Building Climate Resilient Infrastructure Amid Extended Dry Weather

Dean Barrow

The government has sought financial assistance from the World Bank to build climate resilient infrastructure, including roads and bridges, across the country.  The initiative precedes the existing drought; however, the need for public services and systems designed to withstand extreme weather conditions is apparent.  During his presentation on Thursday at a press conference, Prime Minister Barrow once again informed that the stretch of road from mile nine on the Philip Goldson Highway to mile twenty-five will be resurfaced to meet climate resilient standards, using funds from the United Nations bank.  The other section of the highway from mile twenty-five to the northern border with Mexico at Santa Elena will be funded by the UK government.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I was especially pleased to see that one of the ongoing projects is the undertaking of the bank with respect to climate resilient infrastructure and in particular their commitment that they will be funding the road rehabilitation from the area at Vista del Mar which is probably about mile nine on the Philip Goldson Highway, right up to mile twenty-five, I think it is.  [Mile] twenty-five all the way to the northern border is already accounted for.  That is being funded by the UK as part of that, he didn’t know it then but what turned out to be a parting gift from David Cameron, before Brexit and his referendum and all that sort of thing.  It’s being disbursed through CDB but that funding, the Belize component, is taking care of rehabilitation from mile twenty-five to the border and that is what is also paying for the coastal road.  But it’s lovely to know that there is going to be this complete cycle because as from Vista del Mar to where the CDB/UK money will kick in is being handled by the World Bank.”