Flowers Family Broken after Zacaranda Street Arson; Help Needed
A Belize City family is tonight seeking public assistance to recover some of what they’ve lost, following a fire that destroyed their home and all its contents three weeks ago. Patrice Flowers, her common-law-husband and their children have been separated from each other, living in different homes as they remain in distress from the disaster on Zacaranda Street. While the wooden house may not have been much to the person that set the place on fire, it was a home for the Flowers family. Patricia, who has been in and out of the hospital, is overwhelmed because she is unable to get the much needed assistance in order to rebuild and send her children back to school in September. She spoke with News Five today about her dilemma.
Patricia Flowers
Patricia Flowers, Fire Victim
“Since my house burnt down, it has been a chaos. I mean in and out of police station, in and out of offices…nothing really happening. I’m not a person who usually goes to the public with everything, but been with all rumors and stupid talking around. I mean come on, I’m a regular person just like everyone else; it could have happened to anyone of us. I have a carnival group and it’s been said that my house was burnt down because I want carnival pity. Who in this world needs pity from carnival with all that I had in my house and all belonging to my children. I am surprised what people can say about you when you are in a disaster.”
Duane Moody
“Trying to recover what was lost, where are you with that?”
Patricia Flowers
“Honestly Duane, I am nowhere. I mean the only thing I can say is thanks to Mister Kevin Pollard from NEMO; he has been out there, he has brought us two mattresses, some groceries. Food, we have…clothes, we are getting from our neighbors that have known us since childbirth. But to get somewhere to stay…I mean I have been staying with my friend; this will be three weeks. My kids stay with my mother. Me and my boyfriend are like separated—one have to stay here, one have to stay there, the children staying there. Thanks to Miss Sandra Mahler, and Belize City Council and NICH and Travellers trying to put together a fundraising to help me and my kids, especially to get them into school. And to say with my housing, I guess I will do what I have to do with my carnival group and start making dinners and stuff to get back what I can get.”
Anyone who would like to assist can attend the fundraising event at the Battlefield Park in downtown Belize City on Saturday, August fifth. Or if you would like to contact Flowers directly, she can be reached her at 665-6226.
