During a two-day visit to Toledo last Thursday and Friday (April 12-13, 2018), Minister of National Emergency Management Honorable Edmond Castro met with officials from Humana People to People Belize (HPPB) which is executing a number of projects throughout that district in partnership with the Government of Belize and various local organizations and groups.
The projects currently underway are being executed in 11 villages throughout the Toledo District and fall under the categories of: Improved physical Infrastructure and Early Warning Systems for Reduced Risk to Natural Hazards; Improved Agricultural Farming Systems Resilient to Climate Change; Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Public Education and Awareness and Emergency Response; and Project Management and Administration (with gender equity).
The Minister’s tour started off with a quick briefing in Punta Gorda, followed by a visit to Humana’s Clothing Store (in Punta Gorda) which provides affordable second-hand clothing for low-income families. The delegation then headed to the village of Santa Teresa where they inspected a tower and solar-powered facilities to provided communication for five villages, thereby improving emergency and disaster response in the area.
They stopped to look at a Climate Change Resilient Farming Project in the village of Jordan, where members of the Jordan Mother’s Club are engaged in Vegetable Production for Better Nutrition. They then visited Blue Creek Village where they inspected the Hurricane Shelter (Community Center) that is to be rehabilitated by Humana Belize in conjunction with NEMO. While in Blue Creek, the Minister also took the opportunity to check on the progress of drilling being executed through the Ministry of Rural Development to provide potable and reliable water for the people of that area.
Honorable Castro then visited a government project underway to upgrade the Bypass Road from Santa Cruz on the Belize/Pan American Highway (commonly known as the New Jalacte Road) to San Jose, which will significantly reduce travelling time to and from that village. The project will also have a significant impact with respect to Flood Mitigation and Disaster/Emergency Response.
Honorable Edmond Castro was accompanied on his tour by Toledo Senator Honorable Macario Coy and NEMO Southern Regional Coordinator Keith Emmanuel, as well as NEMO District Coordinator Kenton Parham and Assistant Coordinator Dennis Williams.
-End of Release-
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