Yesterday we showed you the heroic efforts of a Spanish Lookout crop duster and it's pilot water bombing fires that had been threatening communities out west. 

One organization glad of the fly-by efforts and the rain that followed is the Friends for Conservation of development. Over the past few weeks, they've been on the front line of the fires working hard to keep them away from the boundary line of the invaluable natural resource that is the Chiquibul national park.

This afternoon Jules Vasquez spoke to FCD president Rafael Manzanero for a recap of those efforts and to get the conservator's opinion on the one positive take away from the devastating fires. 

Jules Vasquez
"What has it been like for FCD with these forest fires over the past few weeks and specifically in this week where they've become so intense."

Rafael Manzanero - Executive Director, FCD
"It certainly took us by surprise because we have been documenting agricultural fires for quite some time in the Columbia river as well. What has FCD been doing on the front line I know a lot of them were right up to the dam, explain to me what have you guys been doing. We basically concentrated our efforts Chiquibul national park boundary."

Jules Vasquez
"Is it, Is the scale of these fires indicative that maybe the forestry department or co-managers were caught off guard by this extreme drought much worse."

Rafael Manzanero
"People are complaining about their health. So I feel that hopefully if there's anything positive out of this thing every year."

Chinese Donate To City Hall

And while the Chiquibul may be safe, thousands of Belizeans are still in peril: The peril of economic instability and even hunger. 

It's a problem which the government, private entities, and even altruistic individuals are attempting to remedy. 

Yesterday we told you about the Bangladeshi community's donation to Belizeans, and tonight we're highlighting three more organized efforts to feed Belize City families. 

We start with the China Federation of Overseas Taishanese, who today made an enormous grocery donation to the Belize City Council. 7News was there for the handing over ceremony.

Wallace Zhu - Secretary, China Federation of Overseas Taishanese
"Everyone knows that this COVID-19 impacts many families and it affects many families and people who are affected by COVID-19. They lose their jobs and some of those people don't even get incomes and you know that everyone is suffocated this time so we decided to give a helping hand and assist people who really need the help. We also have all our out district branches doing the same thing as you guys can see all over the internet. Also, today not only in Belize City, but Corozal branch will also be giving out some packages of food and groceries. It's really affected us because like I said people lost their jobs and that caused them to start to purchase less and then the most affected part, the business is going down so everyone is in need. Right now basic need is coming first so we are trying to solve that problem first and further on I believe everything can be better."

Cherisse Halsall
"What is included in this donation?"

Wallace Zhu
"What all is included is just some basic needs like some noodles, rice, beans, flour, paper towels, and macaroni and cheese. There are many things but it's mostly food items where people can feed each other. It's just something where we try to ease people's pressure because right now everybody got affected by COVID-19. Overall we all have collected half a million dollars of food for groceries and then Belize City right now it's just a part but countrywide we have collected half a million already. And then hopefully further on we will collect more and then we can do some more stuff to help people."

Bernard Wagner - Mayor, Belize City
"It's a pretty significant donation made by the Chinese community. They contacted me about a week or two ago. Essentially saying that they wanted to contribute to the city. They are born Belizeans and as Belizeans, they wanted to contribute. They saw the suffering of some of our lesser people in the society and they just really wanted to help and so they contacted our council and myself and we said we would take this opportunity to get these supplies and distribute to our city residents. It's a really broad-based type package. It contains several items, flour, beans, rice, normal staple foods. It's a broad-based type pantry and I'm certain that our people and the people of the city will really welcome it and we have to thank our Chinese community. Our Chinese people have really stepped up to help the situation in the city. All Belize City residents, it doesn't matter Red Blue, Green all across the city. We will be packaging off these items over the weekend and therefore next week I believe we could start distributing them across the City. But we don't play colours. It will be across the city, this again coming at the end of the month as those suppliers for homes begin to dry up this will augment that again and so help those people at least for the end of the month leading up to the 15th and with the prime minister announcing some sort of easing back we could see a light at the end of the tunnel but we still have to remain very cautious as a city and as a responsible municipality."

The total value of the Organization's Belize city donation was $100,000.00.

The Indians and The Politicians

And the Indian business community is also showing its generosity. 

Their members chosen to specifically target those who have yet to receive government assistance in the form of food pantry or food package. 

And they're doing this by handing out coupons to those on the frontline:  UDP and PUP standard-bearers as a way to pad Citywide social assistance programs and keep city-dwellers fed. 

Dinesh Bhojwani - Former President, Indian Community
"Basically a couple of weeks ago the indian community got together primarily with the business community and decided that they wanted to put together food packages for people within the city. One of the things that we realized was that there were several individuals in households that had fallen through the cracks specifically those that weren't part of any assistance program whether by government or by private institutions. And so what we thought of was how do we then cover the city I mean we had the wherewithal as far as the product and getting it packaged and everything but the concept was how do we then get it to families and so we decided that we'd work with the standard bearers and the area representatives of the constituencies within the city. So we decided that we would hand them coupons and then they would come to water walkers which is our distribution center on Albert street for them to come and pick up these packages. We are all Belizeans and like I said before this is one big village possible."

Gilroy Usher
"Well first I want to say sincere thanks to the indian community for this generous donation to the residents of Port Loyola and so we have people in the division who are able to identify those persons. I received 40 coupons. Yes as I said there are generous donation."

