Yesterday we told you about the dredge that had appeared in the mouth of the Belize Harbour. This is after a dense buildup of siltation that has all but choked up the harbor mouth. Now, we know that the mayor says it will cost 2 million dollars to dredge out the harbor - so has someone decided to foot that bill? Well, no. But something is afoot - and when we asked the mayor about ti today - we almost got a straight answer.
Jules Vasquez
"But there's a dredge in the water right now and that is operational so that means the problem is on the mend."
Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor
"Of course, I think we are right at the precipice in terms of getting some activity done. Whether not it is something that could complete the entire project that remains to be seen but I think that this is something where we really need the leadership of the Central Government who has far deeper pockets than the municipality. If we don't have a flowing river, then we're going to have a much worse drainage situation because the river isn't functioning in the way that it should function. But I anticipate that if we were to get the full resources it won't be a project that would take very long."
Jules Vasquez
"And that dredge that the FSTV owns and is operating it."
Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor
"Yes, but again the issue is just the mobilization and being able to pay for the project."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, but is it dredging?"
Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor
"It is functioning but in term of starting the project we have to pay for it."
Jules Vasquez
"So we shouldn't expect any relief from that dredge until somebody comes up."
Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor
"Well I think that the committee is meeting quite intently to see how we can do it. If it's something that even if the City Council has to bite the bullet and say 'well, we will pay on terms' or things like that. We are prepared to do that because we recognize the importance of the project. I think that we are at a precipice of it, I can't say exactly when it's going to start but from the City Council's stand-point, we really want to aggressively do it."
Jules Vasquez
"But there's a reason there's a dredge in the water Mayor. What is it doing?"
Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor
"It's almost going to commence work."
The mayor committed to get us a detailed position by next week on when real dredging will start.
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