San
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Tuesday, July 21,
2009 Belize's Only Daily |
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Cases of Dengue Reported in Belize
 Cases of
Dengue In Belize
Over the past week residents of the Cayo District have expressed concerns about the recent outbreak of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in that locality. But after making a few check in San Pedro, Ambergris Today has discovered that there has been a few reported cases on the island as well. In the absence of the Director of Health Services, Dr. Michael Pitts, Deputy DHS Marjorie Parks spoke to Love FM and said that since dengue is endemic to Belize it is expected that there will be sudden occurrences on an annual basis. Parks said because of Benque Viejo’s proximity to Melchor de Mencos in Guatemala residents in that town are experiencing a slight increase in the number of cases because Melchor is considered a hotspot for the illness. She further mentioned that the Ministry of Health has already begun an awareness campaign on proper health practices to avoid the fever by destroying breeding grounds for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito responsible for its spread. * What is Dengue? It is an infectious disease caused by a virus and is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. There are two types of Dengue; (i) Dengue (ii) Dengue Hemorrhagic. Dengue Hemorrhagic is when a person that is already affected by Dengue gets bitten a second time, then develops Dengue Hemorrhagic which in most cases is fatal. Dengue cannot be transmitted by direct contact by someone who is already infected; it can only be transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito after it has fed on sick person’s blood. The mosquito can travel for very long distances and thus it can contaminate people from different communities. Symptoms: *Sudden and sharp high fever that last for five or seven days. *Intense pain on the muscles, bones, head and eyes. *Shin rash, vomiting and diarrhea *Bitter taste in the mouth *Some patients can suffer from bleeding episodes in ears and other body parts. *Dengue Hemorrhagic is particularly serious. It can be fatal especially for children under 15. Treatment: There is no treatment or vaccine available for Dengue. If a person is infected he should drink plenty of liquids and rest in bed. He should take some medications to reduce the fever, malaise and intense pain. No aspirin should be taken. If a person suspects that he could have Dengue Hemorrhagic he should immediately go to the nearest medical center. General Characteristics of the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes: These mosquitoes need accumulated and uncovered water for its reproduction so that they lay and rear their eggs. This process can take place both in clean or dirty water. They can develop in any type of receptacle such as bottles, old car wheels, flower vases, roof water drainage, tin cans and toys. Also natural water areas such as ponds, tree holes, fruit peels and plants. These mosquitoes develop in both rural and urban areas but mostly bite during the daytime. Ambergris Today CAPACITY
IS SUSTAINABLE AT THIS TIME
Belize
Electricity Limited says that the company currently has sufficient
generation to supply the country’s demand at this time. While CFE has
confirmed that they are able to provide Belize with approximately
fifteen percent of its energy demand, BEL says that because the cost of
power from CFE is much higher at this time, the company will only take
power from BEL as a last option. Currently BEL is taking sixteen
megawatts of electricity from Belize Aquaculture Limited and thirty two
point five megawatts of electricity from Belize Electric Company
Limited. Hydro Maya and the gas turbine remain off line while repairs
are being carried out. The gas turbine is expected to be operational by
the end of this week. BEL says that in the event of a planned power
outage, they will provide customers with advance notice where possible.LoveFM
PRESS RELEASE
FROM PLACENCIA CITIZENS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Dated 17th June – for immediate release
Belize’s Secret Environmental Committee A shock announcement by Mr. Anthony Mai of the Department of the Environment that the names of members of the National Environment Advisory Committee (NEAC) are secret has left concerned citizens in Seine Bight, Maya Beach and Placencia reeling. NEAC is the committee legally charged with giving clearance for all development projects requiring environmental review, such as shrimp farms, resorts, World Heritage site projects, dams, free zones and many other major undertakings that closely affect the lives of Belizeans. Mr. Mai made the announcement last week at a public meeting held by DOE to discuss a proposal for approval to build a second huge marina on the Peninsula says Co-Chair of the Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development, Vincent Lopez, “We were horrified when we learnt that the names of NEAC members are secret. People at the public meeting last week repeatedly asked for the identities of the committee members, but were told by Mr. Mai that NEAC members did not wish their names to be known.” “We, on the other hand, were required to give our names before speaking at the meeting, and we were also videoed. This was an open public meeting that anyone could attend. We are not afraid or ashamed of our identities, but this insistence on recording a public meeting certainly smacks of the police state. We were not told in advance that the meeting would be recorded or why, and some people at the meeting felt it was intended to intimidate them.” Continues Mr. Lopez, “We are outraged at this situation. These people on NEAC are making decisions that affect the lives and livelihoods of all the people of Belize, and we aren’t even allowed to know who they are. What possible reason could there be for this kind of secrecy by a PUBLIC committee?” “Our current government promised us that government activities would be transparent. I can’t think of any issue closer to the Belizean heart and soul than the very fate of this land – and it’s being decided by a bunch of faceless mystery men. I am sure that Prime Minister Barrow will want to give this his immediate attention, and allow fresh air to blow through the workings of this critically important environmental committee, which has so much power over all of our lives.” Recent projects that have raised questions in the minds of many Belizeans on the Placencia Peninsula include the ongoing construction of an international airport on the Peninsula, mangrove clearance at World Heritage sites, permission for an airstrip at Harvest Caye which will destroy an important manatee feeding site, large scale dredging in the Placencia Lagoon, the approval of a large resort on False Caye (an important mangrove, juvenile fish and coral area off the Peninsula) and numerous other deeply worrying decisions. Concludes Mr. Lopez, “I believe that we as Belizeans have an absolute right to know who the people are who are making these staggeringly important decisions which will impact our country for generations to come. What can possibly be the motive for keeping these names secret? Our organisation and others will be pressing the government for a statement and an immediate change of policy in this matter.” For further information, contact Mary Toy, Co-Chair, Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development, 610-4718 $2 million of
Housing Money Disbursed
“What’s up with the housing money?” It’s a
question we hear
all the time by folks who supported the Barrow Administration in its
bid to get back the money from the Belize Bank – where it had been used
for partial settlement of the government guaranteed Universal debt -
and use it for what it was intended, which is the housing needs of the
poorest of the poor. Well, tonight we can tell you what is up with the
money after we visited one of the subcommittee meetings which decides
on who will get a grant either for a small home or for home
improvements. This subcommittee is the major one for the Belize
district and it is chaired by the Minister of Housing who explained to
us that so far two million dollars has been disbursed.
Hon. Michael Finnegan, Minister of Housing “We have disbursed about $2 million already throughout the country.” And today they were dealing with Lake Independence. Hon. Michael Finnegan, “All of them, all this here are applications for Lake Independence.” Jules Vasquez, “There are about hundreds. How many have been approved?” Hon. Michael Finnegan, “About seven or eight of them.” Jules Vasquez, “Why so few?” Hon. Michael Finnegan, “Because the others lack information which we will request the necessary information.” These notes indicate that information is lacking but that is not the end of it for these applications. Hon. Michael Finnegan, “As the project manager, I will get in touch with the Area Representative who is Cordel Hyde and will request the necessary information and when he gets the necessary information in another two or three weeks when this committee meets again then these will be approved.” Jules Vasquez, “So the door is not closed?” Hon. Michael Finnegan, “No these aren’t closed, these will be accepted.” So far a number of divisions have gotten their $400,000. Jules Vasquez, And while Finnegan insists he is not playing politics, he says
he is also managing it very tightly. LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace Carlos Santana
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