In September 2010, the World Bank approved 30 million dollars to be disbursed to the 7 municipalities of Corozal, Orange Walk, Santa Elena/San Ignacio, Benque Viejo, Dangriga, Punta Gorda and Towns, and Belmopan City as part of the Municipal Development Project.
Since then, the project has been in its first phase, and these 7 municipalities have benefited from the project in the form of major infrastructure upgrading works. Today, all 7 of the local government leaders were invited to a work shop hosted by the Social Investment Fund today in Belmopan, and 7News stopped in.
This project was an incentive by the World Bank to that these leaders improve their management capacities, and 4 out of 7 mayors describe how their respective towns would benefit from the second phase:
Gilbert Swazo - Mayor, Dangriga Town
"Within that plan is - it includes our strategy in relation to whatever development we want to do with our beach front, with a view then to establish a kind of tourism - cultural tourism among others, so that we have a viable industry within Dangriga. It will also minimize the kind of transit tourism that we're seeing, because don't have infrastructure."
Kevin Bernard - Mayor, Orange Walk Town
"In this plan, for the Orange Walk Town Council, we have focused a lot of major infrastructure project. That is our drains, and our streets that really need some attention. From the first phase of the project that we were able to benefit, the Municipality was able to benefit from a few streets improvements. That is the Aviles Lane, the San Ignacio Street, a portion of Tangerine Street, and a section of Santa Familia Street that is now underway. We will also be seeing, through this same project, the upgrading of our Central Park. That is major undertaking."
Simeon Lopez - Mayor, Belmopan City
"In this particular phase - or this particular aspect of the project, it's benefiting Belmopan because we are projecting what we think Belmopan will be by 2030, in all areas, population, the growth of the city. We are one of the municipalities that has its defined boundaries. So, we have to be limiting our planning within the boundaries of the city."
Anthony Fuentes - Mayor, Punta Gorda Town
"Under phase one of the Belize Municipal Development Project, we renovated the Punta Gorda Administrative, and we also paved Pampana Street. Under phase 2, Lucille Melendres Boulevard will be paved; Arkay Boulevard will be paved, and of course, drainage will be done in Hopeville, which is the Northern part of Punta Gorda Town."
But as with all of these projects, there are always a few who complain that there is a bit of politicking that takes place which challenges the progress that they're proposing. Today, it was Mayor Gilbert Swazo, from the Dangriga Town Council. As you heard, he and his council are trying to improve his town by enhancing the beachfront with infrastructure to increase tourism revenues. He explained to us that he's encountered quite a few problems from Central Government, which he is interpreting as an attempt to block the PUP town:
Gilbert Swazo - Mayor, Dangriga Town
"The Plan contained the way forward. The challenges will be, in my view, with Central Government. And I'll give you an example. Based within that plan is for us to develop an infrastructure north of the Carl Ramos Stadium, right along the beach front to the North Stann Creek River. That property is 10.5 acres - or it was 10.5 acres, and was public property. The council continuously asked the Ministry of Natural Resources - Lands - for titles for that same property. We have been consistently denied. Now, we confirmed just a couple weeks ago that 2 acres has been surveyed, subdivided over to the UDP Constituency, giving - perhaps - credence to Mark King mentioned, UDP first, people second, and PUP last. So, we as a municipal government, for and on behalf of the people, asked for that 10.5 acres to develop the infrastructure for the services, for a viable tourism industry. Prime property, 2 acres is given to UDP for a Headquarters; what in terms of an industry, or in terms of any economic development can that bring to our people? I don't see the sense; I don't see the rational. So, certainly, if we don't get those property, then, we won't be able to proceed with the plans that are contained in the Municipal Development Plan. So, we concurrence of Central Government for that plan to work. So, there is no use having a nice pretty plan, in any way or form, when you're not getting the support from Central Government, which is the entity that can facilitate the titles to property, which the council can use develop for the interest of the people of Dangriga."
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