The Belize City Carnival Road March is always a highlite of the September Celebrations - but this year the Carnival might be in for a major change. That's because health and safety advocates say that using the current route, which passes in front of the KHMH blocks road access to the country's largest hospital and emergency room. More than that, it creates all kinds of safety hazards with drinking and crowds and loud music in front of a hospital.
The consultations to find an alternate route are ongoing - and the city council is just one of the stakeholders. And while the decision ultimately rests with the Carnival Commission, today councillor Phillip Willoughby - who has been meeting with them - discussed the proposed alternate route:...
Phillip Willoughby - City Councillor
"We looked at a proposal of which will be discussed, from Memorial Park to Marion Jones. all indications are based on the walk through we did, the trucks and the revelers and the participants can be accommodated nicely and fitting to take that route if that proposal is accepted, so we did our due diligence, we checked it out, we did the analysis."
Jules Vasquez
"You support that route?"
Phillip Willoughby - City Councillor
"We looked at it. Hear me out, after the meeting with the band leaders, they made their recommendations and proposal likewise..."
Jules Vasquez
"Did they supported that route?"
Phillip Willoughby - City Councillor
"No they didn't, but I will have them present that. I'm saying that they made their recommendation and you are saying, Jules Vasquez just said that we are blocking the national referral hospital and the 2 major highways, can we not based on our discussion day before yesterday, look at emergency routes on both side of the carnival to facilitate the first responders? Can we not block or cordoned what would have been the populated area from last year's carnival and say no one occupied this space and put the presence of the authorities there to facilitate entrance and exit of the first and emergency responders to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. I'm saying that based on the recommendation from the Carnival Committee, if I feel as though that is doable and my colleagues say that Phillip we agree with the recommendation from the band leaders then that is the route I will take, that is the position I will take and support."
Carnival groups are meeting tonight to discuss it further - and no decision has been made at this time.
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