Elderly Belize City Woman Receives MIDH Home

A sixty-three-year-old Belize City woman has just received a new home from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing. But this isn’t your typical starter home from the ministry—it’s much larger. That’s because she’s not living there alone; she shares the space with her nine children and sixteen grandchildren. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the full story on today’s handover.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Tonight, a family of twenty-six is filled with gratitude after receiving the keys to a brand-new home from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing. Sixty-three-year-old Paula Thomas attended the handover ceremony at the corner of Iguana and Lakeview Streets, where she shared just how rundown her previous home had become.

 

Paula Thomas, House Recipient

“Oh bad, because when the Hurricane come, Lisa, that is when my house destroyed with everything. It never so collapsed, but it was in a bad state, so ih mih have to change.”

 

Lawrence Ellis, the PUP Standard Bearer for Mesopotamia, was also present at the handover. He shared the story behind the decision to build a new home for the family.

 

Lawrence Ellis, PUP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia

“The Ministry of Housing, through the collaboration with human development saw the need for this family to be assisted because of their living condition that was here. So, the Human Department through the ministry decided to build this house.”

 

The design and size of the home is a stark contrast to the starter homes that the Ministry of Housing has been distributing since the People’s United Party took office.

 

Lawrence Ellis

“The size of the lot was a factor and it is not one person living in the home. It is three families actually so the only way to go was up. This is a first of its kind. A beautiful home. It is very comfortable if you see the inside. The people of Mesopotamia should be proud and you are going to see more of this to come. Upstairs have three bedrooms and downstairs have two, two-bedroom units. They have their own bathrooms. We actually put fridge and stove in all of them so we have a little extra. I am proud, very proud to be a part of it and if you talk with them you will see they are very happy too.”

 

And when Thomas was asked how she feels about the new house, she was unable to contain her gratitude.

 

Paula Thomas

“Oh yeah, praise the lord for everything. That is the only one you can depend on, Jesus, with the people weh help develop to get my house. I have nine kids and I have sixteen grandkids. Yes they live with me, not up here. That is why I make them divide it downstairs, because dah suh the first house mih stay.”

 

Reporter

“How were you guys managing before?”

 

Paula Thomas

“Well I was living on that side over there. So, I have to say I have gone through a lot living on that side. But I always call Jesus and my God always looking to me. My God always. But I appreciate whatever I get and I thank my God, because my God always there for me.”

 

It’s pretty clear that Ellis’ appearance is a campaign move. As the PUP standard bearer, he’s aiming to unseat Moses “Shyne” Barrow. Ellis confidently predicted a win in the upcoming general election and promised that, once in office, he would build more homes like this for his constituents.

 

Lawrence Ellis

“I as the standard bearer after I win next year, we have great plans to do housing in Mesop. Mesop cannot go out. Mesop can only go up because we don’t have enough space, so we are looking to build more proper homes in Mesop.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.