Statistics show that one third of Belize's population is poor. That means that one in every three persons is poor and the probability of you knowing someone who lives in poverty is high. For Alfonso Noble, one of those people is Shantay Garnett, the 8-year-old who was run over by an ambulance last month. Now that the headlines and the attention have receded, he visited with her and found out that surviving a traffic accident in Belize City is nothing really, that is compared to surviving poverty.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
You'd remember Shantay Garnett as the 8-year-old who last month was run over by an ambulance on Mahogany Street. Seeing her today you'd never know what she's been through, except for the small scars she bears on her face and abdomen. For her and her mother Sherida, they are glad that episode in their lives is over.
Sherida Garnett, Shantay's mother
"I thank God for giving me my little girl back. I thank the people that prayed for her and the pastor at Lake Independence Baptist church. She is walking now. She just has slight pain in her head and her belly hurts her sometimes. She is on anti-biotic medication. Her only complaint after the accident is headaches but she is all right; she survived.
Alfonso Noble,
So she is back to normal running around and that kind of thing?
Sherida Garnett, Shantay's mother
"Yes but I don't let her play too much because she has pain."
Shantay Garnett, Accident Victim
"My head hurt me and my belly hurt me sometimes but I thank God for giving me life and I am glad to be back with my family."
But while Shantay can today thank God for her speedy and almost miraculous recovery what waits ahead for her is grim. Grim because she's poor, she lives on the graces of her grandmother who's offered them space in the lower flat- if you can call it that- of her building. But this is no place to live in and her mother says it comes along with the adversities of poverty.
Sherida Garnett, Shantay's mother
"I have rat, ants, and all kinds of animals; even crabs climb into the house. You can see under the table over there is an ants nest. So I can't even fix anything decent for my little girl to eat. I thank God for what I am in right now because I have a shelter over my head thanks to my mom but I want something better than this. I want it at least to comfort Shantay after what she has been through."
Alfonso Noble,
There are a lot of people in your condition and they are complaining. Why are you different?
Sherida Garnett, Shantay's mother
"Because of my little girl; I want to comfort her. I want her to be comfortable especially after what she has been through."
And that's understandable but Sherida is not alone. Like so many families in the city these are the conditions they have to live under small cramped spaces with no electricity, no running water, mismatched pieces of plywood boarded together offering little or almost no shelter. For proof of how widespread these conditions are, all you need to do is look at Sherida's sister Luina. She is very much in the same situation where the only bright spot in her shack is a pre-school diploma.
Luina Garnett, Shantay's Aunt
"Rats bother my kids at night because the place is filled with holes. I managed to get some pieces of wood to build this house but water comes in when it rains like last night. I even didn't let my kids sleep here last night because of the rain and then I have no light. My house is small. I have one bedroom. I can't even buy a decent bed for my kids because the house is too small. I had to build a small bed for my kids to sleep on. My house is small and I have three kids."
Alfonso Noble,
How do you guys fit?
Luina Garnett, Shantay's Aunt
"Well right now as you can see me and youngest child sleep on a small bed and then my other two children sleep on the other bed. The situation is so bad that a rat bit my daughter on her ears."
It's really deplorable conditions that these women and their children live under and there is seemingly no way out for them except to look to government and their representative for assistance- assistance that they believe is their right.
Luina Garnett, Shantay's Aunt
"I'm afraid. I am really afraid but I can't do any better until the Minister who said he was going to help me, helps me."
Alfonso Noble,
The Minister didn't put you here…
Luina Garnett, Shantay's Aunt
"I know it is my mother's place but we are trying and we can't do better. If we could we would. My birthday was the 26th of June and he (Hon. Cordel Hyde) sent me a card. If he can remember my birthday then he also can remember his promise to me. I can pay him back. Once I am working I can pay him back."
Alfonso Noble,
People will say you are begging…
Sherida Garnett, Shantay's mother
"I am not really begging. I thank God I got my little girl back but now I don't like the situation I am in. The government doesn't support me with anything for my little girl so I have to speak out. I don't really care about the money. I want them to put me in something better than where I am right now so that Shantay can have her own room. Right now we both have to bathe in a tub inside and I am not embarrassed to say it because we are poor. I have to full my bucket of water outside and go and bathe in a tub inside."
Shantay's Grandmother,
"Remember to think about thechild. Do not only think about your behalf because you are in government and have everything good. Think about the poor too and not about yourself as the rich. That is all we are asking for, a little help and not me really but my child and my grandbaby."
It's a heart felt plea but one that cannot be magically taken care of especially in a time when there is nothing to give.
Anyone who can offer Shantay and her family assistance can contact them at phone number 604-3924.
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7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited for the internet by Keith Swift