Prime Minister says money will be found to rebuild and fix homes
Dean Barrow
We have told you about the drama and devastation caused by the category one hurricane. It’s substantive but to get a measure of what really went down, News Five headed to Belmopan for a press conference at the NEMO headquarters. Seated at the head table were the NEMO Minister Melvin Hulse, Coordinator Noreen Fairweather, Chief Meteorological Officer Dennis Gonguez and several other Ministers including Prime Minister Dean Barrow. Barrow opened up the conference with a message to find the millions of dollars that are needed to rehabilitate all the homes that were damaged and to feed and house those who are still in shelters tonight.
Dean Barrow
“The first order of business is the give thanks. I have reconfirmed with the minister and with the NEMO director that there is no death that is directly attributable to Hurricane Richard. So we’ve come through without loss of life. While there has not been any loss of life, the damage is extensive and in a minute the minister and Misses Fairweather will give you the details as to the damage. My job really is to find the money. My job really is to assure all those that have been affected especially in terms of their homes having been destroyed or their roofs having flown off or at least their zincs on the roofs having lifted off. My job is to assure these people that each and every last one of them will have his or her home repaired or rebuilt. Don’t press me too hard on where the money is going to come from, but I make a solemn commitment that in fact from the various sources that we have looked at, we are going to find the money. We of course sympathize greatly with those that have suffered this kind of damage to their homes and their property. I want them to know that in addition to reconstruction or repairing homes for as long as is necessary, NEMO is determined to assist with food packages. The people that were in the shelters in most cases were given a meal. And this kind of outreach, this kind of assistance, this kind of looking after the welfare of our people will continue. There is going to be a need for a little bit of patients as you will hear in a minute, the damage is very substantial and so there are very many homes in very many different areas in the country to be constructed. While NEMO will take on some extra bodies in order to try to get the reconstruction work done as quickly as possible, it’s still going to mean that not everything can be done all at once.”
more empty talk from this useless pm already he cannot say where the money is going to come from because is does not beg for money so where will it come from ill tell you higher taxes period belize will suffer many more calamities because of all the corruption and sin going on in the country unfortunately and with this absulute corrupt gov belizeans will suffer alot more.
It’s true that these homes will need to be rebuilt and where the money is going to come from whether it’s insurance, government assistance in form of low interest loans through cooperation with the local banks or whatever means is not as important as the short term housing needs
for people who are not able to return to their homes which is much more a responsibility of the government than rebuilding homes that were destroyed by the hurricane, what is the government going to do about providing short term shelter for these people?
p.m dean is thinking how he will pocket the money donated to bz. he can fine the money in his account and the other minister account books. accounts they have in other countries..
look at his picture. u can see him thinking. how am i gooing to get all that money..
We can now think what on the PM mind, Genius. Lets hope it’s being put to good use apart from this.
time for RICHARDVILLE?? I guess some people cannot get politics out of their mind even in times when we as belizeans need to be more united…. anyway wont waste time……
When the rebuilding begins…. get rid of the slums…. get the poor people from the swamps and ghettos, now its the golden opportunity to do that.. otherwise… the crime will soar higher and everytime a hurricane comes we will need to be rebuilding the same homes over and over again….
Hattieville emerged after hurricane Hattie…. Corozal boasts to be one of the best planned towns in ALL Central America – thanks to Janet….
Coud Richard be something good for the city….??? I guess if the international community is proposed a plan to rebuild these houses BUT OUT OF THE SWAMPS and unto less vulnerable, stable, HIGHER grounds they may be more than willing to help….!!!
once again it seems we will be encouraging illegal immigrants to come to Belize by helping them to rebuild those sub-standard building they have illegally squat on in the Belmopan area.
It seems that the people from Social Security know and get to these construction site while the building inspectors never turn up.
Once again consumers of electricity will be made to meet the cost of doing business for BEL .Consumers can look forward to paying the cost of rebuilding BEL`s damage external plant.
I hope it is from out of their pockets alright if they can write checks with numerous amounts to spend on themselves personally then I think they should find it in their hearts that it is right to write a check for donation to the poor besides It’s the poor man’s $$ they are using to satisfy their love for fashion and brand names…haha I aint no hater believe me because If I was in their I would probably do the same…having education does not make you proper so all you people out their think u important just because u have a degree haha!! that s^&*t funny, I am educated I hold a masters degree in marketing and communication and believe me I would never ever want to hold a post in government affairs thieving is just not in my nature. Mr. Dean I hope u do right this time all eyes are on you and your administration.
