Collet residents criticise representative
For the most part, the recovery from Hurricane Keith has proceeded about as smoothly as these things can: People who suffered losses are getting back on their feet, cleaning up and trying their best to rebuild. But while most victims of Keith are getting on with their lives, some say they’ve been forgotten. News Five’s Ann-Marie Williams was in the thick of it this morning on Central American Boulevard.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
A group of irate residents from the Collet Division confronted Area Representative Remijio Montejo. They say that although it’s almost three weeks since the hurricane they’re yet to get any assistance from government.
Barbara Campbell, Resident
“I went back to Mr. Montejo this morning and I told him, well why are you sending me to Housing and Planning? He says that it’s not his fault. He says the people don’t give him anything and the tell lies on him.”
Ann-Marie
“You said that you had to buy a couple sheets of zinc.”
Barbara Campbell
“Yes. I had to take the little bit of money I had and put in lights because my house was going to catch fire. When I went in, the water was pouring in and it caught fire. I had to turn it off and take out the little bit I had and start to buy things to let somebody come and fix a light for me. I tired to get some zinc because some of the beaver boards are hanging in my house. Some of them are damaged. I try to pick up the pieces.”
Dawn Reynolds, Resident
“Part of my house gone in. I come to him to ask for some zinc and plywood and he said he doesn’t have it, so he called the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister told him it’s on the way. Way when, until next year again? We get tired. It’s been two years since he was elected and he hasn’t done anything for Collet. Montejo says he’s also tired and he’s being pushed around the same way. They give him no money, nothing. We get tired of that.”
Hazel Gentle, Resident
“When you come to Mr. Montejo he gives you a paper to take to Housing and Planning, when you get there they say they don’t have any finance for that. When you come to Mr. Montejo he says the government didn’t give him anything. People cannot take the stress, of them to be lying to the people. You hear Collet Division people don’t want anything; I don’t think it’s fair. So everybody that is in Collet Division come in here and they want an answer today from Mr. Montejo.”
Montejo himself was this morning searching for answers.
Remijio Montejo, Area Representative
“I have been asking not only for relief for Collet for Keith, but for the past two years I have been presenting my programmes to the budget people.”
Ann-Marie
“Are they pushing you around?”
Remijio Montejo
“Well, I wouldn’t say that.”
Ann-Marie
“What are they doing then?”
Remijio Montejo
“I think it’s taking a little too long to get things done in Collet.”
Carolyn Morris is an unemployed mom who says it’s impossible to repair her house without her representative’s help.
Carolyn Morris, Resident
“The condition of my house is really bad and the other areas get help with their houses and we are not getting any in our division, so we don’t know where to turn.”
But this morning’s mob scene was about more than just Keith. It had to do with Montejo’s alleged absence and neglect of the division since being elected in 1998.
Ted Gentle, Resident
“I would want the P.M. come to check the Collet Division because we fight hard for Montejo. We are campaign workers and we don’t even have a job.”
Carolyn Morris
“No. He don’t come around, just when election time you see them and after that you don’t see them anymore. When you go to their place, they tell you that they don’t have anything; they can’t help you because they don’t have. They send you to Social, to Red Cross and those places can’t help with what we want.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“What do you want?”
Carolyn Morris
“I need to get my house fixed and things like that because water is wetting me in my bed.”
Montejo took time out to do a mini tour of his division, hopefully to see where materials are most needed.
Remijio Montejo
“When it comes to government resources, we must be fair as much as possible. I know some areas are bigger than Collet and probably need more, so I am not asking for equality. I am asking for equity, that our division is part of the bigger sphere of government. That they don’t forget Collet, that’s all I’m asking for and they have been forgetting Collet for the past two and a half years.”
Ann-Marie
“When you say “they,” who do you specifically mean?”
Remijio Montejo
“Well I refer to the government. I’m a member of the Assembly, but it’s hard to distinguish myself between not being a part if the government because I’m a member of the party.”
Ann-Marie
“But you kept quite for two years.”
Remijio Montejo
“Well I think I try to make the normal system work, but it isn’t working. So with the people behind me, I must talk now.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News Five.
Montejo took down the names of all those who requested aid this morning and promised he would deliver the goods by the end of the day. At newstime we were unable to confirm if he was good to his word.
