Minister Heredia Will Lobby for Potable Water on La Isla Bonita
Manuel Heredia Jr.
The fire has sparked outrage by residents who say that the tragic death of the family could have been averted if appropriate fire-fighting equipment was available on the prime tourism that contributes top dollars to the economy. But there are only two small fire trucks on the island which were clearly inadequate to battle the raging blaze and within minutes, both ran out of water. Following the 2016 inferno that gutted an entire block in downtown San Pedro and now the death of four persons, will government improve the National Fire Service Branch on the island? The area representative says that he will double efforts to bring portable water throughout the island.
Manuel Heredia Jr., Area Rep., Belize Rural South
“Many people have been saying in the past, including myself that it would be better to get portable pumps, mount it on a trailer that you can immediately as anything happens. Because my understanding is that Victoria House had a pump and then a power washer and that is what was more efficient than anything else. I brought it to the attention of cabinet and I am sure that very shortly, we will see at least one or two of these nice portable pumps coming to the island.”
Duane Moody
“What can be done to improve…because from what we were able to gather, this has been in the making from two years ago when the fire downtown, where fourteen structures were destroyed. NEMO and other agencies, the government had promised that they would have put in hydrants across the town and that has not happened. It’s been two years.”
Manuel Heredia Jr.
“Well one thing that I know; that area in particular doesn’t have portable water that subdivision, there is no portable water. I will lobby as strong as possible with the chairman of WASA to make sure that we put portable water over there so that we can put these hydrants over there. In all areas that we believe there is no portable water; we have to make sure that we can have few hydrants over there. Or in areas where we do not have canals or the sea close, then make sure this can happen because we learn from mistakes, but we have to make sure that we address it at quick as possible.”
