As we showed you at the top of the newscast the flooding situation in the Belize River Valley is becoming acute. But still tonight water levels remain high all across Cayo and most of that district was declared a national emergency area today. The Prime Minister announced it at a press conference this morning.
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
“I use this opportunity to officially declare portions of the Cayo District extending from Roaring Creek down a disaster area. And for the sake of absolute clarity, let me be clear as to the particular portions of the Cayo District we are talking about: Billy White, Branch Mouth, Bullet Tree, Calla Creek, Cristo Rey, Duck Run 1, Clarissa Falls, More Tomorrow, Plantain Soccer, Santa Familia, and Spanish Lookout. The question now is what’s to be done.
NEMO will continue to be resourced by government so that it can provide all the water, food, and clothing supplies needed for displaced persons. A total of 269 had been evacuated nationally with the Cayo District seeing the greatest number of evacuees. However only a small percentage remains in shelters as most persons have opted to stay rather with family and friends. Government is immediately committing the sum of $1 million for the relief of especially the small farmers that have had their crops and livelihoods destroyed. As well another million dollars will go to municipalities for street rehabilitation as soon as the works can start. This is in addition to funds of not less than a third million that will go for highway and feeder road repairs.
We will approach firstly the government of Venezuela, in fact we’ve already done so to see if the already announced $4 million grant for agriculture projects can be reprogrammed to provide cash transfers to small farmers.”
