Back on December 21st, you saw some PUP drama unfold between the Port Loyola area rep and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing. Long story short, Gilroy Usher and his constituent, Apolinaria Choc, had pulled out all the stops for a house handing over that never happened. Usher claims he was told on December 12th that it would be scheduled for later that month, and that he never got the memo two days later that it had to be postponed.
And the Ministry Public Relations Manager explained that the reason is because the house wasn't finished since the contractor was busy painting Usher's house for Christmas.
But after Usher's twenty minute rant against his own party, and the ministry's response, the situation was rectified and today, Choc finally moved into her brand new home with her 8-year-old daughter.
But, a number of things had to happen before the keys could have been handed over. Courtney Menzies was at the ceremony today and has this story.
About two weeks ago, 50-year-old Apolinaria Choc was told that she would be moving into her brand new starter home, after decades of living in her dilapidated wooden house. But due to miscommunication, that house handing over never happened.
But today, Choc was finally given the keys, and tonight, she is finally sleeping under a roof that won't leak, and walls that aren't rotted.
But the last time around, there was confusion and frustration surrounding this new house, starting with the contractor, who was not able to finish it in time. The Publicity Manager at MIDH explained that he had to be terminated, and they now have a process for choosing a contractor.
Marisa Alamilla, Public & Publicity Manager, MIDH
"The smaller contractors, one house is all they're doing and we monitor them. Please understand when they're one contractor, we give them one house and we monitor them. Unfortunately in the case of Ms Choc's house, we had some issues. You have to understand with small contractor sometimes you want to do something but you are unable to understand what it's going to take for MIDH, because they are working for MIDH, they are under a supervision that they are not used to. Minister Usher has now conceded that it is his best interest, our best interest, the recipients best interest, taxpayers best interest that we lead the charge in choosing contractors for these jobs and we will go by that doing it in a way where we are going to try to be fair and transparent but we will also look at the quality of work that they've delivered to the ministry prior to doing this."
And while it seems the area rep, Gilroy Usher, has mended fences with the ministry, last month, he had made explosive comments about them. However, this time, he refused to answer the media's questions - saying that it's all Kumbaya between him and Minister Julius Espat.
Reporter
"Were you able to get some clarity as to why the handing over didn't happen?"
Gilroy Usher, Area Rep, Port Loyola
"Well, I just want to say that we think positive and we're looking forward to develop the country, to develop the community you cannot be looking in the rear view mirror. So we had a good ceremony here today, everything was well organized, I personally thank the minister, his ministry, and all those who assisted in making the starter home completed. I think that is the important thing. "
Reporter
"But the last time you did say certain thing such as, you were disappointed in the Ministry of Housing, today we heard a different tone, that there are now four more people waiting to receive houses like these in your area so what happened between then and now?"
Gilroy Usher, Area Rep, Port Loyola
"Let me reiterate again, we are not in the business of looking in the rear view mirror."
Reporter
"But there must have been some discussion."
Gilroy Usher, Area Rep, Port Loyola
"I'm saying that I'm not in the business of looking in the rear view mirror, if you're going to develop the community, if you're going to develop the country, you have to look forward, you have to think positive. Any other question, any other question?"
Reporter
"Sir so let me ask you this…"
Gilroy Usher, Area Rep, Port Loyola
"Wait, no no, let me just say this."
Reporter
"Was there an error on your part, did you do something wrong in having or asking the contractor to prioritize a personal thing as opposed to dealing with the house and finishing it? Again I'll say what I've said over and over…"
Gilroy Usher, Area Rep, Port Loyola
"Sir, I asked you now a specific question, the painting of your house, that's the question, please answer that one. Was there something wrong with what happened there? Accountability, you are a public official. In terms of the painting of my house, the painting of my house had nothing to do with… Mr Pott is a contractor, many contractors are able to multi-function, they have more than one person doing different things for them, I don't know of a contractor who will say, okay I will build this house here and because I'm building this house here, I will spend 24 hours with all my work men on just this house here, contractors are multifaceted. So whatever responsibility he takes on, he takes them on with the full capacity, with the full understanding that he can do what is expected of him."
Reporter
"He's been dismissed."
Gilroy Usher, Area Rep, Port Loyola
"I don't know about that, enough interview, enough interview, I don't know anything about that."
And after that, Usher walked away from our cameras before the interview was finished.
But while Usher didn't have much to say, the recipient of the brand new home was more than excited - especially after spending the holidays drenched in rain.
Reporter
"I know you had wanted to move in before Christmas but you couldn't so how did you spend the holiday season?"
Apolinaria Choc, Recipient
"Well especially when it was raining, I pass it under rain. Everything inside is wet so I can't do anything, I just have to live in it but now that I have my new home now I feel really good, I will sleep in a dry place now."
Reporter
" It was worth the wait?"
Apolinaria Choc, Recipient
"Yes it was worth the wait, just had to have some patience."
Reporter
"How long would it have taken you to actually move out of what you had?"
Apolinaria Choc, Recipient
"Well yes indeed I have a dream but I can't do anything because I can't help myself to have a concrete building because I don't work, it's only my children who work and provide something in the house but now that they provide the house for me so I feel like my dream come true out of nowhere and thanks to the good Lord that it touched the hearts of the Minister of Housing and Mr Gilroy Usher."
Reporter
"And now your daughter is going to be raised in a good house that she can be proud of."
Apolinaria Choc, Recipient
"Oh yes, she feel like she rich now, she got a big house."
So far, MIDH has handed over almost 200 houses, and they are planning to do fifty more in the Burrell Boom area early this year. When it comes to payment, though, Alamilla says there are some families who aren't meeting the requirements, and so the ministry will be speaking with them to find out the reasons for the late payments.
