Edmond Castro Speaks on COVID-19 Food Assistance Programme

Edmond Castro

Two more cases of COVID-19 cases were recorded today. The concerning cases comes out of the Cayo District where an elderly man who found himself at the San Ignacio Community Hospital over the weekend with gastrointestinal symptoms and a loss of sense of taste. He is currently doing better at his home where he was ordered to self isolate. His case is worrisome because a community spread by the case in that area of the country and if that is so, the likelihood of another countrywide S.O.E. and lockdown is highly possible. Thousands of persons will be further affected and the government will need to extend its assistance programmes such as the Government’s COVID-19 food assistance programme. But during the first phase of the programme many Belizeans were complaining that they did not receive assistance from the government. NEMO Minister Edmond Castro says there are inefficiencies in the programme that prevents Belizeans from receiving assistance.

Edmond Castro, Area Rep., Belize Rural North

“You will always have people who will get more than the others and some who have more connections.”

Reporter

“More connection? Minister those things are not suppose to be happening.”

Edmond Castro

“Don’t tell me no foolishness. Let me tell you this that I know in my constituency some people, some family get two, three times and some haven’t received as yet.”

Reporter

“You see you are admitting it to.”

Edmond Castro

“It is not a matter of admit. I am talking about human…”

Reporter

“So how do we resolve that because everybody who is supposed to get should get?”

Edmond Castro

“Let me tell you this, perhaps if they tried NEMO, but we need everybody. We don’t worry about…but it is not nobody in none of the government ministry is U.D.P. and when they find their P.U.P. friends and family they make sure that they get over and over again and some of the people down the street are making noise because they haven’t gotten as yet. That is true.”