Single and unemployed mother needs your help
The Poverty Alleviation report highlights the southernmost district of Toledo as being the area with the highest number of people beneath the poverty line nationally. But residents of Belize City need to look no further than their neighbors in certain pockets of poverty to witness glaring examples of dire destitution in the Old Capital. Today, a single mother of four came to our studios, full of desperation claiming that she has nowhere to turn in these desolate times and is now forced to make an appeal for public sympathy.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Forty-five year old Bernadine Cattouse has been suffering from what may be called a streak of bad luck. Her first home on an unnamed street off Western Avenue burned to the ground.
Bernadine Cattouse, Needs Assistance with Repairs“The government gives me that house too right, Mark Espat. When the house burned down, I went on the air on Krem and Mister Finnegan came on the air and said that he was going to give me a two bedroom plycem house and he did. But as soon as the house was about to be finished, they stole my windows, my sewerage, my basin, my room doors.”
Even though she received a new home three months ago, burglars showed no mercy and looted the building. The single mother suffered additional hardship from a fire in the newly built structure.
Bernadine Cattouse
“The situation is that one night we had a candle in the bathroom and it burned right through my machine and it caught on fire. That’s what caused the burn spots in the bathroom.”
Jose Sanchez
“So it did cause some destruction in the bathroom but why did you have a candle in the bathroom?”
Bernadine Cattouse
“Because I didn’t have light and afterwards I got light from my neighbor and that’s what happened because I don’t have electricity. I’m not working and I went to BEL and they gave me assistance of one hundred dollars to pay down for my light. From then I didn’t get my light. So what happened is they said that my light should be because they needed a map. I got the map and I’m going to take it in today.”
There is additional danger because she is relying on a precarious electrical connection from a neighbor which cuts through bush and swamp to supply her with power via an extension cord. It could be deadly during this rainy season. And since there is only a hole where a toilet should be connected, her family must use a pigtail bucket for all bathroom related necessities.
Bernadine Cattouse
“When I came and saw that stuff missing, I went down. What did I do wrong?”
Jose Sanchez
“It’s very unfortunate, but what do you want done at this point?”
Bernadine Cattouse
“What I want to be done at this point, I want even the community out there watching this story to help me because I am a mother of four, single and I’m a fire victim too and I need a lot of help and I went through a lot of things in my life. So I really do ask them to please help me where they can because I really do need help. If it’s even a job that they can give me, do so. I really need help.”
So if you have an old toilet, a window, or better yet a job to offer this single mother of four who must also find a way to pay for her kids educational expenses, call her at 630-8084. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
And if you missed it and would like to help, Cattouse’s number is 630-8084.
bernadine cattouse
Everywhere you turn, you see that Belize needs foreign investment, to provide good jobs.
What is the government doing to make this place attractive to foreign capital investors? As far as I can see, the answer is: “Nothing.”
Let’s demand change. On its own Belize doesn’t have enough capital to create new jobs. And we can’t borrow any more money, what with our Superbond being a heavy weight on our yokes.
Shame on thos low lifes that burglarized her home. This is why Belize is still in the hole, we dont have more people of honest and dignified status. The woman is trying but who cares, free stuff right? What goes around comes around. When these ANIMALS start getting hurt or see their loved ones hurt, its because of all the bad they’ve done and they should take it as it comes.
I am so sorry, but as a woman myself i opted not to have any children because of the uncertainties in my own vicissitudes in Belize. Let us refer the woman to salvation Army.
With all the NGOs that we have…………… I’m sure she’ll get the help that she needs.
According to the house in the photo this woman life is not as bad as some of the other places some call home, and I was about to say that she is just another lazy mom refused to work to feed her kids until I read further that she is asking for help from the public, and most importantly she would prefer a job. This is a woman willing to work for her kids and herself, I hope someone is listening to her cry for help.
There are so many opportunities in Belize, but Belizeans still cannot get their feet in the door.
There are so many things wrong with Belize, so while they are desperately working on another problematic area, other important things are being neglected, or left undone.
Belize is in a desperate need for new money, no new investments means no money and no opportunities.
Heavenly Father,
i pray for this women , her children and for someone to give her a job… protect guide and help her Dear Lord … you know how Hard things are…. I pray that you may provide for her you alone Dear Lord knows her story . i pray for Belize and Belize City … I pray for the ministers and for the ngo’ s to assist if possible.. God may your name be uplifted and that we may give you the glory honor and praise, in Jesus most preiouse name i pray Amen