NEMO erects new building in Big Creek
On Monday, a new warehouse was handed over to the National Emergency Management Organization. Located at the Port of Big Creek in Independence Village, the forty-eight hundred square foot structure was a collaborative effort between the United States Southern Command who contributed three hundred thousand U.S. dollars; G.O.B. which provided road access, electricity, and water; and businessman Tony Zabaneh, who donated the five acre piece of land on which it sits. According to NEMO Coordinator, Lt. Col. George Lovell, the warehouse will provide relief supplies to the Stann Creek and Toledo districts in the event of a disaster.
Lt. Col. George Lovell (Ret’d)
“This state of the art facility that you are here in today is the second phase of our development for the southern regional warehouse. Further extensions on this particular project include a fencing around the compound, the construction of a security hut in the compound, and the putting down of hard stand so that we can have an all-weather surface here on this compound.”
Robert Dieter, U.S. Ambassador to Belize
“This project when you reflect on it is a successful effort between government and private donors and private efforts. It’s a successful exercise between the militaries of Belize and the military of the United States; the government of the United States, the government of Belize and the private sector and private families of Belize, so together in efforts where can focus our energies on a common goal it’s obvious that we can do great things together and this warehouse is an example of that.”
The U.S. government’s donation does not end with the handing over as they will also provide NEMO with fencing, shelves, and a computer. The warehouse was built to withstand a category five hurricane and is easily accessible by land, sea, and air. Contractor for the building was John D. Engineering Ltd. NEMO already has a warehouse in Belmopan and hopes to erect another in the northern part of the country.
