Coast Guard Ferrying Residents to and from Crooked Tree Village

Several areas along the Crooked Tree causeway are still under a foot or more of water and at this time, residents are being ferried to and from the village with support from the Belize Coast Guard. While the water level is not at the point where vessels have had to be brought in, we understand that residents, as well as the owners of commuter buses, have opted not to risk taking their vehicles or buses through the waters. News Five spoke with Belize Rural District Coordinator for NEMO Lionel Smith about the situation on the ground.

Lionel Smith

Lionel Smith, Belize Rural District Coordinator, NEMO

“Bus operators decide that because of the length and breadth of the water; it is almost like a quarter mile of water on the causeway and they don’t want to be running their buses up and down in the water. So they decided to park on the safer side, outside of the water and the people are being ferried across right now to the other side of the causeway bridge on the Crooked Tree side. The last time we spoke, we said if the need arise, so obviously the need has arisen for the coast guard to be called out to render the assistance to ferry the people back and forth. So right now we have them out there assisting in the morning, in the noon time and the evening time when the commuters return to go to their homes. So that is the situation out there right now. The waters so far, we haven’t seen any more increase in the water level so it appears to be at a standstill for now. The concern is how long the water will remain on the causeway.”