Why Abandoned Buildings Need to Go

Philip Willoughby

You heard earlier in the newscast about the fire that totally destroyed the houses of eight families. The fire started in an abandoned building where homeless persons were staying. If you recall some time ago, the City Council in collaboration with the National Fire Service, the Police Department, Human Services and the Ministry of Health were attempting to get rid of derelict buildings in the city. CEMO’s Phillip Willoughby explains.

Philip Willoughby, CEMO

“Residents of Belize City, take the time out to understand some time ago when the City made a proactive approach to deal with these abandoned and derelict buildings, so I take this opportunity to say let’s start this process. It doesn’t have to be as a result of a hurricane or a tsunami, we see how because of this fire now, twenty-eight people are now homeless because of an abandoned or derelict building. Let’s deal with these abandoned and derelict buildings, let’s take them down. Let it be one less problem we have to deal with if we follow the rules.”