Homeowner says free house from minister is shoddy
It seems that the Minister of Works, Anthony “Boots” Martinez is never away from the firing line. After all, he is the minister responsible for the Poverty Alleviation Project and housing is a huge problem for City residents. Today another Belize City resident is publicly charging that “Boots” Martinez has given her a shoddy house too small to accommodate her family in the Lake Independence area. But more than that, Myrna Ferguson, said Martinez had his workmen remove construction material she got from her Area Representative, Francis Fonseca. But when we checked with Martinez this evening, he said nothing could be further from the truth.
Myrna Ferguson, Lake Independence Area Resident
“I was living at Belama but the landlord want me out of the house so I come out and I gone live with my son. In the Christmastime Boots come to me and explain to me that I got a house. I put in for a three bedroom house. He told me like this, he said Ms. Ferguson you will get your house by the Christmas. I agree with him on everything. Apparently, my house didn’t finish for the Christmas, it didn’t finish for the new year. When I came here he give me one single key ma’am and when I went in the house, the house .didn’t finish wire properly and everything. I got a call from my Area Rep, Francis Fonseca saying that he have a paper for me for my house.”
Marion Ali
“Which house is that? Another house?”
Myrna Ferguson
Myrna Ferguson
“Boots was building this house and I never know about di paper until they call me and tell me about it.”
Marion Ali
“So, how many houses are we talking about one or two?”
Myrna Ferguson
“One house. Boots came here, I had a house here. He paid to take down the house and everything. I received the invoice for my material from my area rep to build my house. Apparently this house, I cannot go in this house because half of my things cannot go in the house. The house is very small.”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Minister of Works
“I must talk as a member of the Venezuela Housing Committee. With that situation, a house was approved for one Ms. Myrna Ferguson. As a member of the committee, I found her. She used to live at Belama. I found her living on the next street behind the house. I found her by Pound Yard Bridge and she took to where the place was where the house was to be constructed along with the contractor. When we get there a little old house was on it, the place was not even prepared for construction. As the minister and running the South Side Project, I came with eighteen loads of filling apart from that was never in the contract to build the house. Eighteen loads of filling, pushed it; they built the whole house. The purchase order the lady have is for the supply of materials for the whole house to the contractor. Now you have a whole house.”
Marion Ali
“Who was supposed to receive these materials?”
Myrna Ferguson
“My contractor, he went with me and I have to go with him to sign for these things before.”
Marion Ali
“These were approved by who?”
Myrna Ferguson
“By Housing Department. I went to Benny’s…”
Marion Ali
“These stuff were to be used for what?”
Myrna Ferguson
“To build my house.”
Anthony "Boots" Martinez
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“The contractor for that project is Lyndon Romero. How could she went with the contractor for the material? That’s a lie. I di tell yoh straight forward that’s a lie because it was the contractor who came back for the material.”
Marion Ali
“As it is now though, we’ve seen the house, it’s not finished, the walls are not cased or sealed.”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“That is not for an inside casing wall. So I don’t know where we stand. Material is not in there for no casing wall.”
Marion Ali
“No, she’s asking…”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“Well, I don’t know if she’s asking but fi start with, I wah be honest with yoh. She was being dishonest even in terms of saying that the contractor went with her for the material when it was the contractor who reported to us today that the material was picked up and was never given to him. So how will it be the contractor took—it was the contractor who went back for the material. So we need to be honest. That was approved for a two bedroom basic ply-cem house.”
Marion Ali
“So what happened in the case of what she got from Francis Fonseca? Are you aware of that?”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“That was the approval given by the committee for one house of which a contractor was given.”
Marion Ali
So you’re saying she misunderstood?”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“She understood fairly well. How ih wah misunderstand when she went for the material from Benny’s and they told you Monday evening?”
