Mayor clarifies shelter policy

As we reported earlier in the week, one of the most disappointing aspects of hurricane Keith’s aftermath was the filthy condition of the shelters after they were vacated. Today we spoke to Mayor David Fonseca who explained how the shelters were administered.

Jose Sanchez

“The schools that were used as shelters, the damage they received was not from the effects of the hurricane itself but from the people who stayed there. They (the teachers) were saying perhaps NEMO could have been a little more organized. Now we have two months left in the hurricane season, what everyone wants to know is what NEMO Belize will do in this event?”

David Fonseca, Mayor, Belize City

“Previously when we had to use shelters the managers of these shelters would have been public officers. It was found over the years that it was not effective for a number of reasons. So a decision was made since Mitch to have the BDF personnel be the manager of the shelter, and there is a management team that has been put in place for each shelter. Of course the human element sets in when these storms comes around and some of us don’t appear at our respective posts. This has happened during hurricane Keith. The BDF responded properly with the assistance of the police being a part of the team. In some cases we had the Red Cross there and the other part of the team did not show up.”

David Fonseca

“The cleaning up and the destruction of some of the assets of the shelter? Yes that did happen.”

Lisa Clare, Teacher

“When you get in your classroom, the stench was so disgusting, your charts, your books, everything. They left the toilet paper they used to urinate in the classroom. The toilet paper rolled are right there.”

Darren Humes, Teacher

“You have seen here. I am refusing to clean my classroom.”

David Fonseca

“The people using the facility should have been glad they had somewhere to go and should have stayed back or maintain the place clean during their stay. Yes, teachers have a point to complain, but as responsible citizens we should lend assistance to do a part by cleaning up their respective schools. And they can contribute that as their contribution to the whole aspect to the effects of hurricane Keith.”

“There have been requests by NEMO to the teachers, principals and managers to make an assessment to what damages were done, and to hand that report in to the Ministry of Education, in order for that to take place, so I’m pretty sure assistance will be coming through NEMO.”