Last night, 7News told you about the latest complaint against the Belize City Council in relation to the mistakes being made under their administration of the cemetery.
As we showed you last night, according to the Sebastian Family, City Hall employees confused 2 grave spaces and used the wrong one to bury their loved-one.
Well, 7News gave City Hall an opportunity to respond to the accusations from the family, but they were unable to do so due to time constraints.
So today, the newly re-appointed Public Relations Manager, Kenneth Morgan, spoke to the media for the first time in his new capacity, they grilled him in an extensive conversation about their mistakes since completely taking over the cemetery.
First, he told us that the council and the Sebastian family have reached an amicable resolution:
Kenneth Morgan, PR Manager - Belize City Council
"As any new process you will encounter a few difficulties until we have gotten totally iron out and one matter that was in the news was the matter of the Sebastian family that has been resolved to the satisfaction of the family members. As a matter of fact this morning we met with them in our offices and came to an amicable solution with which the family was satisfied. We need to point out for the public that over the number of years we have had a number of various care takers. The place where the most problem happen is in the relay of information from the burial ground to the City Council records office. Now we are putting in place a system where we are now looking into mapping out the entire burial ground changing the numbering system that is currently in place and coming up with a new one that will facilitate all persons wishing to use the burial ground to make matters easier for everyone involved."
And the people who've been most affected by the takeover are the undertakers, who've cried foul. You've seen the well-established David Coye, owner of Coye Funeral Home, who has publicly accused City Hall of trying to derail his business.
Today, Morgan challenged Coye and other undertakers to admit that they often benefit from a relationship in the funeral business by receiving contracts from members of the public and then sub-contracting out to employees of the Council. The undertakers often pay them a minimal stipend, while they keep the main profits.
Here's how he explained that City Hall is not attempting to cut into their business:
Kenneth Morgan, PR Manager - Belize City Council
"May I point out to you that majority of the undertakers do not do the actual construction of the graves and tombs - that is in fact done by City Council employees who are working in the burial ground. The undertakers get the contract from the various families and then they come and pass it on to City Council employees who are employed to work at the burial ground for a very small stipend and they continue with the work. If that work proves to be shoddy, for whatever reason; for skimping on materials, for not adhering to the proper construction practices - it is your very same City Council that has to then come in after the fact and do the necessary repairs. I am sure you have heard it mentioned the tops of graves are cracking; they are falling in. Persons living in the vicinity of the burial ground are complaining of stenches and aromas coming into their very houses as a result of these faulty constructions; so, no it is not a case of the City Council trying to take away anyone's livelihood."
And lately, a document has been circulating around in the media, which claims to be the new rates that the Belize City Council is charging.
This document claims that the council has hiked up prices for grave spaces to an unreasonable fee, when compared to one particular undertaker's fees before the takeover.
Morgan also categorically stated that these numbers are wrong, and that it is irresponsible for these numbers to be taken as accurate:
Kenneth Morgan, PR Manager - Belize City Council
"I must state at this time that the numbers that were quoted on the media in past newscast are wrong. I would urge that you come down to the City Council where we will be able to give you the exact figures that we are charging. The justification for the cost will also be given and you would be able to then compare for yourself."
We hope to catch up with City Hall tomorrow to see their numbers, and have them explained their reasons for the new prices.
Email
Print