In its ongoing efforts to secure a sustainable child friendly municipality for the island of Ambergris Caye, the San Pedro Town Council today boasted its silver certification status as a child friendly community under the guidance of UNICEF. In celebration, a banner was unveiled at Central Park commemorating this historic achievement.
Out of the nine municipalities in the country of Belize, San Pedro Town is the first to reach a silver status following the most guidelines towards a platinum child friendly municipality. The initiative endures that children are protected, promoted and that their voices can be heard.
Young Keisha Samuels, a member of the Child Advisory Board, stresses her commitment into making the initiative a continued success
“Since the inception of the sustainable and child friendly municipalities initiative in 2014, the children of San Pedro Town who committed themselves to this initiative have tolled tremendously,” commented Hon. Ramiro Ramirez, Minister of State in Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labor and Local Government. “Tolled in the face of tremendous challenges, including storms, tragedy, trauma, COVID-19 and many other social and economic difficulties. Yet, we are still able to say that we have overcome and we will continue to overcome to make San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye a wonderful place for children to live and to grow.”
Hon. Ramiro Ramirez
Hon. Ramirez stated that the banner is a reminder of what our community can be and work to advance the status to aspire for gold and platinum is just the beginning. “The manifestation of this status as given through this recognition will be conveyed through the whole community’s approach in ensuring that our children are well and are doing well in this community,” he stressed.
Maintaining and improving on a child friendly community depends on the decisions the Town makes about trade licensing, parks and playgrounds, markets, sporting facilities, health education, social services and development projects. All of this is works towards ensuring children have access to education, are protected, have water and sanitation and access to technology.
Mayor Gualberto ‘Wally’ Nuñez
