SAN PEDRO DAILY, August 25, 2007,Belize,News,Features,Newspapers,Information,Resource,Caribbean,Ambergris Caye

James Jan-Mohammad Assumes Command of Corozal Disaster Response

While the Red Cross works independently, the majority of the relief effort should be organized by NEMO. And it’s that same NEMO that has been the subject of so much criticism over the past few days. Residents in storm affected areas have lashed out at the Emergency Management Organization, saying that, by all outward appearances, the response has been worst than inadequate, it’s been non existent. And while that may not be the fact, it is the perception, and that’s why NEMO today dispatched a disaster response and recover veteran to move things along in Corozal. James Jan Mohammed hit the ground today and three hours after taking charge at the command center he told us the relief will come, in fact, it’s on the way. But even with the best coordination, in a disaster everything takes time.

James Jan-Mohammad, Disaster Relief Coordinator
“We had an initial problem here which was that the actual EOC needed some coordination, that’s all, and once we did that, we’re finding that the stuff is happening. It’s already in place and it’s going on. What happens is that if you do not have an emergency operations center that’s able to communicate with everyone or even coordinate everyone so well. Remember Corozal is fairly inexperienced and I don’t want to show anybody off but the point is that in San Pedro and Caye Caulker we practice so bloody much that there is no body that can beat us at this job so we can better coordinate this situation.”
Jules Vasquez, Everyone has needs and people feel NEMO, and they just use that term abstractually, but NEMO is not meeting their needs, NEMO is nowhere to be found.
James Jan-Mohammad,
“Well NEMO is here. We’re here, we’re available. By this afternoon we’ll have a telephone line for the public to call me direct here or call the offices direct here with any problems their having and we will sort those problems out according to priority. What I would like to ask everybody is to make sure that you understand that you’re not going to get everything today. You’ve been hit by a major hurricane. You know in San Pedro we didn’t have any electricity for five weeks, it was over a month, and actually my left me for that duration because she couldn’t stand me without no electricity. So it is not a joke when these things happen. There are a lot of problems, a lot of equipment down. To get it up you need a lot of coordination and we are doing that.” Read More

MINISTRY of EDUCATION REACHES
OUT TO FAMILIES AND STUDENTS
AFFECTED BY HURRICANE DEAN

The Minister of Education, Hon. Francis Fonseca, has approved education assistance to the families and students affected by Hurricane Dean.
Many families in Corozal, Orange Walk, and,to a lesser extent in San Pedro and Caye Caulker, have suffered loss and damage to property and, in some cases, particularly in Corozal, they have lost their livelihood because of the almost complete destruction of the Papaya Industry in that district.
These families must now focus on rebuilding their homes and lives and the Ministry of Education wishes to support their efforts and to ensure that the education of their children does not become a casualty of Hurricane Dean.
Families affected and in need of education support are asked to report their needs to their DISTRICT EDUCATION CENTER. The Center Managers will then compile a list, in consultation with NEMO, for approval by the Ministry. All assistance will be directed through the students’ respective school.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all these families and students. Read More

B.E.L. reports progress in
restoring power

Belize Electricity Limited reports that they are making rapid progress in the restoration of service to areas affected by Hurricane Dean. According to a company release, current has been restored to essential service providers like Corozal Hospital, Belize Water Services and B.T.L. With ten crews in the area B.E.L. says that by the end of today half the town should have been switched on. In the Orange Walk District thirty-one of thirty-three villages have been energised while power has also been restored to San Pedro Ambergris Caye with the exception of a few customers on the north side of the island. The good news from Mexico is that it’s own power grid in Quintana Roo has been repaired and power is once again being fed into Belize. While the Mexican transmission was interrupted B.E.L. was able to supply Belize’s needs through the use of the Chalillo, Mollejon and Hydro Maya hydroelectric plants and the Mile Eight turbine. Read More

Publisher of CHISPAS Series
Assures Ministry of Education of
intentto correct "error"

Following up on its commitment to address the concerns raised recently about some illustrations appearing in the Spanish Textbook under the Government of Belize National Textbook Programme, “Chispas Series”, the Ministry of Education informs school managements, the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), principals, teachers, and parents of the following:
By way of an official correspondence, Hartcourt Education Ltd., Publisher of the “Chispas Series”, has accepted full and unconditional responsibility for the “error” made in respect of the line of demarcation between the countries of Belize and Mexico. To quote the Publisher, “We have looked at the pages you mentioned and it does indeed appear that the designer we used failed to draw the boundary line between Belize and Mexico. We can only apologize for this error and assure you that it will be corrected when the books come up for their next reprint”.
Further to this acknowledgement, the Publisher has promised to design, develop, and produce a wall poster which will clearly highlight Belize as separate and independent of Mexico. All primary schools in the country will be provided with sufficient copies of the poster for use by the teachers in their instruction.
The Ministry of Education had, at the very outset, recognized the “error” evident in the “Chispas Series” and has always treated the concerns relating to this “error” as legitimate and valid. It is in this vain that the Ministry immediately contacted the Publisher and made known its wish to have the “error” rectified. Read More

NOTICES/LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Re Jim Janmohammed of NEMO and Eiden Salazar of Reef Radio- You are setting the bar very high! And each time, you are both there and way way beyond ....Hoping there won't be another storm! and if there is another, knowing that you guys will be on top of it, makes it Better! Way Better! Alli

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Living together is an art

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