Courts Gives Beds, Write-Offs to Majestic Alley Fire Victims

Eighteen families and just over fifty persons have been displaced by last Friday’s inferno that swept through an apartment complex and two houses in the heart of Fort George area, Majestic Alley. While some have been staying with relatives, majority of the affected persons have been living in shelters—and being provided with the basic necessities as they try to pick up the pieces from the third such tragedy in the community. Today, each family received a donation courtesy of Courts Belize. News Five was there and spoke with fire victim Melissa Major and Grisel Carballo of Unicomer.

Grisel Carballo

Grisel Carballo, Marketing/PR Officer, Unicomer (Belize) Limited

“As Courts today what we came to do is to assist them with the help that they are in need of. These sixteen families lost everything; they don’t have anything with them. So as a corporate citizen we try to always give back and some of these families are past and present customers of ours. So in trying to give back in any way possible to the sixteen families, on behalf of Courts, we are granting them each one double mattress as well as some pillows so that they can at least have the comfort of sleeping somewhere good in a comfort for them.”

Melissa Major, Fire Victim

“I’m grateful for the mattress and the pillow so that we can sleep more better than how we di sleep right now.”

Duane Moody

“In your family, how many of you guys were affected?”

Melissa Major

Melissa Major

“Well in my household I have five; in my ma household, she has four.”

Duane Moody

“Has there been help coming forward for you guys in terms of getting back what was lost?”

Melissa Major

“Well right now, we got—not the household items or stuff like that, but we have food; they bring food for us. The Human Services provide us with three hot meals per day. The Belize Red Cross has given us a little vat and the [National] Fire Service has filled it for us.”

Grisel Carballo

“Today it can be you, tomorrow me; that concept is what we try to instill always and as a corporate company courts being socially responsible being there for these victims is what we want to do and try to help them at least give them one less expense.”

As it relates to those victims who are current credit customers with Courts, their bills have been written off as a result of the fire.