Letter to Hon John Briceno

May 4th, 2011
Hon. John Briceno
Party Leader
People's United Party

Dear Hon. Briceno
The residents of Ambergris Caye are still in shock following the death of a child due to the lack of an adequate medical facility, and the unavailability of an emergency transportation off Ambergris Caye. I am humbly asking you to raise the issue in the next sitting of the House of Representative scheduled for Friday May 13th, 2011 for and on behalf of the people of San Pedro Ambergris Caye.

It is my humble option that one of the basic needs of any human is to have access to adequate health care. In this time and age, there is absolutely no excuse for a mother to lose her child due to the lack of an appropriate health facility. In the past, BATSUB would transport patients from San Pedro and Caye Caulker at night to Belize City. In August of 2010, those services were discontinued and since then the residents of both islands have been left in the cold and are forced to find other alternatives to get their loved ones off the island in an emergency. The Area Representative of Belize Rural South Hon. Manuel Heredia has indicated in two separate instances that the matter would be raised in Cabinet; there has been absolutely no solution or indication that Cabinet is treating this matter with urgency.

This matter needs URGENT attention because the life of over 12 thousand residents of Ambergris Caye is being gambled with. It is unfair that at this point, San Pedro Ambergris Caye has made no substantial progress to its only public health facility since the inauguration of the Poly-Clinic. The residents of this island do not have a certified and equipped child birth and emergency facility on this island. San Pedro is the number one tourism destination, one of the communities that generates the most in revenues but yet is neglected with a basic necessity such as an adequate health facility on the island.

The only available transportation off the island during a night emergency is via a chartered plane from one of the commercial airlines, which cost over $3000.00. The marginalized, working class and the poor people of this community, which is the majority, cannot afford such an option. The death of the baby belong to the Narvaez family could have been prevented if there was the adequate facility or a quick and practical emergency air transportation off the island.

While the death of the baby is irreversible, it emphasizes the urgent need and should serve as wake-up call for our elected officials to put our country and people first. However, it seems no-one has awoken. Hence, I am writing you to kindly raise the issue and lobby to the government for us the residents of Ambergris Caye.

Looking forward for a response in regards to such important and urgent issue.

Yours truly,

Jorge Aldana
San Pedro Town
Ambergris Caye, Belize

Resident of San Pedro Ambergris Caye