Email

Print

We are already seven days into the New Year and the rehabilitation work on Albert and Regent Streets is nearing completion. As a matter of fact, when we caught up with Minister of Works Anthony “Boots” Martinez this evening there was still some work being done on Regent Street. But as Martinez explained the work in downtown Belize City is just about complete.

Hon. Anthony Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
“Well they are doing the final portion here and then they will be moving on to doing the side lane turnings and the hot mix portion of Albert and Regent Streets is over then. What remains for us though is the aesthetic light poles and a couple areas where we need to put some concrete and we need to wash off the concrete, the contractor needs to wash off the concrete, polish it, and we are through.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
We are talking about the rough edges that we see along Albert Street and Regent Street.

Hon. Anthony Boots Martinez,
“Even the top where you see dusty and everything so now we are putting in the final polishing on Albert and Regent Street. So if you notice, we have the fancy flower pots and we have the benches, I love the benches; if you notice I was a bit tired and I sat on one. I am happy for the residents of Belize City and I think that more projects like this need to be done across the city.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
How much this project cost the government?

Hon. Anthony Boots Martinez,
“I am sure, I don’t have the exact figures, I can quote it tomorrow, but I am sure it is over a million dollars, that is for sure.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
After this major project, you move on to Central American Boulevard?

Hon. Anthony Boots Martinez,
“Yes and that Central American Boulevard should be easy because the base is already done. The Ministry of Works is getting a new brand line marker and we’re looking at line marking for Albert Street and some cat’s eye, some good cat’s eye that are solar and so we will put a test of that on Albert Street.

The whole idea of revitalizing the downtown area came from the Mayor of Belize and the Belize City Council and we offered to help and we made the plans with proper drainage, we executed, we gave the contract, we found the finances and so it is a good help out, partnership with the Belize City Council.”

Minister Martinez says there are major plans to continue to improve the northern highway that eventually should be transformed into a four lane highway. There are also plans to pave from Blue Creek to Orange Walk in the north and resurface the Western Highway from Roaring Creek well into the Cayo District.