City Council feeds homeless in Battlefield Park
The Belize City Council may be involved in some hard bargaining with central government over high finance, but there’s actually a softer side to the Mayor and council … and that’s what we saw today downtown.
Zenaida Moya, Belize City Mayor
“We knew that we always had to remember that many of us cannot always have all that we want in life. Some of us will be more needing of others and so we made an effort to ensure that one of our pledge stated that we would assist you.”
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Today, Mayor Zenaida Moya celebrated her thirty-third birthday and Valentine’s Day helping others to a special meal at the Battlefield Park. More than a dozen people received food containers and refreshment consisting of a turkey dinner and orange Juice. The recipients are city residents who have no settled home nor employment.
Laura Esquivel, Councillor Responsible For Parks
“Well actually it was one staff member in particular, Miss Cynthia Nunez, she approached me and said ‘you know wouldn’t it be really good if we gave back some love to the people that are forgotten on Valentine’s Day’ and I said you know that is an excellent idea. Let’s take it to the council, let’s take it to the employees and I have to say that all the employees jumped onboard right away. Everything provided here is provided by the employees of the City Council.”
“Our staff actually went out for the whole week and they went walking along the streets and found the people – they gave them out little invitations like this – and invited them to come on out. However, they did not have to have an invitation today to actually get the food, anybody basically that showed up today was able to get it.”
Food Recipient #1
“I feel pretty good because I am hungry you know, so I feel pretty good. I think it is a good thing you know…very good.”
Food Recipient #2
“It’s a blessing right. A free meal fi di poor – di poor and di homeless deh di get wan free meal – that’s all I could say.”
Food Recipient #3
“It’s a good thing to be shared because God say fi share right, and I proud of it same way too.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“Laura, I know some of the people you’ll are feeding out here today tend to hang out at those park, actually sleep here. Is the City Council doing anything to help clean up the situation?”
Laura Esquivel
“We are. Our first step is that we have been working along with the mental health association; from the previous council they have a lease for one of the council’s properties and we are working right now with the mental health association and a Mennonite group to provide a temporary office for them so that they can be doing some outreach and some medication, what they need is…they need their daily medication, so that is our first step. And we are also still working with the architect association on a final plan to renovate this park, and make it more inviting to the rest of the community.”
The Belize City Council plans to hold similar activities throughout the year.
