Mary Toy on Post-Iris Placencia

October 22, 2001

Clean-up work continues, especially in the area between Serenade and BTL on the Placencia Village sidewalk, the main road and two easement areas running between the road and the sidewalk where new underground utility lines will be located.

On October 21st, Tropic Air sponsored a much-welcomed barbecue on the Peninsula Point (Tradewinds property). Friends, family and neighbors were able to get together, eat some really good barbecued chicken, slaw and beans, watch a friendly BDF/Village volleyball game, and just generally relax.

Update on properties: The Pickled Parrot Restaurant structure in Placencia Village is pretty much ok, contrary to the earlier report. Barnacle Bill's in Maya Beach will re-open sometime around Thanksgiving.

Immediate needs for area residents include the following items:

These donations can be sent to Graham Cabral, Treasurer, Placencia Village Council, General Delivery, Placencia, Belize.

• Household items such as bedding, pots and pans, cooking and eating utensils, towels and wash cloths.
• Bicycles and bicycle repair items (inner tubes, patches)
• Sleeping bags, foam pads, pillows, tents.
• Building supplies such as plywood, zinc for roofs, hammers, nails, power tools.

Donations of books, writing materials, toys and learning activities for pre-schoolers can be sent to Lee Nyhus, Board of Directors, Placencia Pre-School, General Delivery, Placencia, Belize.

The biggest long-term need is donations to help house the neediest residents. The Placencia and Seine Bight Village Councils and the national government are in the process of finalizing a housing plan that will include building permits and standards, occupancy inspections and certified building contractors. We will provide further information as it becomes available.

October 18, 2001

Right now, the concentration is on getting water to people, putting on roofs and repairing the few inhabitable homes that are left, plus debris removal.

Tony Eiley expects to start rebuilding Dockside and Tentacles as soon as he can.

Norman and Jodie of Sea Spray but think they can have the two-story building reconstructed by Christmas. Westwind is still there, with some damages (a couple of rooms are still livable).

Jake Roberts, Kerrie Turton and Brad Turton have been working feverishly to restore the Internet Cafe (sans Internet) to provide free breakfasts to hurricane workers. The Galley is feeding the BDF and BJ's is the NEMO headquarters to provide meals and clothing to local residents.

Mariposa doesn't expect to be back on-line until Jan. 15 or later. Miller's Landing should be ready to go around Christmas.

Village Inn and Sun and Sea Cabanas were also damaged and we don't know when they plan to re-open. 2 structures remain on the Mother Ocean property.

I haven't been to Maya Beach since we drove through from Cave's Branch last Wednesday (a BIG thanks to Ian Anderson who took in a bunch of Placencia refugees and provided us with wonderful food and shelter, asking only for a contribution to the Rescue Team). However, I've been told that Barnacle Bill's is ready to go.

BEL is working frantically to restore electrical service. BTL has installed a bank of 5 pay phones and 2 Internet connections in a small building located behind the existing BTL building.

Some trees are already showing signs of new leaves, so we're keeping our fingers crossed. (My lobster law plants survived in pretty decent shape, and my neighbor's grapefruit tree looks better than ever.)