Marion Ali
“She showed us two sets of papers.”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“Listen to weh I di she. She went for the material from Benny’s on Monday and she knew because she was stopped that the material was for that house. Man you have yoh whole house deh. So dah two house? The Minister of Housing called me this morning because some relative of his went there to say that dehn want go pick up material but dehn noh want give it to dehn. I said to the minister, who is also my colleague and I am also a speaking as the member of the Venezuelan committee, so then the question needs to be asked, was there approval for two house?”
Minister Martinez said Myrna Ferguson’s request to remove the ply-cem house and return the material his workmen removed this evening is not possible because her project is completed as far as he is concerned. He said Ferguson has to invest in whatever other work needs to be done to the house.
People in Belize need to be self suffecient and stop depending on goverment to put a roof over their head. The government runs the country, not spoon feeding the people. Sadly the people must reliaze that government cannot roof ,feed, and clothes it’s people. As much as they may wish to do it, the finance simple is’nt there.
Why Ms. Feguson can’t be satisfied with the house that she received. I am sure that there are a lot of single mothers with five or more children who would readily appreciate that house whether it is too small or too large. Move in fit what can be put in there and then fix it the way you want it to be and then give thanks to Jah that you have a roof over your head. It does not matter who gave what.
Wat kind of thing is this? When ppl ask you to build something specific it is because they know their needs. Ppl always wanna do have finished jobs and expect to be smiled at.
Not taking sides but it is a pity that as Belizeans we never seem to be appreciative when help is rendered on our behalf. The important thing is that now one has a roof over their head when there was none before.. Be thankful… some of us never get anything from the government….
This is such a dissapointing story… the money was sent to better housing for Belizean, however more and more, I don’t see this happening. Will these houses (plycem) hold out through a hurricane, flooding. Guys if you are going to build a house, built a good one. If you are construction 1000 house out of plycem and when ,GOD forbid ,a natural disaster hit and the houses don’t hold out . We will be in the same situation again. So go forth and built 100 concrete house if 90 of them are still standing at the end of the day, you only have to rebuild 10. Damn, more and more it seems that we have change the pot for the kettle. Peace
Ok so first of all this lady is getting a FREE house in these hard times and she is complaining that it needs some additional stuff and not the sized she asked for. HELLO can’t she see those poor people in Hait that lost every single thing and have nothing to eat or a warm shelter to live in. This is the problem with our society, they just do not appreciate what they are blessed with goodness.
I did not get from the article whether the house was given to the woman for free. If she is paying for the house then it would be good to know what she contracted for. By looking at the contract and comparing it to the final product she could determine whether the Minister or his contractor stole from her …. In any event the program needs to be run more professionally than this because as it now stands there is too much room for the Ministers to hustle.
Beggars can’t be choosers. If we are given something, which can either be from a friend, family member or our government, we should be appreciative. She was lucky to receive a house despite the size of the house, but the point is that she receives something.
give GOD thanks 4 what u get and be greatful .
I am as perplex as you all. Who is the Minister, Myrna or Anthony. Life has no measure. In California many people live off the Goverment yet it’s a first wolrd country. We all appreciate help but if you help someone, do it right. A professional minister has no business arguing with a local Belizean. Emphaty is of great virtue, people.
Miss, Be thankful you have been assisted with a home, Government CANNOT give you a dream home, but they can give you something to start with. When you can raise the house high and add a cement downstairs, that will be big enough to occupy your family. look around Belize how many NEEDS a home and don’t have. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS…………….
I totally agree with you guys she just plain ungreatfull.
whenenever someone in a right mind decides to helps us we should accept it. we should be thankful. in this cas ms ferguson should be thankful and not complain. atlease she has a roof over her head. many people would want atleast a roof over their head. its still a house so be happy with it. minister martinez thats very thoughtful of what you did. the thing is it that like all the americans who is supplied with free cell phones and free monthly minutes and is still complaining, so are most belizeans who gets free things like a HOUSE and the still arent satisfied, WAKE UP PEOPLE THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO FEED AND CLOTH UNU MUCHLESS GIVE UNU WA HOUSE!!!!!! WISE UP!!!!!!!!!
