San Jose & San Pablo Villages Get New Water System

On Monday, the villages of San Jose and San Pablo were the beneficiaries of a water system. The Government of Belize officially launched the newly rehabilitated water system, which was made possible through financing by the Caribbean Development Bank and G.O.B. under the Water and Sanitation System Enhancement Sector. Fifteen hundred residents from both villages in the north will benefit from the one point three-million dollar water system, which will improve access to a basic need. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Almost a year later and one point three million dollars in investment, the villages of San Jose and San Pablo have a new water system to improve access to a most basic need.

Carlos Tun

Carlos Tun, Executive Director, Social Investment Fund

“Work began in May of last year and in the last twelve months; we have seen the installation of eight hundred additional water meters for homes, schools, churches and other facilities. The water tank behind us has been rehabilitated to improve the quality of water being distributed between San Jose and San Pablo. A brand new pump house was built, a new generator has been installed and the electrical works have been upgraded to increase the supply of water.”

Over one thousand, five hundred residents will now have access to safe potable water. It was a celebration for the residents and the leadership of both villages.

Javier Sabido, Chairman, San Pablo Village Council

Javier Sabido

“Today I feel proud and glad and this is a long awaited and important project that is completed. However, we have already started to work on phase two of the project to fully connect the new expansion area and of course for San Pablo Village to have its own water system. Indeed, words can’t explain how happy I am today since I was actively involved from the inception of this project serving as the chairman of the project monitoring committee.”

Edilberta Rodriguez

Edilberta Rodriguez, Chairlady, San Jose Village Council

“We are blessed with all the kind heart. Because of God things happen around our community. We also believe that God is the one that blesses us in every single aspect of what we get.”

Minister Oscar Requeña says that the improvements are part of an effort to break the cycle of poverty in Belize.

Oscar Requeña

Oscar Requeña, Minister of Rural Development

“We have over fifty-five percent of our population living in the rural areas and we all know the challenges that our people in the rural area have faced for many years. We are here to change that because that is the commitment that we made. That we are going to work hard and we are going to transform the rural area for the benefit of our people.”

Duane Moody for News Five.