We also heard from two teachers whose names have been removed from the government’s payroll system. Kimberly Lopez explained that she has not been paid by the government for the last five months. Janelle Cacho says she left the classroom in January after her license expired because she did not meet her one hundred and twenty CPD hours. And even though she returned to the classroom in June, she did not receive her salary until August. Now, she is still waiting for her September pay, while her home is facing foreclosure, as a single mom.
Kimberly Lopez, Primary School Teacher
“First of all, I want to say I haven’t been paid for five months. So, I haven’t been paid since May. Way before all of this happened, before my license got expired, I was sending in emails to verify how many CPD hours I had. I was waiting, waiting, when I finally got they told me that I only had thirty-two hours. Now you tell me, I’ve been teaching for years. Always doing workshops. How will I only have, have thirty-two hours? So I went into the system, find all my documents, like how my colleagues said. I went and I dig out on some boxes. I found my certificates. I send it in. And that’s how I ended up getting my hours. I had to be behind them until I finally got my license all the way in July. So until just July I got my license. So, since I got my license, I thought I’m going to get my salary back. When I waited, went back into the classroom, I still haven’t received any salary. So all these months I’m still waiting, no salary.”
Janelle Cacho
Janelle Cacho, Primary School Teacher
“I did not get my salary until August, ending of August. Now bear in mind school reopens in September. And I was there, you know, trying to figure out how am I going to get my class ready. But I still managed to do something, you know, during that time there. But I received my salary until, until August. And of course, you know, it’s back pay, retro. So it was fully taxed, you know. So it’s like I was receiving just a pittance of what I should have had. So, for those months I have been out of a salary and it has caused just major distress and trauma and inconveniences on my part. You know, you have to function as a teacher but then, you know, as a person, how are you supposed to be functioning as a person to do your job if all of these things are hindering you. So it has been a really, really major setback and inconvenience for me over the past few months, you know, and I’m glad I’m still here, you know, but I think the ministry has to do better. There’s something happening there. I did not receive my salary for this month. I received in August. So I was surprised that I did not receive September.”
President of the Belize National Teachers Union, Nadia Caliz, has placed the government on notice. She says, the union will not take this lying down. She described it as an attack on the union.
Nadia Caliz, National President, BNTU
“If Janelle doesn’t get paid, Janelle lose her home. And that is not something that is sitting well with us at all. She has a very nice loan officer right now who did not put her home out there. But it’s about to hit foreclosure. And then I’m thinking of the teacher that collapsed this morning. They see a system, oh, next month, for them it’s simple, because they have a salary. They don’t understand what it’s like not to have money.”
Reporter
“You are manually taking them off? Why?”
Nadia Caliz
“We don’t get it either. That’s the reason why I said it’s an attack on our teachers and an attack on the BNTU It is, right? So that’s the reason I’m saying that. So that’s how we view this situation. And we’re not going to sit here and take it lying down. Yes, as I said, we have been able to agree to a number of things, solve a number of issues. And we recognize all of that and we thank them, and we still have to sit down and discuss some more on some of these things, but no teacher in this country should work, not be paid at the end of the month. They should not be acting like beggars, begging for payment, begging for advance, trying to figure it out. And then on top of that, some of them are being insulted that cannot continue.”
In a bold and unapologetic stance, former Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio has defended her decision to allocate lands to impoverished citizens at significantly reduced prices during her time in office. In a detailed written statement to the media, Palacio passionately explained her motivations behind what has now been dubbed the “land giveaway” in the Capital City. She accused the current council of attempting to tarnish her legacy, which she proudly claims, “empowered the disenfranchised”. Adding a personal touch to the story, we also heard from one of the land recipients who has now agreed to pay the full market value for the property. He expressed his belief that the entire process was conducted with utmost transparency. News Five’s Paul Lopez brings us more to this developing story.
Sharon Palacio
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Former Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio has broken her silence on a land grab scandal that occurred in the Capital City under her leadership. The council issued dozens of lands in Innovabel Estate at rates that saw as much as ninety-five percent discounts. A leaked document from within the council reveals that many of Palacio’s relatives and former council colleagues received land at these discounted prices. In a statement to the media today, Mayor Palacio said, quote, “I was glad that I was able to help ordinary Belizeans who would never have been able to get a piece of land in Belmopan in general or at Innovabel in particular”, unquote. As we have reported, current Mayor Pablo Cawich has issued a public plea for these land title holders to visit City Hall and make the necessary arrangements to pay off the discounted balance. One individual on the list of recipients is Belmopan Resident, Kahlil Enriquez, who gave us an off-camera interview. He says that he approached the council about acquiring a parcel of land in Belmopan upon his return from studying overseas. He was offered a lot in Innovabel Estate.
