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The Belize Times
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Angry ex-boyfriend is main suspect in arson that leaves family homeless
Belize City police are expected to bring a charge of Arson against the man they have in custody for a fire that completely destroyed two houses and scorched four others in a breezy Monday morning inferno in Petticoat Alley. The blaze was reported sometime around 3:00 that morning and spread from an old abandoned wooden house at number 14, before quickly spreading to a second wooden house at number 22, which was occupied by the family of Doreth Forman. Forman herself was not in Belize City at the time, but four cousins and nieces were, and it was while one of them got got to use the bathroom that she heard the cracking and discovered that the house was ablaze. They only had time to run out to safety without saving anything. The yard itself beneath the house
at #14 was filled with garbage and fire investigators had to sift through a heap of burnt garbage before finding the
evidence. They did so on Tuesday and handed that evidence over to police. That was not the only challenge they
had, as fighting the blaze itself proved a feat in itself, considering that Petticoat Alley, which has old houses punctuating certain spots, the close proximity between them and a hearty breeze blowing from the Caribbean, providing enough fuel for a bigger disaster. Such was not the case, however, as tactical firefighting and luck was on the side of the firemen. This time, water pressure did not pose a problem either, as on previous occasions. When it was brought under control about an hour later, two two houses at number 14 and 22 were totally gutted, but a third wooden structure in the same yard at number 18 was still standing. Heat damage and scorching are very visible on the sides of four other houses which faced the inferno but were located in adjacent yards.
For almost two decades the Belize Waste Control Co. Ltd. has been collecting and tr ucking away, free of cost, the g arbag e that schools in Belize City produce. But as they say, all g ood things must come to an end and last week, the schools received their notification from the company that effective August 30th, that free ser vice will be no more. W hile the schools have enjoyed the free ser vice, the notice could not have come at a worse time for them. T he
star t of a new school year is Se ptember 1, two days after the deadline for the first payment. T he schools have already dealt with registration and incidentals for the year with their student body, so there are only two options available to them: either they appeal to the Ministr y to inter vene or, they charg e the students a monthly fee until the next school year when they will probably have to attach an additional cost to the registration fees for the new expense. T he situation is one that the
Association of Primar y Schools' President, Loreen Cieg o says they cannot afford, simply because their budg ets have been worked out to the nearest dollar for this school year. T he figure that Waste Control has calculated as fair charg e for their ser vices is approximately $180 per week per school. BWC's Manag er, Georg e Lamb says he is cognizant of the fact that schools, especially the ones that cater to less privileg ed children will not be able to come up with that amount. He expressed a
willingness to sit and neg otiate with them individually to work out an ag reement. T he City Council meantime, has been slow in tr ying to offer any solution to a potential g arbag e crisis at the City's schools. Instead De puty Mayor, Philip Willoughby was quick to appear on television soon after the announcement just to say that the ser vice has been rendered for free for 18 years. It's exactly one week before classes reopen. We'll see how this one pans out.
Schools to pay for garbage collection
Announces its
2010 CALL FOR PROPOSALS The PACT was formally established in January 1996 with the passing of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, No. 15 of 1995, creating the institution as a Statutory Board. The functions of PACT are to encourage and promote, for the benefit and enjoyment of the present and future generations of the people of Belize, the provision, protection, conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural resources of Belize. The PACT is managed by a Board of Directors that is comprised of Government agencies, non-government organizations and individual experts. The PACT is hereby inviting eligible organizations to submit proposal applications for its 2010 grant cycle. Consistent with this year’s programmatic priorities, viable projects should fall within one of the two funding options outlined below: 1. For the terrestrial protected areas network, grant funding is available to support three projects targeting the *Maya Mountain – Mountain Pine Ridge Massif. The maximum amount per grant that can be requested is BZ$100,000. A minimum of 25% co-financing is required for each project. 2. Through a partnership with the Oak Foundation, grant funding is available to support marine conservation initiatives. Funding is available to support three projects targeting the **Belize Barrier Reef System. The maximum amount per grant is BZ$100,000. A minimum of 25% co-financing is required for each project. Generally, proposals should fall within at least one of the following thematic areas: 1. Protected Areas Management and Conservation 2. Protected Areas Promotion and Development Only projects related to the conservation and management of a legally established protected area will be considered for funding. For application forms, detailed information on the funding priorities, project eligibility and eligible organizations, contact the PACT’S Associate Director – Grants or email grantsinfo@pactbelize.org. All applications should be submitted to the relevant government agency (Forest Department or Fisheries st Department) no later than October 1 , 2010 for the required letter of endorsement. Thereafter, complete applications with the letter of endorsement should be submitted in hard copy to the PACT no later than October nd 22 , 2010. All project applications are subjected to the established screening procedures. *The Maya Mountain – Mountain Pine Ridge Massif includes the block of protected areas as defined in the National Protected Areas System Plan ** Belize Barrier Reef System includes the protected areas as defined in the National Protected Areas System Plan.
Complete applications should be addressed to:
Associate Director - Grants Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) #3 Mango Street/P.O. Box 443 Belmopan, Cayo Re: 2010 Grant Application