I am Belizean , but i guess it is not fear to mention belizeans on a whole, you are takin a minor group to classify every Belizean, should be careful how words are been played, beside not all Belizeans depend on the government.. we have may belizeans who everyday early in morning go out to seek a living and are doin well…..
At the age of 21 I built my first house, with no help from the government or anyone. I worked and saved, I borrowed frm the credit union and at the age of 36, I am still paying on that mortgage. I appreciate every cement block on that house, and although tempted to sell it many times, I hold onto it, because it is a remembrance of my mindset at that age. That woman, lik many Belizeans do no appreciate anything, because they have never had to get out to really hassle like some of us. If you ask me her ass should be renting somewhere. If she were to have gotten another place, she might not have been able to afford it. Who would she blame then, her new landlord. It seems like everybody is at fault, in her eyes except her. Stop having kids that you cannot house and stop expecting the government to take care of you.
To Mr. Martinez, keep pushing my brother. You can never please a cruffy, do your best, God will take care of the rest.
It seems that Martinez “boots” Myrna out. If Martinez was campaigning for election, I bet Myrna would get a 2 storie home, 5 bedrooms, and an inaguration with red ribbon, a big sissors, a big smile from “boots” and the best station in the nation “channel five” with every possible media outlet.
Since she received the house FREE of cost, she can use her OWN money and expand the house to the size that she needs. Come on lady, be greatful for what you have received. I wish I had the opportunity to receive a free house from someone, since it it too small maybe you could give it up to someone who would appreciate it.
Oh me Oh my! If the Minister gave a house then the woman should be thankful. She has the audacity to put in a house plan too. The Government is not obligated to do that. Do you know how many people in Belize are homeless. When I was living there I remember Pinkie and Diana. Diana had her two little girls …always sitting in front of Barclays Bank. She did not get a house! I took her in at my mom’s house. Come on now. As Belizeans we need to be more compassionate and lend a helping hand to our neighbors. Government does not have the funds. There is a saying that goes when America sneezes the whole world catch a cold. If out here we are having financial problems just think about little Belize. Be grateful woman. Belizeans Unite Why Do we fuss and Fight? A song I wrote for The Gilharry Seven”s Band.
WOW……those who r asking if d money is free…..where d hell have u been under a rock? it has been reported over and over again that the venezuelan monies are being given out as grants…..We need to get out of the mindset that government must give us everything…..Damn be grateful for what we have there are so many others out there we do not have…..I didn’t even hear her say thanks.
If the house free no complain, if she is paying then it is different she must go through proper processing…to arrange for different housing. If I were her and it were free build some bunk bed and use celotex wall we grew like that and were still happy. It was up to the parent to keep the peace, we should be thankful and not complain too much at times, As kids grow they can work, save and buy their mother a bigger house. My mom passed away we got scholarships worked hard and started small, although we are not rich, at least we have food, shelter, work most of the time and a peaceful nation. Other people do not.
Since the house is FREE, she should use her own money and put on an extension to make it as big as she needs. Come on woman, you should be grateful for what you got, i know of families of 15 people in 2 bedroom houses.
We have all heard and used the phrase “typical Belizean, one di try get up and they have a bunch who try pull yo down.” We should support one another; don’t applaud the government when it give its “Least”. Unite and pressure the government to give its “Most”. If you don’t complain, then the government won’t improve.
You can’t give ‘cruffy’ bread if they don’t want to ask for the bacon and egg. Growing up in Corozal I don’t recall people begging or expecting the government to put them in a house. Every person built their own wooden homes even if it’s a one bedroom. I know I grew up in one. As a matter of fact as long as you had children with a man it was his responsibility to put you in a house. Some people don’t want to work for what they need and that’s where all these crimes stem from. They prefer easy living off some other person’s back. I am of the belief… you help those who can’t help themselves…not those who can…but don’t want to.