Hello Roska, the people love the swamps…. Remember Belmopan was built after Hattie, the New capital! instead of getting out of the swamp to the capital, they are building up the swamps, it is now all the way to the Haulover Bridge! nothing but swamp! They don’t want to leave, just love it!
PM is saying that they are going to help people that got devastated by Hurricane Richard. When i look at him its hard to believe what he says. He is used to telling us pure lies ans looking on us like dumb a…. but if he does i hope he looks on all of us as Belizeans and not politically as very often happens. Especially like with the grant; in West only UDP got the grants and houses. Some who didn’t even need it as usual, then they ended up selling what they got. Houses were built for the Minister’s relatives and friends. At times like these there should exist no P’s. To get help u need a slip from the Minister and who u think he gives notes to? So please Mr Barrow stress this to your Ministers because maybe u and Mr. Finnegan dont know what is happening. Make sure you specify to them, if ur word counts, to plz help the most needy from either of the 2 parties and not to only UDP’s or family members who have gotten enough already!!!!
Would like to add that this would be a great opportunity for the PM to bring Belizeans closer by allowing them to help each other, all those that need their houses rebuilt can join up and go around building each others houses the way Habitat for Humanity does.
The PM also need to get the private sector businesses involved as well, cut them tax breaks so they can help the people get cheaper materials.
Cayo Buay, that makes a lot of sense.
POLITICS REAR IT’S UGLY HEAD IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES IN BELIZE, THIS IS THE TIME THAT THE PRIME MINISTER NEED TO SHOW THAT HE HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR NATION AT HEART. THE CABINET NEEDS TO APPOINT A SECTOR TO HANDLE ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE HURRICANE CRISIS,(e.g. something similar to FEMA).THE POLITICIANS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWEDTO HANDLE DOLING OUT HELP TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEEDS IT AS WE KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT WHAT WILL HAPPEN, THE RICH WILL GET RICHER AND THE POOR POORER. THE ONLY WAY WE WILL SEE SOME HONESTY FROM THEM IS IF AMERICA IS GIVING AID TO BELIZE BECAUSE THEN THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR EVERY PENNY GIVEN. ALSO WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ; WHERE IS AMERICA AND OTHER COUNTRIES WHEN WE NEED THEIR AID, I GUESS ITS BENEATH OUR PROUD P.M. TO ASK FOR HELP. EVERY OTHER COUNTRY YOU HEAR ABOUT AIDS BEING BROUGHT IN THE NEXT DAY OF A DISASTER.
Let’s just hope that the money and resources truly goes to the people affected by Hurricane Richard. I would hate to see later on, on the news people complaining about not recieving any assistance and being ignored. Hoping that is not the case for once!!
Why will you ask where the money will come from to rebuild these homes and assist with food etc. Its from us the tax payers…………we will pay our expenses in building our homes back. Remember nothing comes FREE…. someday someone will pay ok. if its not you it will be me. Dat’s just life………….just sounds free but its not.
why the mada @#$% you people always have to be so negative!! Instead give good thanks for sparing our lives, give the PM a break no man, everything with you people dah negatives vibes!! common
next time od when saen such powerful storm that most of you will close you mouth forever I di tell you!!!
WELL I REALLY DON’T MINE USING MY TAX MONEY FOR THE BROTHER AND SISTERS AFFECTED BY RICHARD, AS LONG AS THE MONEY DON’T BE DIVERTED TO THE OCTOPUS!!!
I HOPE THAT ALL THE DRUGS AND GUNS WERE WASHE AWAY, AND SOME PEACE RETURN TO OUR BEAUTIFUL BELIZE!!!
