A $1.4 million dollar project, which will renovate and expand the municipal market in Dangriga, will be officially launched today in that municipality. The project is the largest infrastructure project started to date under the Government’s $30 million Belize Municipal Development Project (BMDP), which aims to bring much needed infrastructure development to seven municipalities in Belize.

The project, which is expected to begin in the next two weeks, will rehabilitate the existing Ferro-concrete market building, including the fish section of the market, to improve the working conditions of the vendors, and provide an extension of approximately 2,000 square feet for additional stall space for some of the vendors presently occupying the market’s parking lot. On completion of the project, the facility will have the capacity to accommodate approximately 41 stalls.

The nine vendors occupying the parking lot of the market will be relocated to the enhanced facility.

The end result of this project will be an improved market where vendors will offer a better service and where residents of Dangriga will be able to interact in a more pleasant and safe environment.

The project will be implemented by the Project Implementation Unit of the BMDP under the umbrella of the Social Investment Fund including counterpart funding from the Dangriga Town Council.

The BMDP is a project financed by the Government of Belize through a loan from the World Bank. The project aims to improve access to basic municipal infrastructure and to enhance municipal management in selected Town and City Councils of Belize. These include Belmopan, Benque Viejo del Carmen, San Ignacio and Santa Elena, Dangriga, Punta Gorda, Corozal and Orange Walk.

The project is focusing on three main categories namely:Municipal Infrastructure Investments, Technical Assistance and Capacity Building for Town and City Councils and Central Government and Project Management and Administration.

The keynote speaker at the launching ceremony will be Hon. Santiago Castillo, Minister of State with responsibility for Economic Development.

Other speakers at the official launching ceremony will include Mr. Daniel Cano, Executive Director of the Social Investment Fund, Retired Major Gilbert Swaso, Mayor of Dangriga and Venancia Flores, Deputy Mayor of Dangriga Town among others. There will also be presentations by the Lirahunu Satuye Cultural Group.

The Guardian

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF BELIZE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT HELD

A special ceremony for the launch of the Dangriga market project took place today.

Harry Arzu reporting…

“Official launching of the rehabilitation and expansion project for the Dangriga Town market under the Belize Municipal Development Project were held today.  Daniel Cano is the Executive Director for Social Investment Fund.

Daniel Cano – Executive Director, SIF

“This morning we launched the 1.4 million dollar project which is expected to startn in the next two weeks.  It will rehabilitate the existing market building, including the fish section of the market, to improve the working conditions for vendors and provide an extension  for additional stall space for  the vendors presently occupying the market’s parking-lot.  On completion of the project, the facility will have the capacity to accommodate approximately 41 stalls, 25 new and 19 refurbished stalls. The nine vendors occupying the parking-lot of the market will be relocated to the enhanced facility.

 The end result of this project will be an improved market where the vendors will offer a better service and where residents of Dangriga will be able to interact in a more pleasant and safe environment.

The project is being implemented by the Project Implementation Unit of the BMDP under the umbrella of the Social Investment Fund.”

Keynote speaker at today’s event was the Hon. Santiago Castillo, Minister of State with responsibility for Economic development.

Santiago Castillo – Minister of State

“The Government, the UDP Government continues to look for resources, even though we are in some hard economical conditions to ensure that we do projects which benefits Belizeans from all walks of life in all the municipalities.  This launching of this project in Dangriga, which is one of the biggest at 1.4 million, was of great satisfaction to the Government of Belize and as our slogan says we continue always for the people.”

Major Gilbert Swaso, Mayor of Dangriga told us how this will have an impact on the people of this municipality.

Major Gilbert Swaso – Mayor

“This project, the Dangriga Market extension and renovation, is a project that is one that is long anticipated by the residents and council of Dangriga.  This project certainly is one that will benefit our infrastructural development capacity greatly plus it will enhance the capacity of our people and it will bring economic prosperity for our residents particularly the farmers and the fisher folk.  Certainly the 1.4 million dollars which is the total cost of this project, we as a council are ensuring that the circulation of that monies is done within Dangriga by ensuring that our local contractors benefit tremendously from this project.  So we are quite happy for the launching of the project and we look forward to economic prosperity and development within Dangriga.”

Also in attendance was area representative for Dangriga,  Hon. Ivan Ramos, Hon. Francis Fonseca, leader of the People’s United Party among other members of Government and members of this municipality.”

The one point four million dollar project is the largest infrastructure project started to date under the Government’s 30 million dollars Belize Municipal Development Project, which aims to bring much needed infrastructure development to seven municipalities in Belize.

LOVEFM