7 News Belize

Hon. Wilfred Wanted To Play Santa, Residents Say He “Scrooged” Them
posted (December 19, 2017)
Oleander Street residents are furious because they say they were jilted out of a new home. Today we spoke to one of 4 families who have been living on that street for years, in an old, dilapidated structure.

Well, they say, their Pickstock area representative, Wilfred Elrington had promised to build them a new house. So the new structure was built in the same compound. But, turns out that none of them will be enjoying the comfort of that new home this Christmas. Here is what one of the residents had to say.

Natalie Carlene Adulphus, Resident
"When I came back in August, I came back in August he told me I had to move the 28th of August so within 3 days before that is what he tell me, within 3 days, and alright so we start to pack up, yes he said he will pay the rent for 1 month and he never did come back and follow up that movement thing."

"The next week the constructor and him came, the constructor told him right in front of me, personally, that we don't have move to let them to build this, said alright Ms. Adulphus you don't have to move, we feel good you understand so many years we are in this, rat all kinds of thing, we are sitting on our own…. you know, the septic is underneath us, nothing no get done so we feel good we can bear patience , we have been bearing patience for so many years, we the bear patience."

"The construction people they don't live here in Belize, they bring a portable housing and they park it over there, we give them our electricity, we give them our water, everything, they broke a pipe."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"To use for the construction."

Natalie Carlene Adulphus, Resident
"The construction and for the convenience of the trailer house they had there, that they stay here, we watch all the materials, many nights we no sleep because we think we will benefit something."

"When this is done now he told us we ain't got none of this to get, that is totally unfair and unjust."

Well there seems to have been some confusion or miscommunication between Elrington and the residents because Elrington says the agreement was that they had to move out so that the building could be demolished and replaced. Now since they did not move out, Elrington has gifted other residents the new space. Here is Elrington's side of the story.

Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Foreign Minister
"Under the Southside Alleviation Program we have been building homes for Belizeans. And the Oleander Street apartment is in terrible shape, terrible, terrible shape. I went to all the residents and I said to them I want to replace the structure you are occupying, please find somewhere to go and I am going to pay for the rent while the structure is being build and I got the Mennonite Pletts to build because they move fast so you can get a structure up in two months. The week before he was to start nobody moved, nobody moved. He had already signed the contract so I had to build in front a building he was committed to build so I built in the front but the resources to build the building that is there, that they need to vacate is still there, it is still slated to be built for them. When they come out we will build it for them and put them right back in there."

"They don't want to cooperate but they want to make bad, the funds are there but how can we build if they don't come out."

"There are lots of people who want homes. I can't allow a few people to stop the march of progress so we have built the home in front for other people and they will be getting there before the Christmas is done, 4 families."

As you heard, 4 other families will now move into the new house. Elrington says that the quicker that the residents move out of the old building, the quicker they can get their new house built. He says all the funds for the demolition and construction are set aside.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize