M.I.D.H. Fires Contractor Who Was Painting Area Rep’s Home Instead of Completing Starter Home
Julius Espat,
Last week we told you about the house handing over ceremony in Port Loyola, Belize City, that did not happen and the area representative’s discontent with the postponement. As we reported, Area Representative for Port Loyola, Gilroy Usher, called on the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing to give priority to the completion of the home that was to be handed over to his constituent, Apolinaria Choc. And, when we got the other side of the story from Marissa Alamilla, the Public Relations Manager at M.I.D.H., we were informed that the contractor who was hired to build the house was busy painting the area representative’s home. Well, today we caught up with Julius Espat, the Minister of M.I.D.H., at a handing over in Sandhill Village where he confirmed that report. Espat told us that the contractor has since been terminated and will never be hired by the M.I.D.H. as long as he heads the ministry.
Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development & Housing
“If I tell you what I’m thinking, I’ll get into trouble, so I prefer not expressing what I am thinking. I’ll give you the official response. And, the contractor that was hired to do the work failed miserably. And therefore, MIDH personnel had to go in to finish the house. The house is not completed. I have been informed by my CEO and Miss Marissa, who is in charge of the project, that the handover will be next week, Thursday. And I think the honorable acted a bit prematurely without having access to the proper information, and he and any other person needs to be aware that MDH will never handle. In fact, I have done it in other areas, including the Prime Minister’s area where we had dates and the quality of the work was not up to standard and we postponed it. And because we have to make sure that the houses are to a certain level, we will not stop that for anybody. The Prime Minister at that time was the first to agree and accommodated us the change of venue and time. And if he can do it, why can’t the rest of us? Basically the only sad part is that it had to be aired publicly, but I think that gives you guys some fun for Christmas when there was nothing much more to speak on.”
Paul Lopez
“Have you in fact confirmed that the contractor who I would imagine was hired by MIDH was in fact working at the home of..”
Julius Espat
“Yes, we don’t say things without it being confirmed.”
Paul Lopez
“So, so is that some sort of breach or conflict of Interest?”
Julius Espat
“He was fired and he will never ever build another house for mid again whilst I am in charge.”
Paul Lopez
“What do you say to this family that was hoping to get in their home for Christmas?”
Julius Espat
“Thursday, you’ll be in. You should have seen, I think we have some, some footage of where they wanted to hand it up and where it is now. Our crew went in and did a full evaluation and did what was necessary for it to become the level that you will see today. We’re not asking for magic, you know, it’s basic. And basic specifications that we are requiring from our contractors, we’re not making any excuses because it’s our responsibility that the house should be handed out properly and we stick by that.”
Paul Lopez
“Instances like this perhaps raises the issue of perhaps vetting contractors to a manner where they cannot be manipulated by their…”
Julius Espat
“Contractors are human beings. I have been in the contracting business for 30 years and every time I have a project you have one or two that you have. To put aside and replace, that’s normal in the construction industry.”
Choc is scheduled to receive her home on January fifth.