It seems that the ‘ ENTITLEMENT ‘ train has pulled into Belize. I grew up in Belize City back in the 60’s and 70’s. Mom stayed home and dad worked his butt off to take care of six kids. There was no hand out by the goverment…unless there was a hurricane. Mom and dad struggle to provide for us and I am most greatful. I think most of our problem starts at home. The break down of families. Belize is blessed with a lot of Natural resourses. Take advantage of it. Don’t be ungreatful because you think the goverment is not giving you what you want. Count your blessing and be humble for what you have. Most of all, lead by example..show your children how much you appreciate the help and perhaps they will break the cycle of depending on the goverment ( UDP or PUP ) for a’ free house’. God bless Belize.
Sorry that her house was not to her liking. But she should be thankful to have a house. Our people should stop depending on these ministers to do things for them. The way I see things in Belize, these ministers are a bunch of crooks themselves.
Like all previous comments..typical response from recipients of FREE stuff “dem neva satisfied”. This is the same reason why we have so many robberies etc in Belize….dem learn from watching “parents”….look at the kids who do these acts and the family background. Parents who instill work for what you want compared to those “gimme and NO thank u”. Enough said Ms. Myrna should be grateful she got a HOUSE and LANDFILL (which $$ too)
WHAT BOOT’S NEEDS IS SOMEONE OR AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION TO INVESTIGATE HIS RAPID WEALTH.HE IS SUKA-ING THE POOR PEOPLE.
It would appear that some officials are accustomed to double-speak and divisiveness as a means to abuse the confidence with which thier offices are imbued. Although I am inclined to prefer the use of incentive for betterment rather than straight-out hand-outs, and regardless of Chavez’ motivation in his largesse, the facts remain that there are monies meant for housing, this pathetic structure was supposed to have met minimal specifications and this woman (ostensably with a more humble experience and education than the ministers who administrated this fiasco) was given to expect something else, and probably rightly feels she was duped into attaching her name to invoices for materials that were not used for their intended purposes. If these petty thieves believe they have foisted the responsability for those construction supplies onto the simple beneficiary they should be held to sufficient explanation or restitution.
I wonder why this peopel have to depend on government for everything, woman, thank God for what was given to you and send your man to work so he can provide for you, teach your children to work for what they want, and be thank ful everyday cause there are a lot of others who would be grateful for wanlee house lke your one!common men develop your self esteeem stand up and work for your need, because of parent like you we have so much robbery and killing in our community,STOP bringing down our black people, that is why every thing that is bad in Belize City is blame on us creole
people.
It is inaccurate to conclude that Ms. Ferguson is an ingrate for complaining about being “given” a sub-standard house by the “Government” because the facts are that she was NOT given a free house by the Government of Belize, or the home that was approved.
The Government of Venezuela gave Belize the money for those houses. A committee that included Minister Boots Martinez approved a concrete three bedroom bungalow for Ms. Ferguson for a total value of $20,352.89 in materials.
Before she even knew that her home had been approved, Boots offered and built a house for her.
An independent contractor has verified that she got instead was a hurriedly construct a roughly finished two bedroom plycem house on 8 inch block posts and a plywood/hardboard interior valued at $7,610.48.m built by Boots Martinez’ for-profit ngo Housing for the Poor.
Boots then proceeded to pocket the $20 K.
This is dishonesty. Ms. Ferguson and Belizean tax payers have every right to complain and the authorities should take criminal action.
Well said Macal, couldn’t add too much to it, you hit it on the head, Bulleye. The problem with our people is that they believe they are owed something or just want a hands out and say thank you (maybe). The government UDP/PUP or any P needs to put importance on EDUCATION and also bring in some type of business or build factories, agriculture to help Belizeans be self sufficient. It is sad to see many businesses owned, operated by FOREIGNERS, when we have our own local and not much emphacies placed on them. why should the banks be owned by INTERNATIONAL INTEREST., OIL, WATER, ELECTRICITY.,WE HAVE EDUCATED PEOPLE TO RUN THINGS ALSO.
i don’t blame the lady i personally wouldn’t want to live in that house either. go take a look at ‘boots’ MARTINEZ house, bet my life it ain’t nothin like what the poor lady is living in.
