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And while we had the opportunity, we asked Mayor Anthony Fuentes from the Punta Gorda Town Council about the situation which became so dire that the Ministry of Local Government had to intervene 2 months ago.

Fuentes told us today that the problem is caused by a lack of employment in PG, which then transfers over to non-payment of taxes, which then causes a loss in the council's revenue stream:

Anthony Fuentes - Mayor, PG Town
"The Punta Gorda Town Council, like any other council, has its challenge, especially with finances. So, in other to alleviate problems like these, jobs need to be created. If you don't have a job, you can't pay your property tax, and if you can't pay your property tax, then the council will not be able to provide certain services. So, it's only fair that jobs are being created for the People of Punta Gorda Town, so that they can pay their property taxes. What we have been doing is to work closely with the Ministry of Local Government, so see how we can improve in providing a better service for the people of Punta Gorda Town. It's very challenging at times, and so, from time we'll have the Director, and of course, individuals from SIF going down to assist us greatly. Over the year, we've had with problems or difficulties with a finance officer. That, of course, is one of the criteria in order to access funding under the Belize Municipal Development Project. That is one of the criteria set out by World Bank, and so, we've had difficulty getting a finance officer. When I got elected as mayor, we had a finance officer. She had a tonsil problem, and so, she resigned. We got another one; she was qualified. She got a better paying job, and she left, and so, we got someone else, and this person has resigned as well. So, we're working closely to advertise the position, so that we could get a finance officer for Punta Gorda Town. That has been one of the major challenges, but apart from that, we've tried our best to deliver a lot of the services to the people of Punta Gorda Town.

Fuentes says that they've made progress since April.  Today we asked the local government minister about it:

Hon. Godwin Hulse - Minister of Local Government
"Well, we have been auditing that Town Council, and there are financial difficulties, and we have written to them saying we will be very shortly be instituting - as we are entitled to under the law - the financial controller. So, we're at that point."