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In January, we told you how the Old Northern Highway was getting paved after years of neglect. Area Representative Edmond Castro was able to convince the Cabinet that it is very much needed at this time, and for the past 5 months, the first 5 miles of the road was being worked on. That was finally completed, and now funding for 7 more miles of road has been approved. Today - just in time for his end of May convention Belize Rural Castro held a ceremony to note its importance. Here's what he told us about his plans to get the entire Old Northern Highway paved eventually:

Hon. Edmund Castro - Belize Rural North Area Rep

"We were able to secure out of the petrocaribe funds - I think was last year the paving of the old northern highway, which the prime minister was gracious enough to give us access. So we have paved the first 5 miles which we are here to inaugurate the first phase, which is the first 5 miles. Then we were also able to secure the paving of another 7 miles, which will take us close to King's College - which will cover a little bit over half the paving to maskall. I think what I would like to do is once we complete that other phase, I will lobby my colleague again, I will lobby with the prime minister and see if we could get the other pavement section; which would take us to Maruba resort. This will greatly assist the residence of the 9 villages on the old northern highway. It will also help us greatly for the farmers who normally would have to leave 3 in the morning to get to market. Give themselves an additional hour. So now the farmers will have an extra half hour or so to stay at home and get rest. Simple because the condition of the road was very, very bad. So now it's a lot easier. I can recall seeing on busy day with tourists, the tour people would park a bus here at the junction because almost definitely, at least or so of their buses might have received punctures because the road was so bad going to Altun Ha. Now the tour guide people and the different people that run tours, tour operators going to Altun Ha will save big time as well. Because now they need not to have a bus parked because of the road condition."

Daniel Ortiz

"How long has it been in this condition that this road was in disrepair?""

Hon. Edmund Castro

"I would say about 40 or 45 years - because as far back as I could remember, the road was narrow and deplorable condition."

The entire 12 miles of the highway will provide transportation relief for 9 villages who have had to travel the very bad road.