We all need to be grateful for what we have. This is hard times for all of us including the Government. The Government is not there to take care of you and your children, get rid of that mind-set. Get back to trusting God and hard work, He will bless whatever you put your hands to.. Why do all who come to Belize make a life for themselves?, ( Jamaican, Hispanics, Asians ) Hard work! stop complaining and be productive….
It’s not even the Govrnment’s resposibility to build you a house,i assume you’re useto getting everything free Queen picky.
I must say that if every single person in a country would take care of themselves then there would be no need for “Government “.The number of poor people in this country is small actually so I dont see why a proper building cant be given to her and we cant expect to believe not to depend on the people who control our tax monies.Yes she should be grateful for the house but is the Government also grateful for her being poor?
Well, well, well! What the heck this lady complaining about??? would she prefer to sleep on the verandah of Brodies??? My goodness. Just say thank you and move on woman. Find a job and take care of yourself and your kids. I am doing it and so can you.
Well, well, well, do we know how much money the government collects on the heads of the “poor” people. If it wasn’t for the poor people we wouldn’t get any Vanezuelan funds and other funds from China and Taiwan, so I think it’s only fair that when we do get these monies it is used for the “poor” people. Suppose our governtment had 8 million people to deal with like the population of Haiti, Belize population 300,000 + and they can’t give this lady a proper house. Why is it they we can raise funds for Haiti and other countries but our governtment can’t afford to give a proper house to one person, BS. DOESN’T CHARITY BEGIN AT HOME!!!!!!!!
Tell you what, I’m all about being self suffecient and trying to get your own on your own, but when the gov get free money for housing , build houses for the needy but build good strong houses not crap.
It is the responsability of the government to create jobs for the people who elect them to power,jobs means money for the people to feed thier families,buy food for the children,pay for education,etc.have a good house,things which poor belizeans dont have,but the master minds in power,pup or udp,they have a good house,their children study abraod,have good cars,dont pay for gasoline,some fools commented that the belize government is poor in here,hahahah,500 million dollars every year comming from the oil of belize,where is that money goin?|where is that money?i say goes to some bank account for the udo or pup mafia outside of belize.
… While I agree with many of the comments, I do have 2 things to post….
One… I’m confused… did she or didn’t she pay anything towards building the house?
And Two: While it would be nice for the government to just build something sturdy and worthwhile, it would also be nice for the people to appreciate what has been given to them… how many countries in the world gives free housing????? Stand up for yourselves Belizeans… the government can’t do it all for u.
One word would describe that woman “ungrateful”.Some people expect others to take care of them their entire life. It is like giving a person a loaf of bread, and they complained that the bread was’nt toast.That is what you call welfare mentality
I am very pleased with your new web site…. but as a Belizean living abroad 30+ years and very close to retirement age, my wish is to return to |Belize and retire. I do understand that no one should expect the government to give them everything and free… this is one of the biggest issues Belizeans have under all the administrations. I m not a PUP or UDP as I have never had the chance to vote in Belize, but… I visit Belize one evrery year and have been trying to obtain a piece of lease land to eventually purchase so I can build, but I have found there is so much crooked behaviour and illegality it is disturbing regardless of which P is in power . I do not know all the circumstances on the lady’s house that is mentioned, but let us start respecting our fellow Belizeans with respect…our government officials also need to give that respect … that lady could not be lying the entire time, there must be a grain of truth in her story… we as Belizeans must start working together for the better of Belize, b/c this is the negative vibe that the younger Belizeans see and we are never going to accomplish anything in Belize regardless of what P is governning.
