Expo has enhanced security but flooding disrupts show
The Chamber and law enforcement worked together to put in place measures to give a sense of security following the recent wave of street violence. But despite all the good planning and organizational work, Mother Nature had its own way.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The 2008 Expo at the St. John’s College Auditorium had additional security this year. At the school’s entrance, visitors got a chance to personally meet the Anti Drug Unit’s prized pet dog. His task master took him to check vehicles tires and wheels and the occasional pedestrian.
Further inside there was more B.D.F. and police presence. They had metal detectors to check for weapons and one man had his pocket knife taken away. While it appeared that security could not be breached by troublemakers, the same could not be said for nature. A high tide came both Saturday and Sunday morning and workers from several businesses had to wade through water to get the day started. The Atlantic Bank’s staff prepared boxes to reach its mobile unit.
Shamira Williams, Marketing Officer, Atlantic Bank
“As you can see we had put out some pallets there and our staff had to basically go through the back, walk through water and a lot of their pants are wet. But we’re here to serve our customers and people who deserve the bank.”
The mobile bank was getting there, however Lea’s Furniture and Dave’s Furniture World were not as lucky as their wooden products took a swamp bath. We arrived in time to see Dave’s Furniture World packing up and getting ready to leave at ten in the morning, before the crowd had even arrived.
Abigail Plummer, Supervisor, Dave’s Furniture World
“When I came this morning it wasn’t the furniture that got messed up from the rain, it was the high tide. Now, if you know that you’re having this every year you should see that everything is okay for out here, not focus on the front and leave the back in swamp. We are in swamp. I don’t think that is fair, we are not getting these boots for free; we are paying for them and our furniture cost a lot.”
Alicia Cambranes, Manager, Lea’s Furniture Company Limited
“I was promised that they were going to give me some cement blocks to put my stuff on and they did bring the stones that they brought, we used it to fill a bit in here but I’m still waiting for the cement blocks. The real serious damage was today because when we got here at seven-fifteen the water had just started coming up and it came up double the amount height of what it was yesterday and if my stuff was on the cement blocks like I was promised from yesterday then it wouldn’t have gotten as damaged.”Abigail Plummer
“We spoke to Mr. Ortiz this morning and he wasn’t being nice, he was being rude. I don’t know why. He thinks we’re animals; we’re not human like everyone else? Or is it because we’re just a furniture and what happen our furniture can take the water and not Belize Bank or Atlantic Bank? I don’t think so.”
Alicia Cambranes
“Like what the lady from Dave’s Furniture World Said, they’re only interested in what’s happening that way. What happen we noh pay fi deh yah? We paid a lot of money to be here, we pay every year. “Johnny-come-latelies” I understand but for those who have been here for ten years, give us some attention that’s all I’m saying.”
The man whose attention these women sought was Omar Ortiz, Manager of the Chamber’s Business Development.
Omar Ortiz, Manager, Business Development
“Well I think I could have done more if they think I am God but unfortunately I am not. The good lord came and brought us a little bit of water, thank goodness we didn’t have to deal with an Ike. S.J.C. has their grounds. The Chamber of Commerce maintains these grounds and every year we spend at least ten thousand dollars just on additional clay for the entire ground and I myself was personally out there for two weeks looking at the ground and we never had any water like what we had this weekend. I think you’re seen it all over the city; Princess Margaret Drive, the Northern Highway, etcetera. But fortunately, we only have two businesses that have been affected, unfortunate that those businesses were affected.”
Jose Sanchez
“When it comes to the damage to their stuff, are gonna reimburse them? They’re hoping for some kind of payment.”
Omar Ortiz
“Well, I think I like it like how the insurance companies have it: we’re not responsible for acts of God and we’ll do the best we can. Rest assured we will work with Dave’s Furniture World and Lea’s to see what we can do.”
Jose Sanchez
“Did you make any money out here?”
Alicia Cambranes
“No, no and you know how Belizeans are and I can’t blame them; nobody’s is going to want to buy something that they four, six inches under water. I wouldn’t either you know what I mean? Unfortunately that’s the case. The only good thing is that my furniture is out of lumber and it’s out of good lumber and our finishes are very good, therefore I can repair.”
Abigail Plummer
“He needs to put his feet in our situation and then he will realise how we feel. I don’t really think if we want to do this again next year because if we are going to get this spot again next year it is probably going to be worse. It is problem alone for the people to get to the latrine to the back there. What is the latrine a waste? So we are a waste along with the latrine?”
Jose Sanchez
“What is it gonna take for you to come back next year?”
Abigail Plummer
“I really and truly don’t know. If we have to come back next we have to come and see this entire place is high.”
By midday the Chamber of Commerce had men placing pallets to reach the latrines. The water had begun to recede rapidly. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
