Work continues on the San Mateo streets and the recent donation of $100,000 from Bay Trust International in Belize is in full swing, providing for two barges of hardcore being laid onto the streets in southern San Mateo, then graded. On Wednesday afternoon, November 21st workers and equipment were in full swing, bringing the dream of new streets to a reality for the residents of San Mateo. According to Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the donation will provide for three more barges of hardcore which will help to complete the streets in the southeastern part of San Mateo.
A dump truck, purchased a couple of months ago at a cost of $35,000 has been assigned to the San Mateo area to work on the roads as well. The vehicle was not in proper working condition when it was purchased, but after some much-needed work, it is in full operational mode. Speaking to the media, Mayor Guerro stated, “This truck used to have a huge back [portion] which we had to take off to turn it into a dump truck, and it now reaches international standards.” According to the Mayor, the work done on the truck easy exceeded $8,000. Mayor Guerrero is optimistic about the outcome of the work being done in San Mateo. He stated, “The council will continue work on the streets in San Mateo, going towards the west. We will try to open all of these streets to try to avoid these London bridges here. As you can see here it’s very beautiful… getting very solid… it’s a good foundation and I think it will be very soon that we will be able to get electricity [for the residents].”
Once work is done in San Mateo, the truck will be used to haul landfill material (crushed rock similar to marlstone) from Grand Belizean Estates to create roads in the Eiley Subdivion.
One San Mateo resident, who prefers to remain anonymous, commented on the new roads that finally reached her house, “This is really good to have the road in my area because I was waiting for it and finally it is here. Thank you very much to Mayor Daniel. And you know you are doing a very good job. Thank you very much.” For the past five years, this resident would walk on London bridges (single board bridges a few feet above foul water) and via canoe over the canal by Quality Poultry to get to her home. Now her hopes are to be able to more efficiently fill her property and soon get electricity.
Aside from these areas the Mayor plans to redo the road leading from the San Pedro Marina all the way through town, where heavier traffic is a constant.
