Public meeting at San Mateo tonight

As part of their Education, Health and Child Welfare class students of the University of Mississippi arrived on the island eager to learn what they could. What they got was a shock into the stark contradiction of living in some of the rural areas in Ambergris Caye. The area that they have had the opportunity to see has been the San Mateo Area and last Saturday, these seven students met with close to 25 families in the area which candidly discussed the issues plaguing their everyday life. From the lack of electricity to high expenditure in the price of water to a non existent road these families expressed their frustration in not receiving any assistance from government officials. In the meeting which spanned over an hour, parents discussed the unhealthy lifestyle which they are forced to go through without the existence of a proper road. All those in attendance were in agreement when they said that they would have no qualms in helping to get funding and offered labor to make the road a reality.

Finances need to be raised so that assessment and purchasing of material can commence. Other problems will also be addressed in an effort to provide the residents a better standard of living. Because of this, students continue in their efforts to gather as much information from residents as to their needs and their opinions on how to move forward. Therefore, students of the University of Mississippi are inviting residents of the San Mateo Area and the general public to a town meeting to be held at the church in San Mateo.