By Belize Live News Staff: Following the tragic drowning of young King Shakel Wade, Mayor Bernard Wagner has emphasized the critical need for increased parental supervision, particularly in areas near the city’s canals.
In a statement given shortly after the incident, Mayor Wagner expressed his condolences to the family and shared his thoughts on the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. “It’s unfortunate that young children are not supervised, and it’s a supervision issue,” Wagner said. He noted that while canals have been a part of the city landscape since his childhood, such tragic events underscore the need for vigilance. “I think this may be the first incident I’ve heard of someone falling in a canal in my entire life,” the Mayor stated, adding that while rare, the consequences are devastating. “It’s one off, but we can’t lose the fact that a child died.”
Wade’s drowning has sparked a conversation on the importance of constant awareness of children’s whereabouts. Mayor Wagner reinforced this message, stating, “As parents, we have to be held accountable. We have to know every time where our children are, and so I support that from the mayor’s standpoint.”
