The Crooked Tree causeway has been featured on this newscast many times over the years - and that's because it often floods in the rainy season. The causeway is a manmade structure - about three and a half miles long, which spans the Crooked Tree Lagoon - and is the main means of transport for the one thousand or so residents of the village. But when floodwaters roll down from the north, they empty out into that lagoon, cutting off the main means of transport, and raising waters as much as three to five feet above the causeway. It's a chronic headache that's become a painful way of life…but, a long term solution is on the way.
That's contained in the promise of a feasibility study for the final design and upgrading of the Causeway to paved standard. It was signed at the Ministry of Works Office in Belmopan today. We spoke to Works Minister Rene Montero about the plan as well as a few grateful crooked Tree residents.
Hon. Rene Montero, Minister of Works
"Today we witnessed the signing of the consultancy for the design of the Crooked Tree causeway. The signing is between the Government of Belize and the Caribbean Civil Groups Limited for a total of $750,186.76. The consultancy period is or 8 months and immediately after we finish the design we intend to go into the construction phase."
Hon. Edmond Castro, Area Representative
"We have been fighting for this for some time. I think in excess of maybe 10 years and as the Area Representative I know exactly how difficult it is for the residence of Crooked Tree to commute especially in the November/December months normally when we have the flooding."
Rudolph Crawford, Crooked Tree Resident
"I am more than happy to find out that we are going into that, because it is something that I work along with the Minister a lot of times and I try my best. Sometimes we have a lot of rains and it cause a lot of trouble to get the children to school and stuff like that and I have to take responsibility sometime and try to get people to come in and assist us."
Louise Crawford, Crooked Tree Resident
"When I was in high school the road was bad. Not even the Land Rover which was the strongest vehicle could have crossed that road and I remember walking from Sandhill to Crooked Tree and didn't reach the village. I had to stay and yelled for the boat to come and meet us. So I know what the struggle is for the kids. I know when the high water the kids use to go to school, carry their sneakers and their socks in the hands. Their bag would get wet with their school books. So this road will be a major improvement."
The contract is for three hundred and seventy five thousand US dollars. As you heard Montero say this 8 month contract that was signed today only covers the design. The construction will start after the 8 month period. Another contract will be drafted and signed for the construction phase.
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