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And while Minister of State in Works Edmund Castro was on the ground, this morning Prime Minister Dean Barrow along with Minister of Works Boots Martinez and his Chief Executive Officer Cadet Henderson were in the air. This morning the Prime Minister got a bird’s eye view of the emerging threats on the Northern and Western Highways and in Belama during a brief helicopter tour. 7NEWS was on board.

Keith Swift Reporting,
Barrow first flew over parts of the Northern and Western Highways that flood waters have inundated. And then it was an aerial tour of Belize City - specifically Belama Phase 3 which for the most part is now submerged. After the flyover, Prime Minister Dean Barrow gave us his impression.

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
“The CEO was able to point out where the immediate remedial attention is being given to the spot along the Western Highway at my mile 9 where there was the collapse of the culverts. So that is up and running again and then we went to Belama, we did a flyover there, and it looks horrible.”

And that may have been an understatement because we later accompanied Barrow on a ground tour of Belama where he not only saw but got an earful from residents in the inundated community.

Belama Resident
“You know how much years I’ve been complaining about this piece of road. I am the guy that you hear complaining all the time on the radio for the past 15 years.”

Works Minister Boots Martinez says it will be fixed – starting as early as tonight. His told us what his plan is to dig drains to drain the water.

Hon. Anthony Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
“Effective this evening we are getting equipment, at least two excavator trucks and we will drain the water over to the sea and back to the river.”

Keith Swift.
So you’re going to dig a big drain.

Hon. Anthony Boots Martinez,
“Well we’ll be using excavator and also we’re putting in some necessary culverts and joining in the necessary canals where they were blocked up. So we are looking at the whole comprehensive area in terms of getting out the water. It is pathetic to look and see the way the water is overtaking people’s homes in the Belama area.”

Keith Swift,
When should people start seeing the effect, how quickly do you expect the water to drain out?

Hon. Anthony Boots Martinez,
“Well I would say about a day and a half. It is very important for the Prime Minister to be out here today to see without being an engineer what the type of work we need to put in and you know it is very important too because he needs to find the financing for us to alleviate this problem.”

And Prime Minister Barrow says that is his number priority – finding funds to clean up this mess. He confirmed that some of the Venezuelan millions will be used for recovery efforts.

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“The biggest problem will be the money for reconstruction but we are determined that this will be done. We’ve already agreed in Cabinet, we just wanted to consult with the social partners who are part of what we’re going to do with the Venezuelan money, we have already agreed that a portion will have to be diverted to assist with the home reconstruction for those that have been affected. We’re going to have to find additional money for the repair of infrastructure more than I had committed initially. The challenge is where to find the money but we have the certain knowledge that it will be found. It must be found come what may.”

Keith Swift,
Will there be any other declarations of disaster areas?

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“Absolutely. In the Belize District, look at what’s happening in Lord’s Bank, apart from what’s happening in Belama and of course along the river valley and so certainly Orange Walk. I think we’re going to make those declarations, we’re also going to declare that this is a national emergency, not declare a national state of emergency, merely that this is a national emergency. There is a little bit of funding that we can access from the IDB but a precondition for that is the declaration of a national emergency. Just to get the money we are not going to do it, except the facts justify such a declaration. The facts clearly do now and so we’re going to make that declaration.”