Voice of: Khalil Enriquez
Voice of: Kahlil Enriquez, Innovabel Land Recipient
“The initial deal was that the land was valued at twenty thousand dollars, and I would get a discount at twenty -five percent so my total payment would be fifteen thousand dollars. So, after paying fifteen thousand I would be given title to this property. But a lot of persons believe that I paid fifteen hundred dollars and received title for this land. That is simply not what happened. I made a payment arrangement with the former council, and I renewed that arrangement with the current council. I am committed to paying the full value of the land which is almost twenty thousand dollars. So, I have already paid towards this parcel which I intend to own soon. As the document presented to you shows, I have been making payments and I will not receive title until the entire sum, the entire value is paid. I don’t want the impression to be that I benefited from an illegal land transaction, because that is simply not the case.”
In her statement to the media, Mayor Palacio referred to these land distributions under her tenure as her legacy. She wrote, “I am not surprised that the current Mayor and his cohorts are investing time and energy trying to erase and minimize my legacy: that is empower the disenfranchised. I am also not surprised that lands which were ill gotten by the wealthy will never see the light of day. Poor people need land too”. Enriquez says he came forward to clear his name, given that it was on the leaked document.
Kahlil Enriquez
“From my understanding this is the actual price of the land and the council has been losing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the persons not paying their fair share for these properties. So I want to uphold my integrity and do the right thing by paying my fair share of what the land is worth, which is close to twenty-thousand dollars. That is what I believe I must do. I want to make it unequivocally clear that I did not participate in any land grab or transaction. I wanted to legitimately own my first parcel of land in Belmopan.”
Referring to herself in the third person, Palacio’s release further stated, “Mayor Sheran Palacio has not gained a single copper from any land allocated to any of the current owners”, her statement further noted. “As an altruistic stateswoman you will see that the recipients included persons from all ethnicities, color, gender and political persuasion”, she went on to say, adding, “you can check the records. And for this, I will stand firm unapologetically. My motto and mantra shall remain change from the heart. This was the spirit under which these lands were allocated”. She also encouraged these landowners to quote, “hold fast, band together, organize and get ready for whatever lies ahead”. And, what lies ahead is yet to be determined by current Mayor Pablo Cawich.
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, Mayor, Belmopan
“It has not happened as yet. As you know the news just broke, or the details just broke out yesterday. So, no further discussions as with any thing with process or reproductions or anything like that.”
Paul Lopez
“Has these details pushed your team to consider any sort of legal recourse or court action with the former Mayor?”
Pablo Cawich
“As I have expressed recently, court action is not something we want to explore as yet. It is not something we want to explore until we are given the go ahead by our legal counsel. From the inception of this news with Innovabel issue we have harped on saying that our primary focus is to collect the proper funds that aredue.”
The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is an ambitious economic integration initiative designed to create a unified market for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This visionary concept was first introduced in 1989 during the Tenth Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government. Fast forward thirty-five years, and while there have been some strides forward, the journey towards fully realizing this single market remains fraught with challenges. Countries like Belize, facing these persistent obstacles, are increasingly seeking trade partnerships beyond CARICOM. In response to these ongoing issues, a delegation from the CSME has arrived in Belize to hear these concerns firsthand and gather recommendations for improvement. News Five’s Paul Lopez brings us the latest on this developing story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A delegation from the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) has arrived in Belize for a pivotal three-day mission. Organized by the CARICOM Secretariat, this visit aims to bolster regional cooperation and advance the development of a dynamic CARICOM Single Market. Leading the charge is Titus Preville, the Director of the CARICOM Single Market, who is set to engage with local stakeholders and address key issues to drive this ambitious integration forward.
Leo Titus Preville
Leo Titus Preville, Director, CARICOM Single Market
“The Secretariat is adopting a listening mode. We will be adopting a listening mode, in listening to the stakeholders and haring from them, what are some of their concerns with the CSME, how is it working or not working for them.”
Today, the CARICOM Secretariat team met with members of the public, including young professionals, union members, local government representatives and students from tertiary institutions.
Thomas Serrut
Thomas Serrut, Galen University Economics Major
“What peaks my interest is open markets. There are many different currencies spread out across the Caribbean, but if we want to establish something similar to the EU then perhaps we should look at introducing a single currency for the Caribbean and becoming more interconnected in our financial firms and economic opportunities for Belizeans and just free trade.”
Zanah Reyes
Zanah Reyes, Galen University Marketing Major
“I think I learnt currently a lot from the free movement. I would love the opportunity to travel to all these different communities and see what they have to offer and come back after I have learnt to incorporate it in our country.”
