Power Restored to 83% of Customers Who Lost Electricity Supply during Hurricane Richard

-Press Release - Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) - As of 5:00 p.m. today, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has restored power to approximately 83 per cent of customers who lost power supply during the passage of Hurricane Richard.

In the Southern Zone, works today were concentrated mostly in Dangriga Town as power supply was fully restored to Independence, Punta Gorda and surrounding areas on Monday. Power supply has since been restored to 75% of Dangriga and surrounding areas. In the Western Zone, most areas were also restored by last night and today more sections in Belmopan and San Ignacio were restored, bringing the total percentage with power in the Western Zone to 91. In the Central Zone (Belize City and surrounding communities) power has been restored to 70% of affected customers.

BEL expects to restore power to most of the remaining affected areas by later tonight. There may still be pockets of customers who will remain without power, due to extensively damaged infrastructure, such as customer-owned service connections. These customers need to remain disconnected in order to carry out repairs.

As part of the restoration works, BEL work crews are thoroughly inspecting distribution power lines as well as service connections to customers’ homes and businesses to ensure that it is safe to energize each community. BEL must ensure that these issues are addressed before energizing power systems in various communities because low hanging wires and wires lying in water present a critical safety hazard to the public.

BEL thanks customers for their patience and will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available.

-END-

New Mayan Studies Section at the SP Town Library

The San Pedro Public Library is assembling a new Mayan Studies Section, with special emphasis on the Mayan Calendar. Prophecies from other cultures, and sources sorting fact from fiction in exploring the meaning of 2012 from the particular perspective of the classic Mayans are being gathered in anticipation of the upcoming date.

A few recently published books are much needed for this collection. Most are available from Amazon or bookstores. The Library will be hugely grateful if you are traveling with access to a bookstore and would like to make a valuable and permanent contribution to this timely project.

Meanwhile, come by the library and look over a number of recent articles available, conveying up-to-date information about this often confusing but most unique time in the evolution of the earth and in human history.

A partial all-paperback Wish List.

(Others also welcomed) :

“The Mayan Factor” by Jose Arguelles

“The Return of Quetzalcoatl” by Daniel Pinchbeck

“2012: Science or Superstition” by Alexandra Bruce

“The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies and Possibilities” A

book of readings.

“Not in His Image: Gnostic Vision, Sacred Ecology and the Fate of

Belief” by John Lamb Lash

“Popul Vuh” ancient Mayan story of the Genesis of man

“Beyond 2012: Catastrophe or Awakening?” by Geoff Stray

“Time Wave Zero” by Terrence McKenna

Traffic Accident on Coconut Drive!

An unfortunate accident involving a KIA Sportage and a Club Car Golf Cart took place this evening at the North-East corner of the San Pedro Airstrip (on Coconut Drive).
Details are sketchy at this point as to what led to the accident, and The San Pedro Sun will be investigating and getting the details as they become available.

BEL Working to Restore Power Following Passage of Hurricane Richard

Press Release - October 25, 2010 - BEL - Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) advises that the Company conducted a damage assessment earlier today and has commenced restoration works to provide power supply to areas affected by power outages since the passage of Hurricane Richard on Sunday.

The hurricane caused downed power lines and damaged utility poles in several parts of the Belize and Cayo Districts. Employees are working diligently to restore power as soon as possible with top priority placed on restoration to critical services such as hospitals.

As part of the restoration works, BEL work crews are thoroughly inspecting distribution power lines as well as service connections to customers’ homes and businesses to ensure that it is safe to energize each community. BEL must ensure that these issues are addressed before energizing power systems in various communities because live wires lying in water presents a critical safety hazard to the public.

Customers along the Western Highway from La Democracia to Blackman Eddy may not have power restored until Tuesday due to extensively damaged transmission lines.

Power supply has been restored to Independence Village, Punta Gorda Town and surrounding areas. The Company expects to restore power to approximately 50% of customers in Dangriga Town and surrounding areas some time today, while repairs to damaged infrastructure continues.

In Belmopan, San Ignacio and surrounding areas, the Company is aiming to restore power supply to at least 80% of customers by later tonight.

In Belize City, power will likely be restored to 60% of customers tonight and in Ladyville and Hattieville, 90% of customers.

Pockets of customers in all affected areas will remain without power due to extensively damaged infrastructure and these areas need to remain disconnected in order to carry out repairs.

The Northern Zone, which includes the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts and San Pedro Town were not affected by power outages due to Hurricane Richard.

BEL thanks customers for their patience and will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available.

-END-

BTB Reports Travel Destinations Are In Good Shape

As of 10:00 a.m. MST today, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is reporting all key tourism destinations are in good shape following the passing of Hurricane Richard. The eye of Hurricane Richard reportedly made landfall around 7:45 pm MST on Sunday along the coast of Belize, roughly 20 miles south-southwest of Belize City. According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, maximum sustained winds at landfall were estimated at 90 mph.

As of this morning, the Belize National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) gave clearance for all in-country transportation services to resume operation, and the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA) in Belize City has reopened, allowing all airline carriers to resume flights in to Belize. While NEMO posted its last official report online at 7:20 p.m. MST on Sunday, the BTB has learned major tourist destinations including San Pedro and Caye Caulker have electricity and running water, and are in good condition. Destinations like Placencia, Punta Gorda and Hopkins are reportedly in good shape, however, electricity has not yet been restored.

While damage assessments are still underway, early reports indicate the areas primarily affected by Hurricane Richard are in and around Belize City. Richard’s overall impact in Belize City includes flooding, power outages and downed trees. Any additional information regarding Hurricane Richard can be found through NEMO’s website, www.nemo.org.bz or by calling the emergency line at (501) 822-0153.

Those attempting to reach family members or loved ones vacationing in Belize may experience some communication delays with e-mail and phone. However, the public is encouraged to visit the BTB’s emergency online site, www.belizeemergency.net, for the latest updates and information regarding any and all restoration efforts.