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And while that is one great relief for the mayor, he still has many troubles ahead. Like most municipal bodies, the city council is in a financial vise. Employees have gone on half pay and the mayor told us on Friday that he is on no pay. Here's his phone video interview via ZOOM:..

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
"What we really recommended to our staff is that they take half pay for this 15th. We already have the funds to do that 15th half pay, but it's not like they would be foregoing that payment Jules. It will be a deferred payment that as soon as we are back on track and we gat pass this hurdle that those payments will be made back to those employees. In addition to that what we did with some of the vendors who have facilities with us at the markets, the parks, in the lower end of the city hall here, we tell them not to worry about your rent until June- July. You don't have to pay that. That's waive, that's cancelled, you don't have to worry about for the next 3 months and if this crisis continues then we look at it again. We also said to the business owners and the residential property owners you don't have pay your property taxes right now. Use your money to take care of yourself right now. You have until June to pay those taxes and you will pay them come June at a reduced rate of 15%."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Are you on half pay, Mayor?"

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
"I have given up all my salary Jules - full salary. My councilors have forego have of their stipend."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Are you all able to make it through April at this rate?"

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
"We will definitely need some support from government and I have already sent that request to the government. I have not received a reply as yet, but we will need some support. We are able to meet this 15th payroll, but thereafter we would require some measure of support from government."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Everyone has gone on half pay, but right now the council's account should be buffed. We know that even though Covid came really the Covid scare started gaining momentum in the middle of March. That is the council's revenue high season when people are paying their tax before the start of the new fiscal year, so a critic would say that man you all had a little bit more in your account, you all didn't had to cut everybody to half pay."

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
"But that lies the misconception. Jules. Remember unlike the previous councils, we did not engage in offering discounts prior to the March 31st deadline, so nobody come pay until you reach that deadline. All of those people say we are not giving you no early payment, because we are not getting any discount. We will come pay you at the 31st. So now when the Covid set in around mid-March, no money came in at all. That money is still out there."