Last night we told you what government was offering to end the standoff between the BTB and the City Council. Well tonight, the UDP has still not issued an official notice that it has accepted, and that's because it has not gotten the offer officially in writing. But the government has sent out a release officially explaining the offer. It is as we reported last night: the BTB, PACT, and Tourism Village (FSTV) will jointly contribute to the City Council what will amount to US$1 effective February first.
That one-dollar will go into what's called the "Belize City Tourism Development Fund" which will be administered by the Ministry of Local Government. The City Council would get monthly disbursements but they will be accountable to the Ministry. Sounds official enough to us, and we today asked Mayor Moya what she thinks. We caught up with the Mayor as she and council members visited the tourism village.
Keith Swift Reporting,
At 11 this morning Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya along with her deputy and four other councilors left City Hall and walked up North Front Street enroute to the Fort Street Tourism Village. Mayor Moya says the mission had a single objective: canvass the village for support from stakeholders.
Zenaida Moya, Mayor of Belize City
"We just want to reiterate our position and again get first hand information from them as to what direction we should go. We want to ensure that we continue to hear their final views, especially in light of what happened or what was told to us yesterday."
It was 7NEWS, which told the Mayor yesterday about Cabinet's decision to give the council its US$1 from the head tax. Moya says her council has yet to see anything in writing and until then - nothing is certain.
Zenaida Moya,
"I must say that we still have not gotten any word or receive anything in writing about what was informed yesterday evening."
Keith Swift,
And speaking of that, will the council be open to having the Ministry of Local Government manage a fund for the council?
Zenaida Moya,
"Again we have received nothing in writing and so until and unless we receive something in writing, then we as a council along with the party will sit down and discuss that."
Keith Swift,
They are saying the MOU has been dissolved and the arrears probably won't be paid. What is your view on that?
Zenaida Moya,
"Well clearly the council will have to meet but the fact that the arrears, their take is to wipe off the arrears, without speaking to the council, I can actually say that I have a problem with the arrears being wiped off."
And that is why even with that an agreement in the works, Mayor Moya continued her tour and lobbying for support. This tour guide says he supports the council's effort to get their one-dollar from the head tax and he made it known.
Tour Guide to Moya: We are ready. We are always ready. We are suffering out here. We are ready. When you say if we are ready, we'll be ready. This is not about UDP or PUP, this is about the people. We are suffering out here. We need to take a stand.
Inside the village the Mayor was greeted by two managers from Diamonds International - the multinational that owns the tourist village. She got the official welcome from Evelyn Deeks.
Evelyn Deeks, Diamond International
"We welcome you and we hope that your visit here will be a first of many. Whatever we can do to make your visit a pleasant one, please, we are here to help."
And as grateful as she was - Moya was in the village to canvass for support and to get that she had cover the entire village - sending her into gift shops, tour shops, and conversations with tourists. Marvin Deras runs 'Ecological Tours.'
Martin Deras: Caesar is due what Caesar is due.
Moya: That is what I feel. So what about in terms of the city of Belize receiving the support that the city of Belize should receive?
Martin: Like I said, if improvements need to come by ways of getting what you need, that is what you need to do.
What these stakeholders made known to Mayor Moya is that just as how she needs her one-dollar - they need their jobs. Edmund Thompson says the city council and government were gambling with his bread and butter money.
Edmund Thompson,
"We don't want to disrupt this thing because if they disrupt it, this is my bread and butter and if they ever had a strike, it would be detrimental to the industry itself so I am glad they didn't go through with it."
And it is a gamble that it seems Moya has won. But as she toured the village - she made it known that this is one battle and the war between city hall and central government probably isn't over.
Party Leader Dean Barrow told us that he's pleased that there is a commitment to the dollar but he qualifies it by saying that there's no indication to him of how the mechanics would work. And until that is illustrated, the UDP cannot, he says, declare an official position.
