Some works to be done on the San Estevan Road
Errol Gentle
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has announced a multi-million dollar infrastructure program to repair streets and roads across the nation. The outlay is in response to damage caused by incessant rains in recent weeks. But months before those rains, commuters, forced to use the San Estevan Road, were crying out for help. The stretch between Orange Walk Town and San Estevan is in deplorable condition and has been for a long time. What has made a bad situation worse is that EU monies were allocated for the paving of the road from Orange Walk Town to Progresso – in fact, that project was to have been completed in early 2013 – but near the end of 2013, it hasn’t even started, or at least not in any visible fashion. According to Errol Gentle, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Works, it’s a problem they are aware of, and trying to deal with.
Errol Gentle, C.E.O., Ministry of Works
“Unfortunately because of the rains, the work has not been going as fast as I would like it to. I have had a couple meetings with the contractor and I can tell you that some work is being done. They have done so far just a little less than a mile where they have been doing some improvements and I do have some pictures which I can share with you if you want me to. Our supervision team now is based out there in Orange Walk and the members from my project execution unit have weekly meetings with the joint venture.”
Reporter
“Sir can you tell when the work will start in earnest, because all of this is little consolation to these people? We have buses getting stuck every day.”
Errol Gentle
“The work has started, but what you are talking about is the maintenance of the road. Okay…but the work has started. What I said to the contractor is that he needs to put two teams out there – one team that needs to be maintaining the road, because remember it is the entire stretch of the road – and they have started from what I would call the northern end of the road coming from the village toward Orange Walk. But the area we have most of the problems is going from Orange Walk into the village, like the first half of that area. So he has committed that as soon as the weather improves, he will have a maintenance team out there to maintain that section of the road.”
The twelve point five million dollar project, when it does get seriously underway, will include the paving of the road between Orange Walk Town and Progresso, with proper drains and signage. All that was supposed to have been done already, except for a delay of about a year and a half.
“Ali Baba has announced a multi-million dollar infrastructure program to repair streets and roads across the nation.”
put some money fixing the two highways of death. They have lots of pot holes, missing sections, no shoulders, no stripes. Typical ALL Belizean engineering & maintenance. Actually typical Ali Baba business deals, like the market in Dangriga or a couple hundred GOB projects that never get done correctly. People must pay more corruption money if they expect things to get better.
“EU monies were allocated for the paving of the road from Orange Walk Town to Progresso – in fact, that project was to have been completed in early 2013 – but near the end of 2013, it hasn’t even started.”
One would think the only road between the capital and the largest city would be the best kept road …
If GOB got the money, the job is finished. Corruption officers sleep well when cash is in the pocket.
Please that talk again. Monies allocated to pave Orange Walk to Progresso Road that is a broken tape as soon as the EU send the money it is allocated into someones pocket to buy yet another mansion or vehicle, or first class living for the ministers and their family. Afterall they don’t have any need to drive to Progresso until election time and when they do they make sure the day before they put some powder dirt and grade so they can have a smooth ride, You Progresso people enjoy that until it blow away or the rain come and turn it to mush, we don’t have to come back again for another five years when we come to pay you for your vote, Remember people in the village don’t have nice cars like us so what if their cars and truck break up on the road. I guess their motto is ” Full belly dog tell hungry belly dog keep heart” Thanks Mr. CEO I wonder when was the last time you put your vehicle on the Progresso Road. Hmmm.
Errol you are a great comedian after graduating from UDP clown school.
In your entire career have you ever maintained a white stripe down the middle of any road?
Thought not. Maybe you know the cost, maybe not.
How much does it cost to paint a white stripe from Belize City to Benque Veijo?
Here is a hint Errol, in case you are too lazy to look it up.
http://www.asphaltkingdom.com/oil-based-line-striping-road-paint.html
That comes out to 400,000 feet, 160 gallons, $9000 USD.
So 1-2 minister’s SUVs would do the whole country!
Think of it this way bozo,
A 50% reduction in accidents, associated with improved marking layouts!!!
A reduction of speed in the 85th percentile!!!
Reduction in vehicles breaking the speed limit!!!
Less vehicles making illegal passing!!!
An average first year rate of return 1,868%!!!!!
PLUS>>>>> all the lives saved!!!!!!! Families not destroyed!!!!!!!
Avoiding one major deadly accident per year pays for the whole country, all the highways.
So figure this multimillion dollars will be misspent, squandered, and stolen by the time it is through.
EU must be idiots like the US. 25% of the US donations to Belize police departments were lost, destroyed, or stolen after one year. Why should the EU or US give anything to a government that is corrupt or too lazy to wipe its ass?
Errol, what kind of GOB car did Ali Baba give you to look the other way?
Or are you a planner of the crime and get bigger action?
“Unfortunately because of the rains,…..” (Errol Gentle) ????????????????????????????????????????????
The deplorable road condition of the road has been ever since; before the rains. Remember, Mr. CEO, when a meeting was held in a rush in Progresso to appease the people…..Had the rain started, then??
“They have done so far just a little less than a mile where they have been doing some improvements…” (Errol Gentle)
This one mile you are talking about is the work done by some Mexicans, who prepared close to three miles for paving. The men have been working on this part of the road (the one mile you are talking) for over a month. I think the people of Progresso would be contented if your men would have been working on the worst part of the road, then the bus and private vehicles would not stuck on the road.
Great! the government does it AGAIN! What about the road from CHUNOX to SARTENEJA? Isn’t that the one where people had to walk through muddy waters? Where is the CEO’s brain?
CEO. There is a small sugar farm in Sarteneja. Can you get some monies to that that cane can reach the sugar mill in OW? Make a trip there and you will see.