Crooked Tree Village may be only thirty four miles away from Belize
City but today is the first time the residents who live in one of the country’s
oldest settlements will have access to water. No more will they have to rely
on the use of hand dug wells. The new water system was inaugurated on Saturday.
It is one of the largest projects of its kind.
James Dawson, Chairman Water Board
“This is a very important thing to Crooked Tree because we always
have the dry season and we always have the flood that contaminates the water
in Crooked Tree and the other thing I want to tell the people of the village
is that this water system is going to benefit all of us in that the rate that
we are going to pay, I believe will be cheaper than what you use for the pump.
It is going to be approximately about $30 the connection fee and about $10 flat
rate. It is a three trial fee. $10 flat rate would be for like 1,000 gallons
of water and half a cent for each gallon after during the three month test.
There will be adjustment if necessary.”
The Crooked Tree Water System was implemented by the Social Investment
Fund and the community of Crooked Tree through funds from the European Union
and the government of Belize.