PM Briceño and Minister Mai Visit Flooded Areas in Rural Belize

On Garifuna Settlement Day, Prime Minister John Briceño and Agriculture Minister, Jose Mai visited Maypen Village in the Belize District; this is one of the many villages in the Belize River Valley area that has been tremendously affected by flooding. Briceño and Mai were accompanied by area representative, Marconi Leal.  Now, the residents in that area are primarily cattle ranchers and their livestock is in danger of drowning.  About three hundred heads of cattle were stranded and there was need for urgent assistance.  Quick action by Minister Mai, in collaboration with the Belize Livestock Producers Association and other stakeholders, led to the rescue of some sixty cattle with the use of boats and trailers provided by Banana Bank Lodge, Caribbean Tires and Mennonite ranchers from the villages of Blue Creek and Shipyard.  PM Briceño and Minister Mai were on site to witness the rescue.  A visit was also made to Crooked Tree Village where the parliamentarians got a look at the flooding and spoke to affected residents. As you know, the causeway is under water, several families in the village have been evacuated to shelters and residents are transported to and from the village with assistance from the Coast Guard.