World Bank VP Visits Vulnerable Communities in Belize City

Yesterday we told you about the visit of officials from the World Bank to vulnerable communities in Belize City. As we reported, the representatives including the Vice President of the World Bank spoke with community members to get a firsthand look at the causes and consequences of living in vulnerable communities. It is the hope of residents that the visit will bring fruitful progress.  Explaining the visit’s significance is Commissioner of Police Chester Williams. 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “We had the World Bank visit to the different communities on south side Belize City yesterday. As you would know that the president or the Vice President of the World Bank along with other representatives are in country to look at several projects that we may have to see how they’ll be able to contribute to Belize in terms of trying to uplift the way of life for particularly those persons living in these impoverished areas. And so we are grateful to have their visit. We have shared with them our multisectoral approach to fighting crime which they’re excited about and I’m hoping that if there is any contribution that they can give that it will be able to dove tail into our strategy and once that is done then certainly there’s a lot that we can do for our young people to  uplift them in different ways. Our people are very skillful they do have plans, they do have projects that they like to execute but funding is always an issue and so if we can find that source of funds to be able to help them to become more self sufficient as opposed to be more dependent on the state or other people it certainly is going to help tremendously for us. The question has been asked as to whether or not the World Bank will contribute, that is something I’m sure the executive branch of government is going to look at but I can also assure you that whether or not they give anything through our minister Mr.Musa and the Ministry of Home Affairs we are in constant dialogue with the Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance to see how best they government can continue to finance some of the projects that we’re doing through LIU because we do understand and appreciate the value that the LIU is to our crime fighting strategy and so the government is committed as well to do what they can to secure the ongoing or the continuation of the LIU project. So if World Bank comes in and contributes it will add to what government is already committing in terms of making sure the work of LIU continues.”