Phillip Willoughby
"I want to extend a huge thank you to the Belize Indian community for making this donation possible for the people of Port Loyola. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from as long as you're from that division. The aid that was given to us will go directly to those living making this possible. If you are a disabled person, if you are a sick person, if you have a large family citizens of Belize."

BEL's Funding For Food Assistance Program

And a corporate citizen is also getting in on the giving. In a press release today BEL introduced its COVID-19 relief program saying that starting May 4th the Company will provide food and care packages totalling $75,000 to approximately 600 marginalized families across the country. 

This afternoon Cherisse Halsall spoke to Corporate Communications Manager Vonetta Burrell about BEL's efforts to take care of customers in these extremely trying times:

And in an update on the Food Assistance Program, The Ministry of Human Development  says that approved households who have already received their first food basket will receive notifications via text message or WhatsApp informing them of their continued eligibility. They will also be given instructions on how to collect their baskets. There is no need to reapply, but continued assistance under this program is not automatic. Only households that receive the notification should go back for their second baskets.

Those who cannot benefit from this program include public officers, teachers, and members of the security forces. Also, if you are benefiting from the Unemployment Relief Program, non-contributory pensions, or the Boost and food pantry programs, you cannot get aid under the Food Assistance Program. 

The Ministry continues the process of assessing the tens of thousands of households that have applied for this aid. They are asking the public not to contact the assessment officers because it hinders their ability to serve the needs of both existing and potential beneficiaries. 

The Bottom Line On The Number of Tests

And turning back now to COVID 19â€Â¦.for weeks we've been asking what is the specific situation with the number of tests available for the deadly virus? 

And, many times, those numbers seem to lead an indeterminate dance.

Today, in a rare media appearance, the CEO in the Ministry of Health gave a breakdown:

Dr. George Gough - CEO, Ministry of Heath
"Presently in Belize, like the Prime Minister said, we are testing more statistically and per capita than any country in the region. We have the possibility right now in country, as I speak, to test a total of 2 thousand plus the 40 kits which would be 3,400, 5,300 and we are expecting, so we have 5,300 test in country and we are expecting 8 thousand more from the 11 promised from PAHO but expected, which they are going to donate and we have paid from the Taiwanese fund that they gave us, we have 50 kits more which is equivalent to 3,400 tests. So I repeat, we have the capacity in country of 5,300 and we should have capacity once PAHO delivers their 8 thousand and I receive the 50 kits that we have bought from the Taiwanese fund, we should be able to test 13 plus thousand more."

The Swabs Situation and US Customs

And while the tests are in abundance, swabs to collect those tests are running low.  And that's because the shipment which was supposed to come in last week was confiscated by US customs. Here's more on that:

Dr. George Gough - CEO, Ministry of Heath
"And swabs, I can be as sincere as I can be, the adult swabs that were taken away from us last week that were retrieved by our Ambassador, again I was told by Mr. Franko that customs this morning now asked us for a certificate for those swabs. So, we are hopeful that maybe Saturday they will come.'

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"What that meant was that swabs we had already paid for, which were put in the custody of Ameri-Jet to come to Belize, were detained by US customs, taken off the plane. When our Ambassador inquired, he was told that, well they have not been confiscated, they are merely being detained. Afterwards as he continued to press the case, he was told well they will be released, now we hear another story that, in fact they have not been released, so we are still waiting to see when the swabs will come."

Ashcroft Relief Fund Still Hasn't Found What They're Looking For

And, while the difficulty with getting supplies through the US is one thing, sourcing them any at all can prove difficult if not impossible. That's what the Lord Ashcroft Covid-19 Relief Fund learned very quickly when they tried to source supplies. - according to the PM:

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"The case of the Ashcroft Foundation, as far as I know up to this point in time, what have we received from them? 371 thousand, that's all and why? Not because there was any unwillingness but initially when Dr. Gough and the Financial Secretary met with the Belize Bank Committee and presented the list, they were told, well listen, the foundation felt that it would do bit better job of sourcing the equipment and supply. The foundation has not produced one of the pieces of equipment or the batch of supplies that they thought, they would source more easily that the Government of Belize. I say this not to complain, I'm stating a fact but to make the case that government is doing it's best to source these supplies effectively and nobody but government - nobody can do a better job than government in this regard."

San Pedro Local Leaders On A Lark Of Their Own

And, finally from today's press conference, the Prime Minister had strong words of censure for his senior Minister Manuel Heredia and San Pedro Mayor Danny Guerrero.

Two days ago, they put out a press release saying that they have made local modifications to the latest State of Emergency Statutory Instrument - which, we should add, is the law of the land.  

But, San Pedro's local authorities made a law unto themselves, with their own, quite strict regulations - and the Prime Minister said they are dead wrong to have done so:

Not Micah In Mix Up

And, finally tonight, in our last segment we told you about the police action involving former city council employee Keith Yearwood and councillor Oscar Arnold. That ended up at the police station where both sides decided to not make complaints.  But, police did generate a report which says that Arnold went to Yearwood's family home with councillor Micah Goodin. Goodin called us to say that didn't happen.  He says what did happen is that he sent two police officers to Yearwood's home to deliver a letter for libel. Goodin said he is tired of the fake news and attacks on him.  

Oh well, welcome to politics