4 million.”
Yvonne Hyde, National Authorizing Officer - EU
“The goal of government right now is by 2015 to have every village in the country given a water supply. Water is a basic human need. I would think it now turns out that this is a opportune time for it to happen.”
George Guest, Village Chairman
“It means a lot to Crooked Tree, they’ve been waiting since 1992 to get potable water. Each government had promised this and now it is reality. It is the government of Belize, the European Union, and the Social Investment Fund and we are very thankful to them but they should have done this 16 years ago. Right now it is 16 years of waiting and we waited long enough and we suffered long enough. We’ve had wells condemned and we dug next wells and then those were condemned and then all the wells are condemned too so now we are looking forward to this water system.”
Fortunato Noble,
“What do you think took so long?”
Village Chairman,
“Politics and politricks.”
Hon. Edmund Castro, Belize Rural North Area Rep.
“This has been long overdue. Crooked Tree is one of the oldest village probably in the country but because Crooked Tree has been so red and usually goes UDP, Crooked Tree has always been punished with a lot of things so the government in the past, the previous government, did not see it fit to push the forward for the people and the residents of Crooked Tree to get their water system.”
Fortunato Noble,
“It is not because of politics but because of a lack of funding the project like this was not undertaken before. What do you have to say to this?”
Hon. Edmund Castro,
“I would say that the majority of the funding was European Union funded so the money was there and the money could have been gotten but the lack of political direction so that the people of Crooked Tree did not get what they deserve.”
Roger Bradley,
“It is a project that is pretty much needed, not only for us to get better access to potable water, better drinking water, but I think it will enhance businesses, I know it will be a plus for tourism, in many ways is in a sense of the most essential need in any community so it’s something that we’re pretty much in need of and I’m glad for the efforts of the EU and GOB.”
The project will cost $1.5 million, probably the most expensive village water system in the country. When completed, it will include a 20,000 gallon elevated concrete tank with 10 feet by 10 foot pump house with fencing, installation of 66,000 feet of transmission and distribution lines, 7,350 feet of pipes for house service connections. Residents will pay a flat rate.
