G.O.B. contributes pickups to E.U. project
Meanwhile, at the Belmopan Showgrounds, the Minisitry of Agriculture was handing over the keys to some new Toyota pickups. What makes the presentation unusual is that instead of some foreign government doling out the goodies to an impoverished but grateful government, it was the government making its own counterpart contribution to an ongoing assistance project. The project in question is the Belize Rural Development Programme, an ambitious effort by G.O.B. and the European Union to raise the standard of living in rural areas. For B.R.D.P. director Karl Goeppert it was a reversal of roles.
Karl Goeppert, B.R.D.P. Project Director and Staff
“Honourable Minister Burgos and C.E.O., it is a great pleasure for me to accept these three vehicles on behalf of the project management unit and on behalf of the European Union and it is really a big surprise to me. In thirty years in foreign aid, it is the first ever a government is actually keeping to its commitment and handing over vehicles to a foreign aid project. Usually when we arrive as foreign aid personnel, nothing works. We have to start getting the vehicles, getting the offices; but the Government of Belize is really exemplary in supporting its own development projects. And we received three vehicles already nine months ago and another three vehicles today. And I will send a formal message to the E.U. in Jamaica today, saying that we have received all the government commitments and please accept on behalf of your own field staff our most sincere thanks for your hundred percent commitment to the Belize Rural Development Program.”
In related news, government has announced that five contracts have been signed for the expansion of primary schools in Belize’s Banana Belt. Of the one point eight-eight million dollar expenditure, one point two million will be provided by the E.U. under its Banana Support Project. The twenty-two new classrooms will be built to serve the villages of Bella Vista, Independence, San Juan, Cowpen, Trio, Santa Rosa and San Roman. Construction is scheduled to start in September.
Please provide me the email address of Karl Goeppert. His wife is a long time friend and I lost track of them.