Now, it's not the first time that politicians have promised to upgrade this football field, but today, representatives of the 3 collaborators said that they are serious about getting it done. Here's how they put it at today's signing ceremony:

Marvin Ottley - Deputy Director, NSC/Youth Coach
"I and a few others have spent all our lives in that field. Just a few years ago, we did some improvement on the field, and Councillor Mike Novelo was a part of our youth program, the Raptors Youth Football program. We have seen that program move from 20 kids through a scouting and association project, to 130 kids in 2 months. That's what Berger Field is to that community. So, this initiative certainly will mean a lot to the children in that community."

Hon. Anthony Mahler - PUP Area Rep., Pickstock
"It is going to be a synthetic pitch."

Sergio Chuc - President, Football Federation of Belize
"We're actually looking at three five-a-side pitches within that field because the size of the pitch would not meet the international standards if we wanted to build a full 11 pitch. It wouldn't meet international standards, so we believe that we could get a lot more from the kids because we're focusing mostly on the youths right now by having three 5-a-side pitches."

Hon. Anthony Mahler
"For years, we've heard about the greatness of the players who have come out of the Berger Field area, but for far too long, this significant - in terms of producing football players, and athletes in the City, this field has been neglected."

"The 3 parties here are working in tandem to ensure that this project is completed. It's not lip service. In fact just before you guys came into the room, we had a very intense discussion on the social ills that are affecting us: poverty, crime, the frustration of COVID, and young people, and all of us, not living the lives that we want to live, going out, enjoying the open air, exercising how we want, engaging in competitive sports. All of this has been wiped away for the last 2 years, and so, I think this is timely. This project has - as the MC has rightfully said - Berger Field said to be - it is going to be rehabilitated on several occasions, and it is still in the same deplorable state that it has been for many, many years. But this time, it is truly - we have the monies allocated, and we will begin the work in short."

Hon. Kevin Bernard - Minister of Youth, Sports & E-Governance
"As we approach and try to address the many issues that we are facing here in Belize City, especially in the Southside of the City, reviving Berger Field, while we open up back sport to its full potential, we need to create those spaces, where our young people, our athletes can engage on a daily basis. We're trying to encourage positivity among our Belizeans, and especially in the Southside of Belize. So, this MOU signing today shows the level of partnership that can be built."

These representatives say that the money has been set aside. The last time that an upgrade was promised for Berger Field was back in 2012, under Herman Longsworth a Former Minister of Sports.