STATE OF EMERGENCY LIFTED FOR BELIZE

September 04, 2007

Earlier today Prime Minister Said Musa announced the state of emergency has been lifted for the entire country of Belize.

Prime Minister Said Musa:
“This means that we are lifting the state of emergency even for the north as well.As you know that was still in effect following Hurricane Dean.So the whole country of Belize now will leave from the state of emergency.At  nine o’clock this morning,based on the advisory we received,Hurricane Felix was moving westward over eastern Honduras as a category 3 hurricane and it’s expecting to be weakening.The only threat this system poses to Belize at this time,will be in the form of torrential rainfall and possible flooding over the Toledo and southern Stann Creek District.NEMO has therefore decided to declare the ALL CLEAR for the country of Belize with effect from midday today,expect for that area in the south where the tropical storm watch remains in effect.Again it’s because of the potential,the possibly of flooding in those areas.So we’ll maintain a tropical storm watch for the Toledo and the south of Stann Creek area.Otherwise,the ALL CLEAR has been declared and the state of emergency,lifted.And persons who have sought refuge in shelters can now return to their homes.Shelters however,will remain open in the southern areas of Belize,as the threat of the torrential rains and possible flash flooding remains a possibility in this tropical storm watch area.In the sense that we’ve announced the ALL CLEAR,public officers are expected and required to report back to work today and all schools should resume classes as soon as possible,expect for primary schools which will remain closed until Tuesday September 11th.”

Prime Minister Musa said assistance will be given to residents of the south.

Prime Minister Said Musa:
“Food provisions to the south,that was being packaged last night and that will still go ahead for the people particularly in the villages and in the Toledo district and south Stann Creek.We’ll also be assisting them returning to their homes.Buses have been organized to move those people who wish to return to their homes to the coastal areas who for instance,from Seine Bight,we know people had moved to Georgetown.They will be assisted to return to their homes and like I said,we will also be assisting temporarily with food and provisions for those who are really in need and who had to undergo special expenses because of this Hurricane threat.”

Prime Minister Musa said Belizeans still need to remain vigilant although the storm is below the Sarstoon. Prime Minister was also asked about the response of the Belizean people in regards to the threat of Hurricane Felix.

Prime Minister Said Musa:
“No doubt,there will be those who will be second guessing the decisions we took in terms of for instance,preparing a state of emergency as from yesterday.There will be this kind of second guessing,almost suggesting cynically that we overreacted but we believe that it’s best to err of the side of caution,especially when we are dealing with the protection of human life.Every single Belizean life is important and we must do everything possible to protect and preserve our people and indeed their property.So I would say on a whole,the arrangements,the precautionary measures taken were excellenet,NEMO has performed its job as it was expected to do and certainly the MET office did a very good tracking of the hurricane.The trouble with the hurricane is that you can never predict exactly where it will go and that’s from experience.We all know that,but we must also err on the side of caution and we’re most grateful and blessed that this hurricane again did not give us a full direct impact on our country Belize.”

Prime Minister Musa said the work in Northern Belize continues in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean.

Prime Minister Said Musa:
“We continue to address the issues pertaining to the aftermath of Hurricane Dean,because we’re not quite out of the wedge yet there.We still have matters to address up there,continuing to assist people for instance,who may still be without roofs over their heads and that program continues as well as the assistance in terms of food supplies,although I should expect that from here on,we’ll be addressing,more particularly the people who are really in need,who have now been identified.It’s a little over 1,700 families who will continue to need assistance as a result of the damages and the loss caused by Hurricane Dean.”

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