Ground Broken for New Dorothy Menzies Childcare Center

The Dorothy Menzies Childcare Center will have a new facility in Belmopan, in the near future. Today, ground was broken for the center. Upon completion, the operations of the center in Belize City will be moved to Belmopan. It is a huge move for childcare services in Belize, because the facility will be much more spacious with advanced amenities. The construction of the new space is a collaboration between the Government of Belize and the Social Investment Fund. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Ground was officially broken today for the construction of the Dorothy Menzies Childcare Center in the City of Belmopan.

Oscar Mira

Oscar Mira, Area Representative, Belmopan 

“It is indeed a pleasure and I am honored and humbled for Belmopan to have been chosen as the new location for the Dorothy Menzies Childcare Center, a center that caters for our children and our government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our children. It is indeed for us a happy moment to be witnessing the ground breaking for such a faculty. We have been hearing it is coming and here it is, it is here.”

According to Minister Mira, the land on which the center will sit on was donated by the city’s Reconstruction Development Office. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, the Minister of Human Development became emotional when she reflected on the investments that Dorothy Menzies made in caring for children throughout her life.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of Human Development

“I remember way back, twenty plus years ago when we named the child care center in Belize City for Dorothy Menzies, the media at the time asked, what is in a name, or who is in a name and the answer was Dorothy Menzies. I cannot say enough about her and I am emotional. It is an honor for us to be here today to inaugurate and do the ground breaking for a center that has the name of such an important lady in our country. We cannot forget the input of our private citizens in assisting the most vulnerable children. The children who are wards of state and Shawn and our CEOs can tell you, the cases now days are coming hot and heavy.”

Minister Balderamos-Garcia says those children housed at the Dorothy Menzies Childcare Center in Belize City will be relocated to Belmopan when the structure is completed.  Narda Garcia, the Chief Executive Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister stated that the new facility will be able to house some sixty children, with access to playgrounds and space to grow and develop.

Narda Garcia

Narda Garcia, C.E.O., Office of the Prime Minister

“We are laying the foundation for a nurturing and empowering environment where the youngest members of our society can grow, learn and flourish. The Dorothy Menzies Childcare Center stands a a beacon of hope, a testament to our collective dedication to the welfare of our children and the future of Belize. The master plan for this site and design will include and administration building equipped with laundry facilities, kitchen, storage area, pantry, dining hall, various office spaces, conference room, computer resource room and very important, access for persons with disabilities. There will be a female and male dorm with bathrooms, bedroom, activity, kitchenettes, and storage areas and staff space.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.