Government Considers Relocation for Flooded Villages in Northern and Western Belize

The ongoing flooding in the north and west is pushing the government to consider solutions to assist impacted residents, including possibly relocating them. Villages near rivers such as the Mopan River, Rio Hondo, and Belize River, have been grappling with flood conditions for the past few weeks. The floods have forced the closures of bridges and roads and also damaged infrastructure causing water shortages in some areas. Today, the Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change Orlando Habet, said that there’s no easy fix for the affected villages but the government is looking at possible remedies. 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development: “This type of flooding it is historical in a way because I think way back in the 70s during the time of the late father of the nation George Price the communities were approached to see the possibility of relocation because it is difficult to go in every year it is like if some people would say well you’re looking forward to it because then you come with the suppliers you come with assistance you come with the housing but it is cost the government. There have been recommendations from other institutions that say, listen, it is better to relocate them. And I think, for example in Douglas, I think Nuevo San Juan was a village that was an area that was designed for relocation but you know how it is we say well my navel is buried here so I want to stay there but it is a problem. But it is something that the government would have to have a policy decision and say, listen this is what we have to do. In Billy White, for example, it was the lowest village in my constituency. They had all the vector diseases after the flooding events for mosquitoes. And so we got a project through the European Union and so we did a lot of drainage. We spent over $300,000 in drainage and now much of that problem is now gone. Of course, they are dirt drains, so they will need constant maintenance to have it up kept. I know it is difficult but there are certain areas where we did not plan it that way and the communities developed on their own and the government has to take on the responsibility.”

The latest flood report coming from the National Hydrological Service shows that flood warnings are still in place for the Rio Hondo and Belize Rivers. There is also a severe flood warning in place for the Rio Hondo at Blue Creek North and Douglas.