| No Sittee River bridge yet! Hundreds stranded in Toledo District |
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| Written by Administrator | |
| Tuesday, 27 July 2010 | |
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The southern Stann Creek communities and the entire Toledo District was severed from the rest of the country after rising river waters inundated the causeway that had replaced the damaged Kendal Bridge two years ago. The increase in river levels across the country was caused by a tropical wave which passed over the Yucatan pensinsula over the last twenty four hours. As a result, the Sittee River levels increased and in a matter of hours the causeway was under several feet of water. Since yesterday, vehicles, buses, nor goods trucks could make it to the Toledo District, leaving hundreds stranded. The impassable area has been a constant headache for commuters on an almost regular basis, since Government has failed to instal a proper bridge. Between May 30th and June 1st 2008, the Kendal Bridge was swept away by powerful floods following the passage of Tropical Storm Arthur. Four days later, Government appealed to the Caribbean Development Bank for financial assistance to restore the bridge and other damaged areas, which was granted through a $17.6m dollar loan. But Government has moved at a snail’s pace to restore the bridge, and more than two years later there are still no signs that the small bridge being used will be replaced any time soon. The Prime Minister had announced in his Budget speech in March of this year that it would happen very soon, but that was five months ago and Belizeans keep on waiting. |
