YWCA pool opens in Belize City
The long awaited official opening of the YWCA swimming pool took place this evening at the Y’s headquarters on St. Thomas Street. News Five’s Jacqueline Woods was on hand for the festivities and spoke to some of those behind the newly refurbished facility.
Barbara Harris, Former President, YWCA
“We have always, at the YWCA, looked at the needs of the community and to see how we could meet those needs. And one of the things we felt was needed was a pool where the children can learn to swim. We are surrounded by water and there are so many children that don’t have the opportunity or just cannot afford to be going out to the cayes to learn to swim. So we have been dreaming about this for years and years.”
Q: “Melvin, as the chief lifeguard what will be your duties out here?”
Melvin Armstrong, Chief Lifeguard
“My duty is to see that the pool is being taken care of; also at the same time see that everyone is well taken care of – by helping them in any case of drowning or in case of accident, I’ll be there.”
Q: “What sort of training did you undergo?”
Melvin Armstrong
“I did training at YMCA doing CRP and First Aid, also back injury or all the other body parts.”
Q: “As chief lifeguard do you have any special advice for people planning on coming out here to use the pool?”
Melvin Armstrong
“My special advice is just take care and to take your time while in water, cause water is nothing to joke with and it’s something serious to do while in the water.”
Q: “Reynaldo first of all, how many swimming instructors are there and what will be your duties?”
Reynaldo St. Bernard, Swimming Instructor
“Approximately twenty of us and basically children from Belize in the city limits and probably abroad coming, and then we teach them basic swimming stuff and getting them adjusted to the water, because some of them are afraid and stuff. First we have to get them adjusted to the water and teach them basic strokes. Basically and we teach them life saving skills and so on as well.”
Q: “How often will you all be out here?”
Reynaldo St. Bernard
“Forty five minutes, three times a week for three weeks.”
Q: “Did the twenty of you receive any kind of special training?”
Reynaldo St. Bernard
“This first week we received much training and as you saw the little show, that took a while.”
Swimming lessons will begin on Monday.
