Mayor says ‘park to parking lot’ issue is pushed by mischief makers

The proposal dubbed ‘park to parking lot’ has been vehemently condemned both by residents and central government, so now the folks at City Hall are saying that the plan has been shelved. The idea was to use the front of the B.T.L. Park to provide parking for the new casino being built across the street on Marine parade. Councillor Dean Samuels said that the size of the park would not be jeopardized because they would reclaim a portion of the sea to replace whatever was used. We asked Mayor Moya Flowers today what her position was in that matter.

Zenaida Moya Flowers, Belize City Mayor

“In terms of the park it’s a simple position; it’s a manifesto pledge and it’s something that we had agreed upon in terms of having a beach at the B.T.L. park. This was something that was done even before the second term. It was in our manifesto and we need to ensure that we get it done; we pledged it to the people to get it done. The Venezuelan government had committed at the time at least verbally. This was two years ago, I think April 2008 if I’m not mistaken. Since then they have not been able to fulfill in that area and certain other individuals who said they were gonna assist again it fell through because of particular reasons and so in the best interest councillor Samuels was tasked to go out and try and see how he could get assistance to get this particular project done. He did speak to particular individuals at least verbally and there were at least a verbal discussion on what could be done but there was no presentation, no proposal per say in terms of written that was submitted and that was where it stands.”

Delahnie Bain

“I think that one of the things that is causing a stir is that people feel that they will be losing the park or losing a part of the park.”

Zenaida Moya Flowers

“In terms of that people have nothing to worry about. Yes, I understand what has happened in the past; the previous administration in terms of the City Council, the previous PUP City Council, they did sell Pound Yard and they did sell the old market and whatever else and central government did do such things as well.  This City Council would never have done such a thing so people need not have mischief makers push these along because these are mischief makers and they do it so that you, the media can rush and ask questions.”