Red Cross hands over houses to hurricane victims

Christmas came early for hurricane victims in the Corozal and Orange Walk districts today as the Belize Red Cross handed over keys to twenty new houses. The recipients, who all lost their homes during Hurricane Dean, are residents of the villages of Cristo Rey, Chan Chen, San Pedro and Patchakan in Corozal and in Trial Farm in Orange Walk. The sixteen by sixteen foot structures were built in cooperation with the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives at a cost of one hundred and eighty-nine thousand dollars. Participating in the handing over ceremonies this morning were the Honorary Canadian Consul Pat Andrews, Red Cross President Karen Diaz, and Red Cross Patron Governor General Colville Young. The Red Cross says they hope to obtain additional funds to build at least five more houses.