O.A.S. hosts anniversary exhibition in Belize City
The Belisle Art Gallery at the Bliss Institute in Belize City is the venue this week, for a one of its kind exhibition. Today News Five’s Patrick Jones stopped in for a look and found that instead of the works of local artists, the pictures on the wall tell a different story.
The groups taking part in the two day exhibition have one thing in common: they have all benefited financially from the Organization of American States.
Michelle Bowers, Secretary, Regional Language Center
“O.A.S. has contributed one hundred thousand dollars to the Regional Language Center, which has vastly helped in our program development. Half of that money we have used for marketing purposes: we did a hand book, we did a promotional video, we bought instructional texts, which will help the students and teachers of the program, we also bought computer software that helps to teach English. In addition to that we will be moving to Belmopan early next year so all this equipment will help in our service when we go to Belmopan.”
Francine Thompson, Meteorologist
“There have been several projects that they have sponsored and one recently is the setting up of the sea level rise monitor that is at the Port Authority. Also we have the forecast module for storm surges and that is just to help us be aware of the different categories of hurricanes and how it will affect the tidal waves and this is to help us prepare for evacuation. We would be in a better position to advise the Government as to how much time we need to evacuate people.”
Although the exhibition is opened to the public, O.A.S. Country Director Kenrich Texel says secondary and tertiary level students will benefit most from the displays as they will give them an idea of what the hemispheric body is all about and the work it does.
Patrick Jones
“Belize became a member of the Organization of American States on the eighth of January, 1991. But it wasn’t until four years later that an office was set up in Belmopan and a director appointed. Since then, millions of dollars have been pumped into developmental projects all over Belize.”
Kenrich Texel, O.A.S. Director, Belize
“I believe that this contribution of the O.A.S. to the development of Belize is very significant. The O.A.S., as you know, started its operations in Belize in October 1995 when the office was formally inaugurated and from that time on we started our operations and funding up until now, twenty six projects in Belize to the tune of over three million Belize dollars.”
These projects are in areas such as education, science, technology and human resource development.
Jan Groenendaal, Fourth Form Student, Sacred Heart College
“The O.A.S. has contributed to our second computer lab. They gave us ten computers and due to this we were able to construct the second computer lab.”
Q: “How important would you say the O.A.S. contribution has been to Sacred Heart College?”
Jan Groenendaal
“Well, I would say it is very important because, due to the fact that we now have two computer rooms, we are now able to have two computer classes going at the same time.”
In the case of the Archives Department, the O.A.S. provided the funds needed to set up its micro graphics unit.
Margaret Ventura, Archivist
“The unit was set up primarily because the need was identified to look at alternative methods of storing some of the historic records that are in danger of deteriorating. Quite a large amount were received in very poor conditions and whilst our conservation unit tried their best to do some conservation work, we felt that there was a need to put them on microfiche or microfilm so that the originals could be preserved. And the microfiche copy would be the one that would be handled by the general public when they come in to do research.”
While the exhibition is part of the organization’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations it is also providing a public forum for grant recipients to say “thank you.”
Michelle Bowers
“Without the O.A.S. we would not have had so much material to help us. We would have been behind. Definitely they have helped greatly in our development.”
Margaret Ventura
“Very significant actually because this is a very positive move to ensure that the records that are handled on a daily basis by the public will continue to be preserved for future generations to access.”
Francine Thompson
“We have all these sophisticated programs, computer programs, and it has helped us to develop and to really be prepared for the future.”
A future that is sure to bring with it a world of challenges. But the O.A.S. feels it is up to meeting those demands head on. Patrick Jones, for News Five.
The Organization of American States is comprised of thirty five independent nations of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Its main goal is to ensure peace and security, strengthen democracy and advance human rights in member states. The Belize office is located at the Agriculture Show Grounds in Belmopan.