I HATE TO BE JUDGEMENTAL AND CYNICAL AT THIS TIME, BUT IF HISTORY IS ANY INDICATOR. WHATEVER MONEYTHE GOV’T GETS, IT WILL BE 1ST, TO LINE THEIR POCKETS, THAT OF THEIR CRONIES AND PREPARE FOR ELECTION AND THEN LASTLY, HELP THE FOLKS THAT NEED IT THE MOST
Macal Rivera I could not agree you more, what’s wrong with my people. The negativity is nauseating; forty-eight hours ago they were praying to God now the vicious comments commence. I guess that their way of saying glory be to God. They have no idea; the self-importance they place on themselves should be evident in every part of their lives. By saying America should do this and that they don’t realise that yes we have had devastation in Belize. However our neighbours in Haiti is still reeling from the aftermath of the massive earthquake and today they people are still struggling, over 200 died just this weekend from Cholera. Having seen it for myself the people of Belize need to quit, nobody died, and no one is starving, you have somewhere to go and be warm and keep dry when the rain comes and you’re are not doing our ablution in the streets. Well, that’s what happens in Haiti. Likewise, Pakistan has millions displaced by flooding not seen in 100years about eight weeks now and we in Belize think that international community should act now because our houses and crops are blown over but no one died and the main roads are passable. Look I am not saying that your needs should not be met but put things into perspective stop being selfish. Honestly I am more concerned about the farming community first and foremost to supply food in the country, and then we can worry about housing. Get up and start clearing up don’t wait for the government to do it all whilst we sit down criticise, complain and @#$%& about the PM. Because it seems that’s our favourite past time.
These things don’t happen overnight, even in New Orleans the people had to wait for some time for assistance to rebuild. We need to get real in Belize. If Mr PM don’t fulfil these pledges then you can pass these comments but I think right now its just nasty/vicious political points scoring.
YES!!!!! You are correct in saying “Money WILL be FOUND”……if you looked in your back pocket. Belizean Government WILL find the money…however will the poor people get to see it?!?!?!?!
over all we should give thanks to the Almighty Jah for sparing our lives since nobody died in the hurricane day but instead a newborn baby was annouced. So lets get back to our feets and live a better live knowing that life is so precious even do we know what hardship we’regoing through.
Did you head dean barrow?he look to see where he can find the money to help poor belizeans affected by the hurricane.maybe we can give him some ideas-how about some of the OIL money prime minister?how about some money of the recent million $ loan you just got?anyone out thier with more ideas for the prime minister?how about some money from the 70% duty you collect every time i take a car to belize from the USA?
He looks like the money he is talking about to help poor belizeans is comming out of his bank account.SICK,SICK,SICK,SICK,SICK.He cares so much about belizeans!!
The government actually have to find money to rebuild our land? What happened to us tax payer money… Guess there’s none left…
I come from a town in belize where 80% of the citizens of the town do contruction work,thats all over the country to.so building back houses again wont be a problem.finding the money to help build houses for belizeans should not be a problem,elts remind dean barrow that some of the oil money from spanish lookout can help big time.
I know it did not work in the USA, per se, but don’t you think the GOB should do a project like what they did in the USA ‘Projects’, where they build big apartment buildings that were intially done really nice and this will clean up how people live, will be in buildings that protect them from storms at least it would be better than building some more matchbox houses for these poor people and all that land can be utilized much more resourcefully and properly.
Have the same people build the buildings, that will give them jobs and a sense of pride when it is finished.
I am also hoping that stronger homes are built for the people that were affected by Hurricane Richard, and that they don’t end up recieving shacks that will blow away on the next storm.
Sad, but the tragedy after the storm is not showing up on American TV, All we’ve seen seen is the storm passing through the Yucatan on our local weather reports. Someone (i.e. government officials) please make the conditions known. If it weren’t for Channel 5 Belize, I would not have known what happened in Belize. I read the transcripts on Channel 5’s website five days a week, ………
You people need to stop criticizing the PM. Give him a chance to see what he will do. Don’t forget you PUP fanatics said musa had said they spent over a BILLION dollars for the hurricane repairs. Where has that money gone???? My friends ONE BILLION DOLLARS could have rebuilt the ENTIRE BELIZE. So before you idiots are so quick to bring down this man don’t forget what your PUP party did in the past. Give him some time and let’s see what happens. You all stop being so frickin one sided.
THERE IS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED HERE…………………..
its sad that yes politics finds itself in everything we do, and its not because we want to bash the PM but damn he has lied to us from the beginning. alot of my friends that were affected by Richard could not move not because they thought it was a lie or because everybody says Belize is blessed but because they don’t have the money to go anywhere. have u stopped to think what it takes to move a family in time of crisis such as this. when u spend all that money to move for an overnight with the way things are now how can u even think to rebuild what was lost. so lets be real my bros and sisters reality is a @#$%& but its there to see and proof is all over this country
re: EL CHE seems you have a hatred for the PM, but you know what your own way of thinking about other people will kill you Ok, from now on you will have sleepless night, somebody will always be watching you day and night, until you learn to respect the PM and I hope someday you will be in his shoes and see if you will be any better than him.
Your have a curse in your life believe me!!