This afternoon green and white balloons were cut loose to soar into the clear blue skies, symbolizing the euphoria felt by one lucky senior citizen as she was given the keys to a brand new home. The house, located on Racecourse Street, south side Belize City, replaces a 90 year old structure that had teetered on collapse after Hurricane Richard swept through Belize. The owner, 71 year old Ann Elizabeth Nicholas better known as 'Miss Betty', had attempted in vain to secure assistance from the Southside Alleviation Project to try and restore her home to some acceptable standard of living, but instead help came from a most unexpected place - the widely criticized Customs department.
The offer to demolish the old and replace it with a new, was made by them on January 18th, a little over a week ago, and by this afternoon, the proud officers of that department delivered a spanking, bright three bedroom home, just in time to celebrate World Customs Day. Deputy Customs Controller, Colin Griffith told Seven News, the project is one way for them to connect with the community.
Colin Griffith - Deputy Controller of Customs
"In keeping with the theme of World Customs Day, which is a Border's event and Customs Connect, we decided that the side connection with the business community, we wanted to connect with our society. And, we proposed to target homes where the elderly live and that were below human standards, and this was one of the first ones we saw. Our intention, previously, was just to do some repairs, but when we visited the home, we recognized that we had to rebuild the house. My committee decided that we could maybe raise the funds with the intention to rebuild the home by the 26th of January, which was yesterday."
Jim McFadzean
"When did the actual project get on the way?"
Colin Griffith
"The actual project started last week Wednesday, when the house was demolished with the assistance of Mr. Herman Longsworth; we paid for that. The cement pillars were casted the Thursday, we actually started to build on them Last week Friday, with the assistance of Tubal and Mr. Harry Flowers, who is a customs broker but also a building contractor. He loaned us 2 of his supervisors to look us over us. And so, in 1 week, we were able to complete a very quality home as such."
Jim McFadzean
"Who were the workers? Who contributed to the actual construction, customs employees?"
Colin Griffith
"It was customs employees along with the students from Tubal Technical Institute. That was the work force."
Jim McFadzean
"And your financing came from your own fund-raising efforts?"
Colin Griffith
"Majority of the financing came from the business community with Benny's being our major sponsor, in that Mr. Ralph told us that whatever his store sold, he would give to this project, which was a major contribution. FenLan Development provided all the roofing, and as we started to send out letters to the business community, they responded positively, and within 2 days had raised all the materials and enough funds to construct the home."
Jim McFadzean
"I know that this is sort of like a dream-come-true. I heard that the conditions here before just weren't the best."
Anne "Miss Betty" Nicholas - Customs Built Her a New Home
"That's true, it wasn't."
Jim McFadzean
"How long have you been living at this location?"
Anne "Miss Betty" Nicholas
"I was just asked that, because I'll say that I'm sorry I don't keep check, it's been quite some years I've been here."
Jim McFadzean
"When did you first find out that customs wanted to do this project?"
Anne "Miss Betty" Nicholas
"I think it was Wednesday the 18 that Mr. Griffith came and spoke to me about wanting to give me a new home. And I was surprised. That is God Almighty"
Jim McFadzean
"I heard at first they were suggesting a 2 bedroom, but you insisted that you wanted your 3 bed-rooms back right?"
Anne "Miss Betty" Nicholas
"Just Look at how I have it. Everything pointed to my heavenly father; my family members come and go. Whatever was given to me I would have; I am thankful, but I requested 3 and it happened."
Jim McFadzean
"What do you think of the final product? Are you impressed?"
Anne "Miss Betty" Nicholas
"I sure am, and it's changed up also as well. It looks beautiful; I love it."
Griffith says this has been their first effort at building homes for the needy and was made possible with the generous support they received from some in the business community.
