Politicians unite to build market for Cayo
Between now and election day we’re going to see and hear a lot of politicians… and indications are that the campaign will be as bitter as any we’ve had in the past. All the more reason to take a good look at this next story, which, as News Five’s Marion Ali points out, opens with an unusual sight.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Although they’re from two different sides of the political fence, today Prime Minister Said Musa and San Ignacio/Santa Elena Mayor, John August, shook hands over a project that will benefit the residents of these twin towns. The politicians broke ground marking the start of construction for a new market building valued at over half a million dollars. For Prime Minister Musa, the project has been a long time coming.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“For years, brother Hector, the citizens of these twin towns have been clamouring for a decent, modern farmers market that will facilitate the farmers—especially the small farmers of this district—to market and sell their produce. Now with the assistance of a grant by the European Union under the Belize Rural Development Project the government will now be able to deliver on that promise and fulfil that dream.”
Initiated in 2006 by the European Union, the Belize Rural Development Programme aims to uplift rural communities, often, according to Director Karl Geoppert, with cash.
Karl Geoppert, Project Director, B.R.D.P.
“And we have three levels of support to poor people. One is a grant up to one thousand dollars for individuals, but those are reserved mainly for female-headed households, especially like widows with five and more children where there’s no husband and often with some old parents.”
“The second level is for groups, up to twenty-five thousand Belize dollars. The groups can select whatever they want to do like create enterprise and the third level is large projects like the Cayo market starting with about two hundred thousand Belize dollars and going up to about one, one and a half million which will start next year.”
For its part, the Town Council will have to come up with its own end of the bargain.
John August, Mayor, San Ignacio and Santa Elena
“In order to meet the remaining forty-two thousand dollars, seven hundred and fifty-one dollars and thirty-eight cents for the project, the San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Council has entered into a contract with the contractor, Modern Construck Limited. The Council is confident that it will pay off its part of the debt to the Contractor in a reasonable time. The Council is also confident that the residents of the twin towns will see the improvements to the area and as a result, give us the confidence and mandate to meet the remaining balance to the contractor. Also the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council, through its limited resources, has managed to finish paying seventeen thousand five hundred dollars Belize for the architectural design.”
Market vendor, Isaiah Ortiz, is happy that the project is finally coming to fruition.
Isaiah Ortiz, Market Vendor
“Yes, ah feeling ok. Everything is like, starting to get in progress right. So we hope we got a good market after this.”
Marion Ali
“How will the new market affect your business you think?”
Isaiah Ortiz
“Well, well I’m not sure right now but—maybe, maybe—we have lotta different street vendors you know, and then maybe all of them won’t be fitting inside the market. So maybe that would be a little, little…”
Marion Ali
“It’s a good idea?”
Isaiah Ortiz
“Yea, It’s a good idea, correct, good idea.”
Marion Ali
“So you looking forward to it?”
Isaiah Ortiz
“Yeah, we’re looking forward to it.”
The entire cost of the project, excluding architectural design, amounts to just over five hundred and forty-two thousand dollars. Of this amount, the Belize Rural Development Programme and the European Union has committed to four hundred and ninety-nine thousand.