Paul Lopez
“As a young Belizean which of these opportunities do you see is of most value to you?”
Jonathon Chiquin
Jonathon Chiquin, UB Marketing Major
“Most definitely the free movement one. We have the opportunity to move anywhere in the CARICOM community which is Jamaica, Saint Kitts, Saint Nevis and Saint Lucia.”
The discussion sparked a lively debate, with numerous questions raised about the labor opportunities available within the single market, the pursuit of fair wages, and the various challenges encountered in the implementation of the CSME. Participants voiced their concerns and sought clarity on how these issues could be addressed to ensure a more equitable and efficient integration process.
Leo Titus Preville
“As I said before to people who are here, CSME is not an event. It is a continuous process. When you think of the CSME you are looking at the implementation of five core regimes in the CSME, free movement of goods, of persons, free movement of capital, the right to establish business and the rights to provide service. If you ask yourself, how has development been in any one of those five areas, you will see that we have made significant progress in those core areas.”
On Tuesday, the delegation made a significant stop at Quality Poultry in Spanish Lookout. This Belizean company has been grappling with formidable challenges in its quest to penetrate the CARICOM market. The visit highlighted the ongoing struggles not only for Quality Poultry but also for many other local products facing similar uphill battles. The question remains: how can these barriers be overcome to ensure fair access and opportunities within the single market?
Leo Titus Preville
“I would say the answer to your question lies in what the minister of agriculture to Belize indicated to us yesterday. His concern is that perhaps the issue is not whether everything is in place to allow for the trade. It is perhaps whether there is the political will at the member state level to facilitate what they have agreed to.
WE believe the answer for that is continued engagement, continuous dialogue, building confidents, establishing standards. Those are the things we need to do to cause us to move in the direction that the minister of agriculture for Belize would have pointed out yesterday in our engagement with him.”
Farmers in the Corozal District are on high alert as the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) has issued a critical warning about a rapidly spreading fungal infection. This infection, known as fusarium, has been wreaking havoc on sugar cane crops for the past month, causing widespread wilting and yellowing. The situation is dire, with the infection already affecting approximately three-fourths of the district’s crops. The rise in temperatures has created an ideal environment for the proliferation of these harmful pathogens, exacerbating the spread of the disease. Marvin Garcia, Research Extension Officer at SIRDI, provided further insights into the crisis. He emphasized the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action to mitigate the damage and prevent further spread. Farmers are urged to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect their crops from this devastating infection.
Marvin Garcia
Marvin Garcia, Research Extension Officer, SIRDI
“It is through something that creates an opening to the plant can be environmental or can be true best creates an opening and then the fusarium gets in the plant and infect the plant. We have had a long drought season, and I think this is one of the main reasons we have this problem. The soil starts to crack whenever it cracks. It destroys the roots underneath and it creates openings for the plant. Once the plant is weak, the fusarium will infect also, we have stem worm and we have sugar cane weevils that bore through the stem of the cane create openings and the fusaium also goes in there. And also also you were asking if the fusarium will affect humans if we consume it. No, it’ll not. What we’ll do to cane, If it is severe, it depending on the variety of the cane. We have different varieties. Some of them, yes, it can destroy completely and some can be tolerant to it. And that we’re working on it and seeing which varieties are more tolerant. What we have seen in the variety that is more than sixty percent of the sugar industry is B79, 474. It is susceptible. To this fusarium, and we have seen even some areas with the mortality of this, this variety with the fusarium.”
Farmers are advised to clean all fire lines and equipment thoroughly and to avoid using potentially contaminated seeds.
Belize, a paradise for bird lovers, boasts over six hundred native bird species, making it a haven for birdwatchers. This vibrant avian diversity has made birdwatching a beloved activity among enthusiasts. However, a recurring issue has been noted by these keen observers: many artworks and images across the country feature bird species that aren’t native to Belize. To delve deeper into this trend, we spoke with several passionate birdwatchers. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more on this intriguing story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Birds are an omnipresent symbol in Belize, gracing our buildings, clothing, and even our currency. They have become an integral part of the country’s iconic branding. However, there’s a troubling discrepancy. Despite their widespread depiction, many of these birds are not native to Belize. Avid birdwatcher Rudy Burgos has voiced his concerns about this issue. Here’s more on his perspective.
Rudy Burgos
Rudy Burgos, Bird Watcher
“People want to use bird images in their advertising, whether it is t-shirts for national celebrations, or they put murals on the walls. For example, the education department put a mural on a wall with a bird or any or national monuments, like real bridges and arc and like that. And sometimes they just go to the internet and do a search. And they based on whatever image they find, which is really shameful because sometimes they come up with strange things that you would find.”
