Belize HURRICANE RICHARD NEWS ON 2nd MORNING AFTER!

CHANNEL 7 TRANSMISSION TOWER COLLAPSES
Channel 7 TV apologized for being off the air yesterday with their TV coverage. They showed photos of their collapsed transmission tower. Buckled beyond repair. They have shifted to an emergency backup tower to continue broadcasting. Love FM of Channel 5 was the only tv station to continue broadcasting through the Hurricane.

CAYE CAULKER AND SAN PEDRO BEACH EROSION BY STORM SURGE
Early reports from Caye Caulker and San Pedro claim the biggest problem they had was with tidal surge and beach erosion. Since these two TOURIST islands are responsible for the core National Tourist Package, and a tourist product without beaches soon loses their tourists; it behooves this UDP government to quickly tender contracts for portable dredging to reclaim the beaches out there. ( About $300,000 needed ) Tourism is responsible for 1/3 rd of the Belize government revenues each year. The beach at least on Caye Caulker is made up of a 24 ft wide beach street and a 66 ft right of way belonging to the government above the high tide mark. Without tourism, government revenues could drop by $300 million a year.

3 PEOPLE SWEPT AWAY BY HIGH HURRICANE SURGE FROM BLUEFIELD RANGE RESORT AND FISHING CAMPS
The Belize Coast Guard have picked up two swimmers from Bluefield range on the Great Barrier Reef. The EYE of Hurricane Richard is believed to have gone right over this set of cayes. One swimmer swam 20 miles to Spanish Caye further West and one swimmer is still missing, while the Coast Guard have started searching again this morning.

COBIA FISH FARMING PROJECT ON ROBINSON POINT CAYES STILL NOT HEARD FROM?
The net fish farming operation of salt water COBIA raised fish has not yet been heard from on Robinson Point. They are believed to have been fairly close to the worst side of the EYE of Hurricane Richard.

VIDEOS STILL SHOW MUCH OF THE SEASIDE SUBURBS indundated with flood water in the Port of Belize City. Piers for the RADISSON HOTEL was severly damaged, if not destroyed.

CITRUS FARMERS LOST A LOT OF ORANGES BLOWN OFF TREES
Citrus growers got hit with a lot of trees damaged, or blown down and oranges are all over the ground. Attempts are being made to bag them for delivery to the Citrus Factory. This morning on the NEWS the Citrus Growers Association declare a continuation of the WAR with the investors from the Eastern Caribbean who built their Citrus Factory. There is a General Meeting on Friday to come, for this war of words. In the meantime, the CITRUS FACTORY is talking diversification of product, to pineapples, coconut water, passion fruit and other sources of supply to cover the expenses of a factory that has twice the capacity to handle fruit than currently available from the Citrus Growers Association members.

JAGUAR TRAPS SET IN LOCALITY OF ESCAPED JAGUAR
The Jaguar that escaped during the hurricane has now got six traps set out for it. The decision has been reached that it will be put to sleep when caught, as having lost it´s fear of humans, and already killed one man, it is too dangerous to leave running loose.

GOVERNMENT AGREES BELIZE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAND HURRICANE REHABILITATION IN THE PORT TOWN.
Elsewhere in the country of Belize, NEMO the National Emergency Management Operation will handle rehabilitation assistance to damaged homeless people.

PORT TOWN IN GOOD SHAPE!
Donations are pouring into the Belize City Council. Finstein Group donated $50,000 in building supplies, Bank of Nova Scotia donated $50,000 cash. MEXICAN emergency supply convey will be mostly used in Belize City.

PORT OF BELIZE CITY DAMAGES
The sea water side homes along the beach on South Side of the port has had several rows of houses destroyed. Mostly older wooden homes. The storm surge varied between 4 feet and 10 feet depending on location. Most wooden homes on the shore were broken up and the cement buildings had water inside the first floor for about 4 feet. This has destroyed personal belongings,furniture and appliances. No lives are known to be lost. The storm surge high water penetrated about 1/8th of a mile inland. This has always been PRIME PROPERTY for the views of the sea and the cooling trade winds. Owned and passed down through generations of port families.