40 years ago, the wooden houses that populate Southside Belize City were quaint, dignified residences.
But today they are sagging and sorry shadows of their past stately selves; rotten wood held together with rusty nails heaving under the weight of time and the elements. And when those strong winds sweep in from the sea...well, what's cool breeze to your is a wrecking ball to them. And that's what happened last night without hardly a huff or a puff, an old house on Dean Street collapsed and it happened just inches from a new cement house.
Keith Swift visited the scene where the old and new huddled in a cute contrast.
Early this morning this small house at No. 72 Dean Street toppled off these stilts. The loud crash of the fall interrupted the quiet of the morning and woke Tamara Longsworth from her sleep.
Tamara Longsworth, Neighbor
"The crashing of house woke me up last night so all of us ran outside to see what it was it was the house."
Keith Swift,
"Were you frightened?"
Tamara Longsworth,
"Well of course I mean it was the house. And I thought it was going to fall on my house but thank goodness it didn't."
It could have been worse but then this family says that also it could have been prevented. The fallen structure came within inches of hitting Irish Tasher's house and she is understandably angry since she had lodged numerous complaints with the city council
Irish Tasher, Neighbor
"I told them yesterday morning that the house wasn't far from falling down right so when I came last night, the house had fallen. I was complaining for a while. All the time I went to complain to the city council and police and they just ignored me."
Keith Swift,
"So right now you noh too happy?"
Irish Tasher,
"No cause I want it to be moved because those boys are going to go in there and try to do things."
"They need to move it because it's dangerous man."
And Tasher can only hope that this plea will be answered.
The city council had no comment on this specific case today though a spokesperson conceded the council is ultimately responsible for abandoned houses and the safety of those structures.