A New Home for Merlene King!

Back in November we told you about Belize City south side resident’s need for a new home. Merlene King, who lives on Jones Street in a dilapidated structure was having tough time staying safe and dry during the floods in the city. King shared with News Five that she was unable to provide for her meals, and so it was next to impossible to repair her home. Her cry for help caught the ears of several donors who came together to give her a brand new home today. News Five was on hand for the handing over of the twenty-four thousand dollar home.

Merlene Louise King

Merlene Louise King, House Recipient

“I thank Mr.  Isani to put me on the news to get this help and I thank the Mayor and my cousin Mr. Cordel Hyde, he gave me some assistance and everyone else – thanks for this. God knows I never believed I would live in a nice pretty house like this and I am thankful for everyone who helped me to get this good house.  It’s plenty different because I neva have a refrigerator. My house old and thing but I used to have it clean. I neva have a bathroom and I used to use a bucket to go to the canal and I am thankful now that I have a sewerage that I can use now. I neva have water and used to get that from my neighbour and pay by the month – so a lot of things I am thankful for that happened for me.”

Bernard Wagner

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“The sheer deplorable conditions she was living in, I didn’t see it fit for any human being. I had to try to mobilize to get some measure of resource to assist this lady.   Isani is actually the person who reported on Ms King and I told my team to get in touch with Isani and see how we can help. I came and saw the need and without getting any help, I moved Ms King out of the house and rented an apartment for her in the Lake I area for three months. I got on the phone and called Greg Maheia; the Taiwanese Ambassador and everybody was quickly on board with it.”