Imagine sleeping in your bed when suddenly you feel your house falling down. That was what happened to Edgar Richards last October. Since then, he hasn't been able to live in his home. But while the house is currently on its side, he says it just needs a little lift.
And that's all he's been asking his area rep, Cordel Hyde for, but to no avail. So today, he came to the media. Courtney Menzies has this story.
For the past ten months, Edgar Richards hasn't been able to live inside his home after it fell during a storm. Up to now, it's still on its side and according to Richards, he's been asking his area rep, Cordel Hyde, for months to help him fix it so that he can move back in.
Edgar Richards, House Fell Down
"So my minister, the DPM, told me to get an estimate. I got an estimate and I took it to him. And up to now from last year October and now we're coming to October again and my house is still on the ground, tumble down. He came to campaign for the election for city council and the other one. I told him I don't want a house, just balance it for me. Up to now, he hasn't balanced it. Two weeks ago I went to see him, he looked at me and said, I'm dealing with education first. You're not minister of education. so I have to live like a dog until you done deal with education?"
"I voted for him against Carlos Diaz in Independence Hall in 1994 and this is what is happening to me today."
The house fell last October and since then, Richards and his wife have had to move into a small shed that takes on water when it rains. And while Hyde promised to assist him, Richards said it's not the first time he's made promises he hasn't kept. And this time, not keeping the promise means leaving this couple out in the cold:
Edgar Richards, House Fell Down
"I ran out of my house in just boxers. I was so frightened because it was an early morning thing like after 5. It was raining and I went to my minister's house and he wasn't there. So I saw him a couple days after and explained to him. From last year October up to now my house is still turned up."
"When it rains water comes up high right in there, me and my wife. And then I have this here and he came around election time and he said, what do you want me to do? He already promised me a house when my house burnt down 2020. He came to my gate and said I will build a house for you when I get in. This is 2020 February he told me that. 5 years went, this next one fell last year off the posts. He has me on dreams and promises."
"I asked them to balance my house for me, balance it and I'll do the rest. Even if he didn't want to give me, they gave me an estimate for $6,000. That's our public money. Even if he said hold half, I could do the rest. He didn't even give me anything to eat or nothing when my house fell."
We reached out to DPM Cordel Hyde and he said, quote, "I promised to help him, and I will. I just beg the gentleman to have a little bit more patience with me." End quote.