The keel-billed toucan is Belize’s national bird. During September celebrations, imagery depicting the animal appeared all over the country, including the Belize City annual independence mural on the wall of the Roger’s Stadium. This painting is true to the likeness of the bird. However, the same cannot be said for other paintings previously commissioned by the Ministry of Education on the side of school buildings.
Rudy Brugos
“Or they say, this is national bird, which is not. And it goes over and over again. A good example would be some years ago, they started repeating schools all over the country and they put the national symbols, national animals. Okay. and they use a wrong token. That is shameful. Imagine an education department that does not know their national animal so to speak.”
Nearly seventy percent of Belize’s overnight visitors touch down at the Philip Goldson International Airport, where they are welcomed by a striking arch adorned with vibrant macaws. Ironically, these colorful birds are a rare sight for guests during their stay in Belize. This curious mismatch between expectation and reality has not gone unnoticed.
Rudy Burgos
“We only have one type of macaw. We have ten species of parrots. One is a macaw, which is a scarlet macaw. Scarlet means red. You’ll see these macaws, they are not red. So it’s easy to see. They’re not Belizean.”
Spotting non-native bird species in Belize is not unheard of, as many birds migrate to warmer climates during the colder seasons of their native habitats. Earlier this week, an injured Caribbean Flamingo was discovered on the outskirts of Belize City, far from its usual home in Mexico. Despite the valiant efforts of the Belize Bird Rescue and the Animal Medical Center, the flamingo sadly succumbed to its injuries. Miguel Sho, Environmental Education Officer at the Belize Audubon Society, acknowledges the challenge of keeping track of which birds are native to Belize.
Miguel Sho
Miguel Sho, Environmental Education Officer, BAS
“In Belize you can find over six hundred species of birds, but that both includes the migratory species and the resident species. For the resident species It is, birds that are, that can be found all year round in Belize and getting to identify those birds can be a bit tricky.”
Sho explains that a simple way to ensure that the birds being depicted are accurate to Belize’s diverse environment, is to simply check.
Miguel Sho
“One way that you can get the correct identification of these birds is, by referring to the guides. We have the Birds of Belize guide by by Lee Jones. And there’s some other new editions of books by other authors as well. And those can be very helpful when it comes to identifying birds that are native to Belize.”
By educating Belizeans about what animals are native to the country, visitors will also become more informed about what the country has to offer and what they can expect from their stay. While it might seem like a minor issue to many, for those who cherish and seek to represent the true beauty of their country, it is something they simply cannot ignore. The accurate depiction of Belize’s natural splendor is a matter of pride and authenticity for them. Britney Gordon for News Five.
The Belize Audubon Society is calling all birders to flock together for the fourth annual birding festival! This exciting event offers bird enthusiasts a chance to connect, exchange knowledge about Belize’s diverse bird species, and learn about conservation efforts. This year’s festival will take place on October fifth in Spanish Lookout. Miguel Sho, Environmental Education Officer at the Belize Audubon Society, shares more details on what attendees can expect.
Miguel Sho
Miguel Sho, Environmental Education Officer, BAS
“The Belize Birding Festival is a huge event that is, it’s the fourth annual event in Belize itself. And it’s very huge that a lot of birders nature lovers can get together, build network and meet people and also get to learn about, conservation in Belize and how, a bird is contributing to tourism in Belize as well. So the entrance fee for the event is thirty-five Belize per person, and that is at the door. You can also register, we have a website that you can register on, which is the belizebirdingfestival.org. But, the price is the same on the website and at the door. So thirty-five and five for kids. And it’s an entire day event. So it’s, there’s a lot of activities. There’s some workshops that is very useful for persons who are interested in learning birds. And we also collect data on a bird species that we haven’t believed. There’s also a workshop that is being done on how these data are used when it comes to conservation and tourism.”
In the Cayo North constituency, a hundred voter registrations are under scrutiny for suspected fraud. Those registrations are now being challenged in court. Former Area Representative Omar Figueroa, has addressed a letter to the Governor General, alleging that several hundred registrations have mysteriously appeared on the voter’s list without clear addresses. Figueroa suspects these registrations are of dubious origin and is demanding that the Elections and Boundaries Department provide the necessary documentation to verify the legitimacy of these voters. News Five’s Britney Gordon spoke with Figueroa to delve deeper into these serious allegations. Here’s the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Former Cayo North Area Representative, Omar Figueroa has done the math, and by his calculations, things are not adding up at the Elections and Boundaries Department. He alleges that prior to the 2024 municipal elections, a significant number of voters of questionable origins began appearing on the voter’s list. As Figueroa and Mayor Earl Trapp were unable to independently verify the voter’s addresses, they had given up on pursuing answers. Flashforward to July and August 2024, the period allotted for the transfer of electors from one constituency to the next and Figueroa claims that the suspicious activity has returned.
