The economic indicators of living
In this segment we continue to focus on economic indicators for the Toledo District, one of the most economically depressed areas. We first look at basic cooking facilities. In all other five districts in the country, seventy-seven point nine percent of households have kitchens inside their houses. The Toledo District is the exception where only ten percent have cooking space indoors. Looking at the type of cooking fuel used per district; butane remained the most common in all districts except Toledo where wood or charcoal is the most used at around fifteen percent of households. Turning to the source of drinking water; about one half of the households nationally use bottled water as their main source of drinking water. In Toledo, the rate is as low as thirteen percent and many residents rely on other unsafe sources such as waterways, standpipes, and public wells. If we look at the types of toilet facilities per district, once again the prevailing statistics are negatively protruding from the Toledo district. Although the recent figures in 2010, show that the use of flush toilets has increased from forty-nine point nine percent to sixty-four point six percent, in the Toledo district, most households still use pit latrines. The depressing figures for the Toledo District are maintained when it comes to bathing facilities. While more than half—sixty-one point five percent—of all households in Belize have fixed bath or showers inside their houses, twelve percent don’t enjoy that luxury, particularly in the Toledo district. As it relates to the main source of lighting, the Belize Electricity Limited is the main source powering eighty-two point six percent of households. The other main sources of lighting, in the Toledo district, are kerosene and gas lamps. In respect of technology and households with specified services, once again Toledo ranked the lowest in access to such services. Only nineteen percent of households in the southern district have cable television service while eight percent have fixed telephone lines; and a miniscule three percent have internet access.
If GOB would pay attention and develop a coherent plan to attract foreign investment, Toledo could have new industries and new jobs — the entire nation could.
It’s a shame to have such poverty here in this modern age. But our leaders seem to lack hearts and consciences. They just don’t care about the suffering of the people. Sure, occasionally they mouth sweet lies, but their inaction is deafening.
I’m tired of hearing about Toledo being the poorest. People choose how they want to live that is not an indication of poverty. What about crime rate they also have the lowest. An indication that life is much safer regardless of the poverty. Also prices are the highest in Toledo. Probably annexing with Guatemala will change the economic output.
The people of Toledo District are not asking to become Guatemalans in their own homes. They are hard-working poor people who can manage to survive through their hard work.
The economic gap is caused by the crooked economic policies legalized by politicians for the benefit of their campaign financiers. The prices of hardware, clothing, and other imported items in the Toledo District are the highest in the country while the people of the District are paid the smallest amount of money in everything.
Remember the fact that those people did not get pay for all the rice they produced and delivered to the mill in Big Falls Village. Producing rice involves clearing the land, planting, buying herbicides and spraying, harvesting, and paying for transportation of produce to the mill. All of that together represents a great loss to the poor people of Toledo District.
It is time for the government to allow more trading with the neighboring countries. The politicians don’t need to get involve in the trade because they just screw up everything. The people can do it better by themselves.
I am also sick and tired of hearing Toledo having the highest rate of poverty. Those people work really hard and most are self sustained. Just because they don’t have much MATERIALISTIC GOODS does not mean they are poor.
I believe that the way to measure economic situation is not by looking at material items in possession. Researchers should take more time to analyze the situation because they should take in consideration that culture influence the way people leave.