A private domestic dispute between ex-lovers became part of Belize’s conversation yesterday morning on national radio with a bitter back and forth between the two. The discourse quickly went from a spat between man and woman to the concern for the couple's five children.
They are five children who tonight are still in a house by themselves by order of the family court which earlier this month issued a restraining order against their mother Zita Flores, barring her from entering the house after she admittedly beat-up her ex-common law husband. That husband and father, Francis Augustine Sr. s also not staying at the house. A day after the story broke there is still no resolution, and Keith Swift reports from the desolate location on Police Street.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This afternoon I met Zita Flores on the street in front of a house at number 164 Police Street in the St. Martin De Porres Area. And the middle of this public street on a hot afternoon is also where Zita greeted her 3-year-old son.
[Zita’s Son Francis Jr. tugging on her pants and making a barely audible request for food]
Sadly for almost a week the public street has been the only place Zita has been legally able to meet her five kids. That is because a restraining order from the family court bars her from entering the yard or this house at 164 police street which she had called home for 6 years. So she is barred from the house and their father said on radio that he also doesn’t stay at the house, which looks abandoned. But 5 of their children ranging in ages form 3 to 18 years old are staying there. It’s a confounded situation, and not even the mother can make sense of it.
Keith Swift,
That is your house over there and it is where your children are but you can’t go there?
Zita Flores, Restrained from returning home
“Yes sir.”
Keith Swift,
Why?
Zita Flores, Restrained from returning home
“Because I went to the family court and they told me I don’t belong there. Both of us have restraining orders against each other and when we went to court, they said I couldn’t go there so I don’t. I know I was wrong because I had already left that house and was renting my own house. But due to the weather I had to go back because my second daughter suffers from asthma so she can’t be getting wet. So I moved in and then two weeks after he came and told me I had no right to be there because I had already moved out four months ago. Then we started to fight and I ended up beating him. Then the police came and told me to leave. Then I left from last week and my kids are left alone.”
Keith Swift,
So why don’t you just go and take your kids to wherever you are staying?
Zita Flores, Restrained from returning home
“Because I am just begging lodging at a friend’s house. I can’t take my children there.”
And to prove her case this mother points to this paper from the Lands Department which confirms that the lot at No. 164 Police Street is being leased under her name: Zita Flores. But then there is another document: this restraining order from the family court.
Keith Swift,
Whose house is this?
Zita Flores, Restrained from returning home
“It is for both of us.”
Keith Swift
Whose name is it in?
Zita Flores,
”Nobody.”
Keith Swift
Who bought or built the house?
Zita Flores,
“Both of us built it.”
Keith Swift,
Who paid?
Zita Flores,
“Both of us paid.”
Keith Swift
So can you explain to me when the court gave the restraining order why they only barred you from entering the property and not him?
Zita Flores,
“Well because he told the family court that the house where the land is on is no. 122 Police Street and not no. 164. So he says No. 122 is his property.”
Keith Swift,
And what number is the house really?
Zita Flores,
“No. 164 which is my house.”
But that isn’t even the issue here. Rather the concern is about five kids, the youngest being 3 year old Francis Jr. who are all living in a house it seems with no parental supervision.
Keith Swift,
So your kids are taking care of themselves?
Zita Flores, Restrained from returning home
“They are on their own.”
Keith Swift,
Where is their father?
Zita Flores,
“I don’t know where he is right now.”
Keith Swift,
So you have 5 kids home alone with no parental supervision?
Zita Flores,
“None at all.”
Keith Swift,
So who feeds them?
Zita Flowers,
“I feed them. I come here and feed them.”
Keith Swift,
So why don’t you just take them to where you are – at least your 3-year-old son?
Zita Flores,
[Dodges Question and sidetracks into] “….I want the family court to know that my children are suffering out here…"
And for proof the Family Court might want to visit Police Street like we did where we found Francis Jr. without mommy or daddy. As for the house? Well the only occupant was a dog resting on the front porch. And today, it seems this dog had more rights than the lady of the house.
We were unable to get comment from Family Court Director Margaret Nicholas as we were told she was unavailable. But late this evening an official from the court did contact the mother and told her that she will have to wait for an appeal to resolve the situation. No indication was given as to how long that would take. As for the father, he has given his side on national radio but we note that we were unable to reach him before our deadline.