FIRST PHASE OF SOUTHSIDE POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT TO BEGIN

January 05, 2007

When we spoke last week with Prime Minister, Said Musa he said the Belize City Southside Poverty Alleviation Project was going to get started early in 2007. We found out that the first phase of the project is already about to begin.  Port Loyola Area Representative, Anthony “Boots” Martinez says site inspection took place only two days ago in the three areas over which the project will span - Collect, Lake Independence and Port Loyola.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez: Port Loyola Area Representative“We did the on site visit with the prospected contractors who will be bidding for the contract. In Port Loyola they will be paving Jane Usher Boulevard, Curl Thompson Street, Freedom Street and Levi Slusher Street and will be upgrading the streets from Freedom Street to Jane Usher Boulevard. There will be a land reclamation project where they will be assisting people in the direct area in regards to land fill as the project move along. They will be looking at the sewerage component whether you will be dealing with septic tank or making extensions on to the sewerage system. Most of the scope of work that is being proposed was the work that was put in the Port Loyola budget 2004. I am looking forward for the alleviation of some of the terrible conditions that exist in Port Loyola.”

Marion Ali: Love FM

“There is a problem in Port whenever it rains a lot certain streets get flooded, will the project alleviate that kind of a problem?”

Anthony “Boots” Martinez: Port Loyola Area Representative

“Yes the project is gear up to have a main canal that will be connected from Lake Independence coming through Collet through Port Loyola. So I believe the problem of main drainage will be alleviated and they will be putting in side drains to the streets that will not be paved that will lead to the main drainage. In Port Loyola they will have two canals one on the side of Jane Usher Boulevard and the main canal along the edge of Jane Usher Boulevard leading across Fabers Road into Raccoon Street into Mahogany Street .The project also entails putting in what they call little fingers where people living on “London Bridges” they will be extending the street to where the people live at least in the first phase.”

Martinez says he expects the project will provide job creation for many people in the area.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez: Port Loyola Area Representative

“Besides the infrastructure work I think that the people should be involved economically so we are looking at truckers in Port Loyola to haul the fill for the reclamation project. We are looking at manual labour to put in some of the side drain s so that too will actually entail a little employment for the people of Port Loyola. It might not be a long haul but at least during the project I think the residence of Port Loyola should benefit economically because we have people who have the skills we have people who have certain equipment. What is very clear if the social condition in these areas improve automatically that improves the economic benefit for people. In other words if a street is fixed a yards have little filling and so on. People living in those areas have ambition and they will take advantage of all the opportunities I am sure with the proposed Carnival Project in Port Loyola and close to Jane Usher Boulevard the area they are fixing up I am sure you will see people starting to construct better homes develop the homes to a better standard that exist there so I think that the economic benefit will come naturally.” 

At least six local contractors are bidding to carry out the first phase of the project.  We took the opportunity to ask Martinez for a review of his work in the area, considering this is the year preceding General Elections. 

Anthony “Boots” Martinez: Port Loyola Area Representative

“It’s not a frightening thing for me politically I have been working hard for the people of Port Loyola ever since I have been elected and I always remind myself that the people of Port Loyola are my bosses so I must make sure you carry out the job of what the boss wants you to do. So on a consistence basis I always remind myself that the people of Port Loyola are the bosses I am the employee and if you don’t do what the boss wants you might just get fired so I don’t want to get fired right now so I make sure that I keep pace in terms of what the bosses want.” 

Port Loyola Area Representative, Anthony Boots Martinez.

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