Today we were called out to Hattieville where there was a dispute over a hurricane relief house. The new homeowner had received the house after he lost his in Hurricane Richard. But - it's a small structure without plumbing or electrical fittings and it seems he was never satisfied with it and neither was he too afraid to be vocal about it.
But he was living there with some level of contentment - that is until today when a trailer truck pulled up to take away his house.
He says it's political victimization - while others say it is ingratitude - here's the story:..
Jules Vasquez Reporting
Today, Albert Hendy took a stand in front of his home in Hattieville - after this truck came to take away his house today.
Albert Hendy - May Lose His Home
"I saw a truck came in front of my house and the two police came out and tell me that they got a minister that they come to take away my house and so I ask him on what basis? He said that he doesn't know and that we have to check with the minister and so I tell them that you guys cannot take my house because if you take my house you will have to take my life also."
Hendy - who lost his home in the hurricane - and the evidence of that is still strewn about the property - is a proud, unapologetic supporter of the PUP aspirant for Belize Rural Central Standard bearer Linsford Castillo - and he says that's why an attempt is being made to take his house - a house which is really not a home:
Albert Hendy, May Lose His Home
"As you can see there is no bathroom, no light or nothing. I live here about two months now without light or water."
Jules Vasquez
"Now the talking is that you had... because they gave you a small house some time ago - you had spoken with the area representative and told them that it's not satisfactory and that its better they take it away or you will sell it. That is the talking. Is that true?"
Albert Hendy, May Lose His Home
"He came the day after I got this house. They took out his camera to take pictures and I told him that I don't want them to take a picture of my walk-in closet. And I said moreover I will paint the outside of the house blue and white. He walks away and told me fine - you can paint the entire house blue and white but you will see what will happen. I think this was what he was talking about."
Linsford Castillo, aspirant for standard bearer
"That is the only thing I can see that this is blatant case of political victimization. I can't see any other grounds under which NEMO would want to repossess this house other that the fact that this young man campaigns for me and two; that he has my poster prominently displayed on his house."
That led Castillo supporters to confront the village chairman Gilbert Domingo - who is an independent chairman but they say that he supports the eviction.
Jules Vasquez
"You have eyes on the house that NEMO was about to take away because you want to give her the house."
Gilbert Domingo
"Well my position is simple, I understand that on several occasions this individual expresses his disapproval with the house and he wanted to be in no part of it. I didn't know to what extent did he go but it was drawn to my attention that the house will be retrieve from him if he don't want it and he decide that he is going to sell it like he was saying. Now my position is simple, I am not going to sit here and let that house go back to Spanish Lookout and I got several needy that really needs this house."
And as he explained to Castillo's wife and campaign manager he the chairman has people who need the house, but only so that he can give Gilda Flowers the home. Remember her? She's the mother of two who lost her home to arson two weeks ago.
And that's where this divisive story actually found a happy ending. Just as we were visiting Gilda Flowers, UDP standard bearer for Freetown Li Mark Chang passed - and when he saw how she was living, he says he had to help:
Li Mark Chang, UDP standard bearer for Freetown
"I usually make my weekly runs to Belmopan and I pass and the Chairman for Hattieville Gilbert Domingo flags me down and asks me to look into a situation. I think you were here when he pull me into the house and that lady house is really bad and so he requested for materials for assistance for the lady and as you can see behind there that that lady is in bad shape so part of the establishment that I work Chon Saan agreed that we would donate some building materials namely 15 sheets of plywood to start with and we will see how we can move on from there."
Gilbert Domingo
"This is a big relief to know that we actually have a good starting point because I send letters around and the response is not as fast as I would expected knowing the situation she is in but with Mr. Li Mark passing through and I have work with Mr. Li Mark before he is a very generous man - kind heart and everything - it was an opportunity that I didn't expect to just stop him and ask him for help and help was rendered immediately so I would be happy to see if some other people pitch in along with Mr. Li Mark and see how quickly we could get her situated."
The chairman duly thanked him - but then - what about the Hendy house
Gilbert Domingo
"Well if this person do not want the house or appreciate the house at any means - we got some people that do."
Jules Vasquez
"But he is living there chairman, if you take it from him he will be homeless too."
Gilbert Domingo
"Well the situation is a little different now because at the time when this was going on - he wasn't living in the house. I didn't know he was in the house but after I went over there and saw the situation - he was in the house, then we know the dynamics have change because we cannot take a house from somebody who is living in it. The intention is not to put him out or make him homeless."
Jules Vasquez
"So you are not with the plan to go there and eject him from the house and physically strong the house. You are not with that?"
Gilbert Domingo
"Jules, I the chairman of this village. I am a facilitator - I help to make people lives easier and not people lives rougher."
The truck that had come to pick up the house headed back to Cayo - and so the standoff remains. Now, those who'd like to assist Gilda Flowers with zinc for her home can call the chairman at 669-9878. He's already found a piece of land and will collect labour resources from the village.
