200 More Food Packages Courtesy Belize-Indian Community
The Belize-Indian community made an eight thousand dollars donation for underprivileged families who are feeling the economic pinch as a result of COVID-19. That eight grand is only a fraction of the total donation which is valued at eighty thousand dollars and being distributed over the span of several weeks. The families are being helped with basic food packages which they will access through a coupon system from area reps and standard bearers in Belize City. Those eight thousand dollars provided for two hundred grocery coupons that were presented today. News Five was at today’s handing over.
Dinesh Bhojwani
Dinesh Bhojwani, Representative, Belize-Indian Community
“One of the things we realized was that there was a lot of people in the city who had no way to get whether it was the social assistance program or any of the programmes that existed through private organizations or any institutions. So, we decided as a community to get together and to procure the products and then we decided to meet up with Water Walkers here and have them to package everything and then distribute it. We wish we could do a lot more because one of the things we realize is that this is not something that is going to go away in the next two or three weeks when this program ends. So, one of the things we are trying to do is to plan something on a more permanent basis, hopefully not permanent because then this problem, but hopefully we can do it as long as the problem persists and hopefully that’s not too long.”
Oscar Arnold
Oscar Arnold, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Collet Division
“We have a continued COVID response in so far as trying to provide grocery items and food items for the people in Collet – one of the most depressed areas in the city. We have done, as a committee; we have done over five hundred and fifty families. And so the donation will go a long way today to aid another fifty families with groceries over the next week and a half.”
Andrea Polanco
“How were these families chosen for this donation?”
Oscar Arnold
“Having been on the ground for almost a year and a half now we know for example, the shut-ins, the elderly, the people who are really having a hard time. There are quite a few people who were having quite a difficult time before COVID and even now. People who used to be able to look after themselves have also fallen in these dire straits. So, we know those individuals and it will go to the individuals and the families who haven’t been able to receive government assistance or been approved for the pantry programme.”
Reporter
“Sir, what would you say to claims that these packages are handed out to your political will?”
Oscar Arnold
“Those claims are false. I personally was in area eighteen where I consider north Creek Street and Banak Street the other day and I didn’t miss any house. This is not a time where it is only a certain number or a certain type of family that is being affected.”
