After the Albert and Regent Street paving project was being endlessly
delayed, the Ministry of Works had to step in, take charge and impose a realistic
deadline. Works Minister Boots Martinez told us that the previous timelines
announced by the council were unrealistic. But there’s no shame in CITCO’s
game because of that little come-uppance – particularly because there’s
a mayoral convention coming soon and every councillor with an eye on the future
would be happy to be associated with the successful completion of this high
profile project.
We caught up with Deputy Mayor Anthony Michael today as he toured Regent
Street that is now being prepared to be paved. Earlier this week similar work
was carried out on Albert Street. Speaking to 7NEWS, Councillor Michael told
us that as part of the rehabilitation and beautification project they are also 
trying to establish Albert and Regent Streets as a tourist regulated zone, especially
as paving is on a timeline to finish in mid September.
Jacqueline Godwin,
So come September the paved streets will be completed, the palm trees will be
up, the improved sidewalks will be there?
Anthony Michael, Deputy Mayor
“If Mother Nature blessed us well, if we have a hurricane or a major
tropical storm or something beyond our control Jackie, we will certainly have
delays. But I think if we have delays based on mother nature residents and visitors
of Belize City will understand but we all must pray, cross our hands and toes
and ask God for his blessing to complete this.
The tourist season will start I think mid-October so it would be good for
businesses once this is completed before then when tourists start walking down
Albert Street and Regent Street, stores start making money, stores could employ
more Belizean single mothers and stuff like that – it would be a good
thing for our city.
All councillors are playing their integral part within this project. We
are trying to get legislation from Central government to consider Albert and
Regent Streets as a tourist regulated zone where proper garbage bins will be
placed, tourism police will be out, property security – not only for tourists,
we cannot only think of this as only a tourist destination, we have to think
about locals first. For the safety of our females, for kids coming downtown
shopping and doing their stuff, we need to protect them.
We’ve gotten a donation from Evanston in terms of parking meters
which will be placed strategically throughout the city, not only on Albert and
Regent but some of the main streets within Belize City. We have tested it and
it could accept our local coin, our 25 cents, so that is wonderful news for
us. As soon as the street is completed, we will be installing parking meters
throughout.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Right now motorists, they are allowed to park on both sides of the streets,
will this continue to be allowed?
Anthony Michael,
“We are looking at parking on one side of Albert Street and that will
be on the side of where Ro-Mac’s and those areas where. We won’t
allow parking on both sides. What has happened Jackie is that when you have
parking on both sides, you have kids running out within vehicles, it is dangerous
for motorists, and for the pedestrians. Having parking on one side, you increase
better flow of traffic, it is more safer for kids and shoppers.”
And while the timeline is set for mid–September, much of that
timeline is dependent on what the weather does, because if it rains heavily,
that timeline will be thrown off.
Email
Print