Government gave the Orange Walk Town Council's celebration money, $20,000 to northern boss John Briceno. So, today, determined to not break stride over political meddling, the Orange Walk Town Council held a radio-thon on Ruben Campos's SCRS Radio to raise the money from within the community. Our affiliates in Orange Walk, Northern Cable covered the telethon and Alfonso Noble filled in the blanks.
Ruben Campos, SCRS
"We want to invite the general public make your contribution for the September celebrations of Sugar City and surrounding areas. This is a radio-thon being co-hosted by the Orange Walk Town Council and the September Celebrations Committee and the people of Sugar City."
And they had their telethon where persons called in and even walked in to the SCRS offices to pledge and hand in all they could afford to support Orange Walk's September celebrations. And in seeking assistance the Mayor, Ravel Gonzalez made a personal appeal, explaining that this solicitation was required because government failed to come through on its promise.
Ravel Gonzalez, Orange Walk Mayor
"We have to go back to the people, the people who put us there, the Orange Walkenos, and despite their political affiliations, I am asking everybody to please do a contribution because the money is not for me, it is not for one person, it is for the Orange Walk Town Council to spend on September celebrations."
It seems that the appeal was even hear by Deputy Prime Minister and PUP's Northern Caucus Boss Johnny Briceno who delivered this $15,000 check, 75% of the money that government allotted for each municipality. In the end though, when the results were tallied at 5:30 this evening, the town council proved that it could do better, as it raised $25,750.
As for the $15,000 Briceno delivered, Mayor Gonzalez says they will have a talk show to invite the public to tell them whether they should accept or reject the money. And as for the $15,000, it is $5,000 short of the $20,000 that government set aside for each municipality. That's because, according to NICH boss Yasser Musa, $5,000 has been earmarked for a Belizean artists concert in Orange Walk.