2 Resident Businesses Adopt the Fred Westby Park in the Alberts
The Fred Westby Park, located in the Albert Division, Belize City, has been spruced up with support from two corporate citizens in the division. For decades families have converged at the park for a wide range of healthy activities from sports to friendly reunions. This weekend, the sounds of the Garifuna drums will be heard as part of Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations. Here is News Five’s Duane Moody.
Duane Moody, Reporting
It has been a landmark in the Albert Division for decades, but the Fred Westby Park at the end of Albert Street near the Saint John’s Cathedral has received a much needed facelift through partnership between the Belize City Council and two companies from the private sector, that are resident in the area. Councilor Aisha Gentle says that this is among several other parks that will be adopted to provide residents from various communities an option outside of the Digi Park on north side, Belize City.
Aisha Gentle
Aisha Gentle, Councillor for Parks & Playgrounds, Belize City Council
“We want to create more atmosphere like this where people in their community can enjoy their parks and playgrounds. It is not necessarily that I have to go to B.T.L. Park cause that’s the only park that exists. And that’s something that we are trying to change, the dynamic all over the city. And so we welcome those who are willing to adapt and partner with us and work along with us that makes initiatives like this more beneficial.”
Hyde’s Caribbean Shipping and Diversified Life Solutions are resident businesses in the area, situated adjacent to the park, so it was a no-brainer for them to collaborate in the continuous upkeep of the park. Andrew Pilgrim says he grew up playing and socializing in the park, which is now retrofitted with playground equipment for the many schools located in proximity to the park.
Andrew Pilgrim
Andrew Pilgrim, Managing Director, Diversified Life Solutions
“The opportunity came up when the proprietors of both organizations, both my dad and Mister Stanley Longsworth Senior; they are both residents to this area even before my time. So this is a space that they are familiar with. The community and the neighbourhood is home to both of them. Rather than just a one off contribution, an adoption approach would have suited our organizations better and we thought that it would actually, we would set the pace so to speak in terms of showing corporate social responsible and being good corporate citizens; showing that we have ways in which we can partner with the community and give back. What we hope to do is to eventually expand on the scope of the actual instalments that have been made on the compound. So far there has been a new swing set, a new seesaw; there is a slide that will be in the works to be installs and small goals.”
The Fred Westby Park is one of several parks in the area, but it is the location chosen for the second consecutive year by Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton to host a drumming in the park ahead of the upcoming Garifuna Settlement Day.
Tracy Panton
Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert Division
“I think it is important to the community and certainly important to community life. Last year, as you know, we hosted the first of its kind drumming in the park, here at the Fred Westby Park and this Friday, we have drumming in the park too. And it is a time when the community can all come together and just relax, socialize and have some fun while we celebrate the things that are uniquely Belizean. I think it sends a very important signal and it is a very important initiative. I think the government, the municipality bodies, the private sector all have a role to play in creating spaces or opportunities for Belizeans to come together because before anything, you know we are Belizeans first. And we have to celebrate those things that bring us together as Belizeans. So this space will be definitely well used by the Albert constituency so I am very pleased to be here this morning.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