The Belizean living in CA who mentioned they want to retire in Belize, let us Belizeans here abroad UNITE and while we are here and become a voice and use what we have learned abroad and try to teach others that things can work out better with more truthful and honest Belizeans if the government officials have tansparency and proper documentations on all that they did… we MUST , MUST be able to have honestly somewhere in our government and only US as Belizeans can do it if we unite as ONE PEOPLE. I would love to hear many replies fromBelizeans all over the world and different walks of life
Thanks
in the United States it is not a right to be a home owner. You must meet certain requirments to qulaify for a home loan.One of the requirment is not how many kids you have. A person is stupid to have kids they can not afford , and if a woman with kids have a man boneing her than she is not a single Mom. A lot of Belizeans like to quote the bible, well they could quote this “By thy sweat of thy bread Thou shall eat” neve seh goverment will feed you , and build you a house , plus take care of your string band a pickni.If you can not build your own house tek weh dem giv yu.
Hahaha!…i like that Macall…so true,but i also agree with Mr Glen Tillett. If you were contracted for a certain amount, you should get it,so as not to let these ministers pocket the rest of the money.With the cost of that house that they gave to her,3 other less fortunate families could’ve gotten a house too if it wasn’t deposited (allegedly) into BM bank account.Can you imagine the Venezuelans coming to see this 20k house and seeing that 7k little thing?…ooooh…they would really see how crooked these politicians are in Belize.Shame on you BM and count your damn blessings lady.Shame on her because these are the same type of people you can see sitting at these ministers office every wednesday from dusk to dawn..I despise these people mein.
the people in belize should be more than thankful for the help and the house because the people in the toledo east (toledo district) cant even get one or can they be able to c the minster mainly eden
SO MOST YOU PEOPLE WOULD LIKE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO POCKET THE MONEY THAT WAS DONATED TO BUILD HOUSES FOR PEOPLE, GIVE ME A BREAK.
WE THE SHORT CHANGE OURSELVES TO ACCEPT CRAP FROM BOOTS AND CO. BUILD GOOD STRONG HOUSES AND STOP BUILD CRAP.
ALL THEM FOOL THATS COMPARING STATES WITH BELIZE, AND NOT UNDERSTANDING WHATS GOING ON SHAME ON YOU.
This fool is not waiting for Boots , shoes, or sandals to build him a house, sorry I left out tennis shoes. I will build my own house with my blood, sweat, and tears. Belizeans remind of people from Hati, always want someone to give them something.Then when people treat us like we are inferior we get mad.That is what happen when you have your hand out .Stop beg , and do for yourself.
This story has a lot of holes in it, the story the woman told and the “Boots” story, a simple story, complicated to unfold.
It is shame that people with families are still being given these tiny little houses to house an entire family, go take a look at “BOOTS” house and come back and tell me if his house with family looks anything like the house given to that woman. The house look like the size of my tool shed outside in my backyard.
I have to say it that it does me angry sometimes when I see Belizeans sitting back waiting for everything to be given to them right in their hands. I hope that the new generation will be different from their parent/s to be more ambitious to give their children a better home, and life. A family must be plan or else this kind of problem will never go away.
The government needs to start building cheap apartments buildings for the people of Belize, instead of stealing the money for their own pockets. This pathetic little house is proof that there is no evolution in Belize.
A contract is contract, maybe somebody need to put a boot up Anthony Martinez A..
martinez house is nice, barrow house is nice, moya house is nice, and all the rest of the unqualified politicians have nice houses, wow!!!!!
Come on mein. Its unfair to call the woman ungrateful. Give the poor people whats theres. Its not fair to take advantage of the people and chance them because they honestly dont think that they deserve better. Im sure we all know that its the people who have a lot are the one that beg more and receive more from the higher people in power. And believe you me they get what they are promised or more. Dont be simple and think that its only the poor people with lots of kids beg. People with one child and lots of business beg so that could have more. Grab the sholarships for their kids instead of leaving it for the less fortunate. With the hard times in this country tell me where will a poor person get money to build a house. If you are taking from one person to give another its ok but if you are taking from them to fill your pocket Mr Boots then its not right.