Hurricane shelters to be constructed
There were four main issues discussed during government’s weekly Cabinet meeting in Belmopan yesterday. In the Ministries of Education, Works, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cabinet agreed that Lynam College in the Stann Creek District should be restructured to make it more responsive to the southern region of Belize by highlighting agriculture in its curriculum.
In the Ministry of Economic Development, Cabinet was informed that the Inter-American Development Bank has agreed to finance the following projects: infrastructural repair to roads, drains, piers and bridges. Repairs will be carried out to existing hurricane shelters and new hurricane shelters will be constructed. These will be multipurpose buildings in Orange Walk Town, Corozal Town and the Lynam site as well as an administrative building at U.C.B. in Punta Gorda. The Caribbean Development Bank will also finance the building of several shelters in Belmopan. These include the multipurpose building at the Belmopan Comprehensive School, the information technology building at U.C.B., U.C.B.’s Science building, U.C.B.’s administrative building and the expansion of the water and sewerage system. The I.D.B. will also finance the institutional strengthening of NEMO by contracting CEDERA to provide consultancy services to help it manage future emergencies more effectively.
The Ministry of Human Development, Women and Youth, reports they are in the process of establishing a domestic violence unit of the Police Department in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security. Cabinet has also agreed that the Labour Department will take a more proactive role by setting up an employment agency to assist with job creation.
And finally Cabinet was informed that the Ministry of Economic Development will present redrafted National Poverty Elimination Strategy and Action Plan and that Cabinet will be briefed about the priority activities arising from the assessment. Discussions will then be held with prospective donor agencies.
