Works begin to rebuild landmark destroyed by fire

The fire that gutted landmark buildings in downtown Belize City, forever changed the face of the commercial hub and the hustle and bustle on Albert Street, but there is a silver lining to this story because work is beginning that will modernize the area, and with that will come new opportunities. Marion Ali reports.

Umesh Mahitani, Owner, Romac’s Plaza
“It’s just been a struggle to try get everything back in order and keep on moving on.”

Marion Ali, Reporting
Almost four months after the historic Albert Street fire destroyed a row of buildings that housed Romac’s, Odette’s, CD Plus, Maximo International and the Good Samaritan House, the road to reconstruction of the plaza has been painstakingly slow. This week crewmen are installing eighty piles into the earth that marks the beginning of construction. It’s a process that will take about another week, and the work ahead will not be finished anytime soon.

Marion Ali
“When do you see the grand opening taking place?”

Umesh Mahitani
“Probably maybe a year and a half from now two years, I’m not sure. Probably yeah.”

But that projection will only be realised if there are minimal delays.

Francis Canto, Contractor
“If it rains and we’re digging the pile holes, the holes can get filled with water. We gotta pump it out or we gotta wait until the weather is passed.”

Project contractor, Francis Canto, says the job will take some time because of the size of the new plaza.

Francis Canto
“We had the initial stage with the demolition of the burnt up building and now we have the installation of the piles. You have the ground beams, you have the ground floor slabs and after that you have the columns, upper beams, upper floor slabs, that’s about it.”

But while rebuilding is underway, the March twenty-sixth fire that flattened the area has changed not only the physical appearance of downtown Belize City, but the lives of businesspeople like Umesh Mahitani, who owned Romac’s Plaza and Icenie Herrera who operated Cenie’s Deli inside the plaza.

Icenie Herrera, Owner, Cenie’s Deli
“Everything destroyed in the fire so I was lucky enough to find this location available for rent so this is where I start from again, from scratch again.”

Marion Ali
“Nothing was insured?”

Icenie Herrera
“No, nothing. Nothing was insured.”

Marion Ali
“How much were your losses?”

Icenie Herrera
“Approximately like twenty-five to thirty thousand dollars.”

Umesh Mahitani
“The loss is too great and we were only insured for a very small fraction. We haven’t collected yet so hopefully that will be forthcoming very soon and then we could move on faster with our plans.”

And if his plans are successful, Mahitani says the new Romac’s Plaza should add to the aesthetics of the area while offering more businesspeople a chance to make a living.

Umesh Mahitani
“We’ll probably put down a ground floor building first and then go from there for mostly dry goods and then probably go up to a second floor thereafter, we’ll see. I think we’re looking into more smaller stores that might be more viable for more people and rent out smaller stores inside the building and bring as much excitement to the place as possible.”

But going back to the plaza is not among Herrera’s plans since she says the move to their new location on the second floor of the Commercial Centre has brought her new blessings.

Icenie Herrera
“With the expense here it’s a lot less. I have cheaper rent and expenses so it comes …”

Marion Ali
“Balance off?”

Icenie Herrera
“It’s balanced.”

Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.