Schools used as hurricane shelters to be refurbished

Belize may have been spared from the ravages of Mitch, but some of our schools did get more than their share of wear and tear while being used as shelters. To help with repairs, the European Union has approved a grant of fifty thousand EURO or one hundred and sixteen thousand Belize dollars for a post hurricane Mitch School Rehabilitation Program. Schools which will benefit from the program are Holy Ghost Primary School in Dangriga, St. John Vianney Catholic School and Queen’s Square in Belize City, and Crooked Tree and Burrell Boom Government Schools. Over the next few months, five other schools throughout Belize will also receive some minor repairs. Work on all schools will be performed by local contractors supervised by the Ministry of Works. The funds will be managed by the Office of the European Commission in Belize in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The grant is part of a European Union’s aid package to Central American countries affected by Mitch. In related news, the Janus Foundation of the Cayo District will be donating eighteen thousand dollars worth of school furniture to the government. In a statement issued today Janus President Gabrielle Wollensak says the gift is part of the foundation’s ongoing Hurricane Mitch relief program. The blackboards, desks and chairs will be distributed to schools used as shelters. The presentation takes place on January twenty fifth in Belmopan.