Machakilha Overcomes Infrastructure Challenges One Step at a Time  

Through a collaborative effort between the Government of Belize and UNICEF, a rudimentary water system has been introduced to the distant community of Machakilha in southern Belize. This remote village, located in the Toledo East constituency, has long endured without basic necessities like electricity and potable water. Since taking office in late 2020, the Briceño administration has been diligently working to address these fundamental needs. Recently, a significant milestone was reached with the inauguration ceremony introducing potable water to Machakilha. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the story.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Nestled in the remote southern reaches of Belize, the village of Machakilha is home to around two hundred and fifty residents.  During the rainy season, the trails transform into a quagmire of thick, deep mud, making the hike treacherously slippery and challenging.  Once the rains subside, there’s only a narrow window of opportunity before the scorching heat sets in, rendering the long trek nearly impossible.

 

Valentino Shal, CEO, Ministry of Rural Transformation

“The first time we came here was about three years ago, and we walked from Dolores to Machakilha. We walked about almost two hours in the bush and in the mud to reach to this village.  That was the first time I came to this village and I told the minister, we have taken over the government and the government must serve the people and the government must start serving with those who have been left behind.”

 

For years, Machakilha has persevered without basic infrastructure and utilities, standing resilient in its isolation. The nearest neighboring village is several hours away on foot, making this place a true testament to the endurance and spirit of its inhabitants.

 

Valentino Shal

“So we walked all the way here.  And I remember, we had a meeting with the villagers and the first thing they said was, “we need a road.”  And we said, we will build a road.  So the following year, in the dry season, we built a road but it wasn’t complete.  It was just opened up.”

 

This off-the-grid community in the Toledo District thrives on solar power, harnessing the sun’s energy to meet its needs.  The resilience and resourcefulness of its people shine brightly in this unique and vibrant corner of the country.

 

Valentino Shal

“We were able to bring in Minister Ramiro’s truck with a load of solar panels and batteries because we started to work with UNDP to put solar on the homes of the people.  After that, we completed the road and then they said, “We need help with our water.”

 

Despite being established many decades ago, Machakilha continued to face the challenge of living without access to potable water.  Without clean water, residents are at a higher risk of waterborne diseases.  These illnesses can be particularly severe in children and the elderly.

 

Dr. Angella Baitwabusa, Health Program Officer, UNICEF

“Water is our mandate, as other things are, but anywhere, anything that affects a child, it’s our mandate and we cannot help a child without looking at the ecosystem the child is staying in.”

 

Growing up in Toledo District, Area Representative Oscar Requena can relate to substandard living conditions due to poor water access and how it affected the overall quality of life.  This includes inadequate sanitation facilities, which can further exacerbate health issues.

 

Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation

“I used to get water from a creek.  We never had no potable water.  That’s how I grew up, I used to carry a gallon, full the water and run home and run maybe ten times to make sure that I could full my mother’s bucket so that we could have drinking water.  And that is why as I grew up and I worked in the villages, including Machakilha, when I was at the Ministry of Education, we used to walk for hours under the bush and I saw the difficulty, I saw the challenge that our people are living on a daily basis.”

Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including investment in infrastructure, education on water sanitation, and sustainable water management practices.  In many communities, women and girls are often responsible for collecting water, which can be a time-consuming and physically demanding task.  This can limit their opportunities for education and employment.

 

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East

“For too long, and for too many years, Machakilha has been deprived of having a proper water system and while it affects the health aspect of humanity, it also, you know, puts some constraints on people.  You know, one of the points that made my heart cry and motivated me during my campaign was when I looked at women or kids walking with a bucket of water on their head and I don’t know for how long they have been walking.  Maybe several miles, maybe a mile, maybe a few minutes, maybe an hour, we don’t know.  But one thing I can tell you is that that is not what this government wants for Machakilha.”

 

What the government has done is joined forces with other agencies, including UNICEF, to install a rudimentary water system in the village.  It is a basic infrastructure designed to provide water to this underdeveloped area.  It will be managed by a local water board to ensure maintenance and operation.

 

Oscar Requena

“We are committed to continue serving your community.  So we’re finished with water, we have to start looking at other areas of development.  For us at the Ministry of Rural Transformation, one of the big things that we are working on, one of the big goals, that we want to achieve is poverty reduction.”

 

Isani Cayetano for News Five.