Gov’t says no money to host CODICADER disability games

In 2016, under the direction of Minister of State Elodio Aragon Junior, whose responsibility at the time included sports and culture, the National Sports Council spent in excess of four hundred thousand dollars in hosting the CODICADER Games.  This time around, expenses would be considerably less since only two disciplines will be featured in the competition.  Even so, government has made it clear that it doesn’t have the kind of monies necessary to defray the cost of accommodating CODICADER for a second year.

Isani Cayetano

“In terms of the last rounds of CODICADER games that were hosted here in Belize, I know that a specific target had been set in terms of the amount of funding necessary to be able to pay for the logistical expenses.  Is it that this time around we’re looking at something greater in sum, or is it less but we just don’t have the money to pay for it?”

Deon Sutherland, Board Member, NSC

Deon Sutherland

“Well we have to go with what the minister says in terms of not having the funds.  It would be less than what it was because we’d only have two disciplines; however, you know, if you don’t have the money it doesn’t matter if it’s more or less, you would not be able to pay.  So whilst we are hoping, and myself being the Chief of Mission for Belize since 2007, we were hoping that we would have been able to host these games, especially because it’s the disability games for kids with disabilities.  We were hoping that we would have had the opportunity, but you know, if we don’t have the funds then there is nothing else we can do.”

The Under-fifteen games in Honduras will conclude on August twenty-sixth.