In the last segment, you saw the Prime Minister and his Minister of Housing talking about the housing grant from Venezuela. As they said, the money was earmarked to provide loans and grants to low income families. And that's why this morning, and for most of the day, literally hundreds of people flocked to the Ministry of Housing's office on North Front Street. Reports say people were there from before 8 am. We arrived around noon and there was still a line. Keith Swift has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This was what in front of the Housing Department looked like for most of the day - a senior police officer and two security guards on the inside - and at midday - when we checked -there was still a long line of people on the outside. The people out here say they came to the Ministry of Housing's office on North Front Street for one simple reason: they heard money was being given away - either in the form of loans or grants.
Woman #1: I came to check for the grant which I told them about because from October the first I came and they had me going around and around and they said for me to come back. So I decided to come back and check. I just heard that they say it is ready.
KS: A grant for what?
Woman #1: To put a little addition on my house because I am a single mother with six children and I need a help with them same way and put an addition on my house. If it is ready for me I will appreciate it very well.
Woman #2: I am out here for the same thing which people are coming for. From in May I came to apply for a grant and they pushed me around. I always come around and they say it is not ready. I went to Magic Fingers to get my phone out and I understood that they are issuing the grants so I said it is best I come and see if mine is ready.
Woman #3: I am out here because I need a house. That is why I am out here and the situation is that I don't even know if I will get one but I am waiting...well I don't know yet because as you see nobody can't get in.
Man #1: I heard they have money to give out to Belizeans, ten million dollars and so I came out to see if I can get a little grant.
Man #2: I am waiting to get my grant that they promised me that I should get.
KS: Who promised you?
Man #2: The people in the Fort George Division, they got us up and down and we are waiting to receive our grant and we haven't received it yet. We don't know what is the problem.
KS: How long you been out here?
Man #2: From morning I am out in the sun hot and I am sweating, I can't get in.
But minutes later and the entire group were let in - but he returned minutes later - empty handed and disappointed. He wasn't the only one.
Man #2: They promised us they would deal with the loans as quick as possible before they give any form out and say they will be giving the grants as soon as they process the rest that they have there in tact. So I asked them please because some people are waiting long to receive what they promised and they haven't gotten it yet.
Man #3: I went in this morning and they told me to check back in two weeks time because they approve everything but we don't how true it is. A man like me, I don't have any job. It is only hustling, sell copper and those things.
KS: How much money are you expecting?
Man #3: I asked for a grant of $5,000 but I don't know if I'll get it. I hope I'll get it. According to them we will get our money in a week to weeks time. Hopefully we will see and I hope so because I need it.
As we reported on Friday, 10 clerks have been transferred from other government departments to the Ministry of Housing for three weeks to facilitate loan disbursement.
