7 News Belize

La Inmaculada Will Not Move
posted (September 9, 2019)
So, while the DOE tries to troubleshoot its first in-field mitigation measure, the strong stench coming off the river is directly affecting La Immaculada Primary School.

As we told you, they were forced to close school last week and there is an idea to relocate the school so that students don't miss too many days.

But, the Principal told us today that the school administration has realized that this would be a logistical nightmare. Here's how she explained why they didn't open classes today, and why they will wait until Wednesday to re-open the school:

Lenny Umana, Principal, La Inmaculada Primary School
"Well so far the ministry of education has been in close contact with the ministry of health and the ministry of environment to see how the developments takes place from hour to hour. We are also getting information from the ministry of health as to how to proceed on Wednesday. I am hoping that they have some kind of personnel here with us on Wednesday to assist us, as children comes back to school on Wednesday, I would say to give it a first run to see how the environment will interact with the kids and the kids with the environment. So far we have had much parental support. We have had the mayor involved. we have had Minister Aragon involved to seeing how best the school could be assisted on. So come Wednesday we are going to open the doors as regular and hopefully we can see some progress taking place."

"On Thursday some devices were brought in from BNE. I think they are working in close collaboration with the ministry of the environment. They have trained one of our school wardens to read the meters, so they keep a constant check as to the levels of gas in the air at our compound. Today they are coming in to make a check up to see how to what point the gasses are here. I am fortunate to say that so far the readings have been okay. It's not something that we are to be alarm of, but to be conscious that there are still a few gasses around the place."

Reporter
"Let's say Wednesday come and the situation is dire, are you all still reviewing that option to relocate?"

Lenny Umana
"Relocation is every day seeming to be one of the least avenues we would like to take. We have relocation as plan C, but it is something that when we look at the vast number of students that we have, it's not seeming to be the most viable answer. So right now we are more likely leaning on other strategies such as doing a shift system with a sister school, extending the days out of school and teachers making it up somewhere or the other before the school year is over, or monitoring as each day progresses. We are also thinking of starting classes earlier and dismissing earlier because stench time usually comes under the hot blazing sun after lunch, so maybe we could push those 3 ideas before relocation."

We also got a chance to speak with Orange Walk Town's Mayor, Kevin Bernard, who was at the school today. He was there to discuss with the management about what the options are to keep the children safe in these coming days. He also has a daughter who attends the school, and he told us today that he hopes the school's management will re-consider relocation as a response to the public health threat coming from the New River. Here's how he explained why:

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