Belize City Launches Hands-On Hurricane Cleanup Ahead of Storm Season

With the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season set to begin in less than two weeks, the Belize City Council is shifting from planning to action.

Mayor Bernard Wagner and his team joined sanitation workers on the ground today to clean drains in flood-prone neighborhoods across the city.

Instead of the usual City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO) Symposium, the council chose to “get their hands dirty” and tackle the issue head-on.

“It’s about identifying some of the six key flood-prone areas in the city and giving an added extra hand towards the work that has already been going on for a number of months,” said Mayor Wagner. “Our sanitation, maintenance and works team have always been on the ground working to ensure that we begin, we prepare for the rainy season.”

Mayor Wagner added, “What we normally have prior to the rainy season is a symposium.”

“And so I told my CEMO liaison officer, let’s do something out of the box this year. Instead of going in a conference room and sitting and having a symposium, let’s go on the ground, get your hands dirty, right? And really put in the work for the people.”

The initiative brought together councilors, sanitation workers, public health officials, and even youth shadow councilors in a display of community spirit.