Ground broken for new agriculture ministry

There was a time when virtually the entire administration of Central government fit neatly into the east and west block buildings of Belmopan. But that was a while ago, and as Belize grows, so does government’s need for space. Today, one ministry took the first step toward a new home in the nation’s capital. Jacqueline Woods was there.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

The release of balloons above the City of Belmopan marked the beginning of the end of a long wait for the employees of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to work with other agricultural agencies under one roof. According to Minister Daniel Silva, the building will improve the staff’s working environment and give the public easier access to services.

Daniel Silva, Minster of Agriculture

“It’s wonderful dream because our staff will now have better working conditions, we plan to have an area where they can eat, better facilities for them. Also, we will be able to give the public a better service. Instead of going from one ministry to the next to another department to another department to get permits, now they will come under one roof.”

Construction on the new building should have started last year, but Hurricane Iris delayed the work and most of the project’s money was diverted for use in the recovery efforts. The one point two million dollar multi-purpose structure will serve as the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives and will house the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, BAHA, and other related agencies.

The building sits on thirteen acres of land situated at the corner of Forest Drive and Hummingbird Highway. Presently that land is occupied by the Caribbean Agricultural Research Development Institute, but as part of a government initiative, CARDI will soon be relocated to another part of the Cayo District.

Daniel Silva

“CARDI is a research institute in the Caribbean from the CARICOM region; this now will be relocated to Central Farm. As you know, we are trying to…Central Farm is a research institute, it has been passed by the National Assembly, and the idea is to have one centre of research in Belize. Central Farm will now be that area and CARDI will now be relocated to that section there.”

It is expected that construction on the new Ministry of Agriculture building will commence by March. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.

The Bank of Nova Scotia is lending government the one point two million Belize dollars to construct the building.