Ministry of Rural Development Addresses Drought in Northern Belize
Oscar Requeña
The dry season has been unforgiving this year, particularly for residents in the north where wells in various rural communities have all but dried up. Despite government’s efforts to assist with the water crisis, there are a number of challenges facing the Ministry of Rural Development. According to Minister Oscar Requeña, government is taking initiative in addressing the water shortage.
Oscar Requeña, Minister of Rural Development
“This has been a very hard dry weather and we’ve had several systems across the country that have been experiencing, you know, a very low water production, the wells. But we have been very proactive as an administration. In fact, if you see the work that we are doing out there, we are responding to communities across this country, from Toledo, to the north, to the west. We have been going in, we have been airlifting wells where we need to do that, flushing them out. Where wells are running low, sometimes we have to go in and we have to, you know, extend the pipe deeper into the well. Where there is no water, we have actually taken in water via the water bowser that we have. We are across this country serving our people.”
Reporter
“Has there been any discussion with the Minister of Public Utilities and Logistics to see how some of these villages that don’t have the necessary infrastructure, for BWS to go in there and get them that necessary infrastructure?”
Oscar Requeña
“Well, I can tell you, as a government we continue to meet and discuss and certainly for some of the communities where it’s more problematic to find a good water source, yes, there have been discussions to look at, you know, the possibility of BWS going in to be able to deal with this situation, but it is an ongoing discussion and process.”
Reporter
“Is there a drought in the north, sir?”
Oscar Requeña
“I believe there is a drought everywhere, it’s been extremely dry and the truth of the matter is that, you know, as a country, as Belizeans, we have to be more conscious of how we use water, how we conserve water.”
