Chairman of Armenia Village says his village was damaged by Hurricane

orestes Sho

It has been three weeks since Hurricane Richard pummeled the central portion of Belize, downing trees and poles, toppling houses and ripping up crops.  And in the weeks that have followed, victims have been critical of what they term as the slow response from the government and the National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, in distributing aid to needy communities.  Armenia Village, situated eight miles south of Belmopan on the Hummingbird Highway is no exception.  While only a few houses were damaged by the hurricane, the villagers see no Christmas in sight because all of the crops they rely on for a living were wiped out and they are still waiting for seeds to replant.  But their desperation will be further aggravated because it will even longer for the crops to mature.  Chairman of Armenia Village, Orestes Sho, told News Five that their situation is a worrying one for the families.

Orestes Sho, Chairman, Armenia Village

“Agriculture-wise, yes indeed we are not getting any help. When it will be coming, is it going to be coming, we don’t know but agricultural-wise, we don’t have any kind of help at this moment.”

Marion Ali

“So when the folks from NEMO came, what did they do?”

Orestes Sho

“They came to collect names and they said that they will be getting in contact with me, but at this point in time, we don’t have any answers or question when they are going to come or what. But help, we don’t have that right now. Only construction-wise we are getting help.”

Marion Ali

“What has been the damage caused by Richard?”

Orestes Sho

“Well right here in Armenia, the damage is not that bad. We have like eight houses that have been destroyed but apart from that there are little damages but there are more than what is being destroyed is getting a little help right now.”

Marion Ali

“Infrastructurally no major damages, but agriculturally?”

Orestes Sho

“Agriculture-wise, we have major damages—corn rice plantain cassavas that’s what the people of Armenia that do agriculture live on and that is what they need help on right now.”

Marion Ali

“What percentage would you say has been destroyed?”

Orestes Sho

“Percentage, totally. Everything is on the ground right now.”

Marion Ali

“How are the residents, the villagers getting by?”

Orestes Sho

“The villagers right now—the corn that has spoiled that is the one that they are trying to collect a little out of it to eat most of all.”

Marion Ali

“So there is no means of livelihood?”

Orestes Sho

“Well right now I have complaints already. What are they gonna do without money? What they are going to do without seeds? What are they going to do without help? Where to go now? We don’t know.”

Marion Ali

“And these things take a while to grow back.”

Orestes Sho

“Corn-wise, it takes three months for you to eat a green corn, beans it takes the same time. I don’t know what we will be doing for these three months now cause we haven’t even started planted as yet. So it’s going to be a little hard for the farmers here in Armenia. We would appreciate and definitely if the government or whosoever, the agricultural department can help as quick as possible because the quicker they come, the better for the farmers.”

Sho says personnel from the relevant government departments have promised to return with the seedlings and plants, but so far, that promise has not been fulfilled.