Another week; another house falls apart
If you have been following the news regularly, it seems that almost every week a house in Belize City falls apart. And while one homeowner and a family of ten got a new house courtesy of her area representative early last week, another city resident finds himself in a dire situation. Thirty- four year old Kevin Flowers, a taxi driver by profession, says he has asked for help because of the poor condition of his house. And though he was waiting, time was not on his side. His house collapsed on Friday night. According to Flowers, luckily his common law wife and his child were not at home at the time.
Kevin Flowers, House Fell Apart
“Friday I come in fi change up and thing and as I burst di door ih start to crack up and thing and I done know cause dah something I mi di expect. From wah couple days ago ih start to move up and thing.”
Jose Sanchez
“So weh happen Friday night?”
Kevin Flowers
“Ih just crack up and bruk up when I open di door di attempt fi go inside fi bathe and change up fi go out back go run taxi yeah.”
Jose Sanchez
“And di house, is it leaking?”
Kevin Flowers
“Yes, di roof leak.”
Jose Sanchez
“How many of you live in the house?”
Kevin Flowers
“Three ah we.”
Jose Sanchez
“So how have you been getting through the weekend?”
Kevin Flowers
“Well, dehn kinda stay out dah dehn family and I just di move up and down cause I dah kinda to myself person. I noh feel good di stay dah people. I noh ask dehn nothing but dah yah I stay, dah yah I live.”
Jose Sanchez
“Have you signed up for any the grant programs?”
Kevin Flowers
“Well, I gone try ask fi help from di area rep dehn and thing and dehn seh dehn wah come through. I sit down and weeks nobody come and I have to go out go work. Dat dah long time ago so di thing drop now and I want know if di man woulda come give me some help now.”
Jose Sanchez
“Who’s your area rep?”
Kevin Flowers
“I think dah Boots. He dah di people we go dah back yah.”
Jose Sanchez
“Have you actually signed up for any of the housing program grant money?”
Kevin Flowers
“I can’t sign up if nobody give me nothing fi sign up. Yoh go ask fi help, dah dehn supposed to di pull yoh through wid di assistance wid weh yoh need and weh yoh need fi do cause no booklet or nothing noh deh how yoh get dis money. Yoh go and tell dehn yoh situation and dah dehn supposed to assist wid dis help supposedly. None ah dat di happen.”
Flowers says that his common-law-wife and child are staying with relatives while he tries to find a way to get the home repaired.