Omar Figueroa
Omar Figueroa, UDP Standard Bearer, Cayo North
“We filed an objection for the first supplementary but we weren’t successful in court. We have since filed another one because the same thing is happening. We’re seeing like thirty, forty names being placed for example, on Stanton Street or on Benque Viejo Road. Or on Beetlejuice Street, and with no clear indication as to which house, and as we do our investigations, we start to find out, you know what, these people actually live in Succots, these people actually live in Benque Viejo Town. We make our calls, and we do our investigation, and we find out a bunch of them, a bunch of them significant numbers live in Hattieville and in Lords Bank and in certain parts of Belize City.”
In the most recent supplementary list, two hundred and seventy-three voters registered to transfer to Cayo North. Through an investigation conducted by Figueroa and his team, he suspects that at least one hundred of those voter registrations are fraudulent and is challenging them before the court.
Omar Figueroa
“We start by looking at the areas from where they’re transferred and immediately you start seeing but what really raises some red flags is when you look at one host for example on Stanton street And you have thirty-five people there in the last three weeks ff the transfer period. In the last three weeks of the transfer period, you have twenty-eight people, I think, registering at Stanton Street, and then we have about, I think, eighteen on Benque Viejo Road, and we’re trying to decipher whether it’s the same host because it’s a Karner host that’s being, that’s the focus of our investigation.”
One of the major causes of concern was the lack of specificity in the addresses listed on the registration sheets. Addresses such as Bolton Area, Church Street, and Benque Viejo Road were listed with no house numbers.
Omar Figueroa
“The election and boundaries office made it difficult for us to actually carry out our investigation because they have refused to give us the precise location of these residences. However, we had a small victory in court yesterday where the magistrate instructed the election and boundaries to actually provide copies of those investigation sheets. So that should help shed light. On our investigations and help us to determine what it is that we’re trying to determine. But we are confident that out of the one hundred that we objected to, we are confident that the significant majority is actually fraudulent votes.”
We reached out to Chief Elections Officer, Josephine Tamai for a comment but she was unable to offer a comment at this time. However, she explained that any registered elector can object to the name of any person published on the monthly supplementary list. The matter is then heard in open court by the magistrate. Based on the evidence provided in court, they will decide whether the name remains or is to be removed from the list. Objections are part of the monthly process allowed between the fifteenth and twenty-fifth of the month. Figueroa says that this is a very limited amount of time to conduct independent investigations on several hundred registrations, but they still thought it necessary to proceed with at least one hundred cases.
Omar Figueroa
“And what’s sad about this whole issue, what’s really sad is the number of young voters that are being enticed to be a part of this fraud. We have about ten percent out of the hundred that are first-time voters. It cannot be that we at that early age, we will encourage these young people to go and be part of this kind of fraud, right? I’m glad that you’re giving this some attention because it really needs a lot of attention. And hopefully, we’re trying as much as we can to reach organizations like the OAS that come down and monitor elections. And we’re reaching as many regional partners as well to try to shed some light and hopefully bring an end to this.”
The case will resume in court on Friday. Britney Gordon for News Five.
As election season approaches, it’s not uncommon to see questionable activities involving the distribution of land titles by political hopefuls. Recently, our newsroom received a tip about a list of Corozal residents whose names appeared in a post by P.U.P. Corozal Bay Standard Bearer, Thea Garcia-Ramirez. Ramirez, who commutes to Belmopan for work, addressed the concerns, stating she has nothing to hide. She clarified that the land title documents she is distributing are for individuals who applied long before she became a standard bearer. Some of these applicants don’t even reside in her constituency, and some are supporters of the U.D.P. living in Corozal. Ramirez explained that many of these individuals have asked her to collect their land documents on their behalf since her daily commute to Belmopan makes it convenient for her and saves them the cost and hassle of the trip. She emphasized that she has no authority to process land applications for anyone. Her Facebook post listing the names was simply an effort to assist by delivering the documents to the rightful owners. Ramirez stressed that she does not work in the Lands Department and has no power to distribute land. She has been helping in this manner for years, well before her political ambitions. She assured that her actions are purely altruistic, aimed at aiding Corozal residents, and she has never received any complaints about her efforts.
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
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.
Angella Baitwabusa
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
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.
Osmond Martinez
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.”
