Since Monday's announcement of the date for the general election - everyone has been talking about the US$10 million grant from Venezuela. Housing Minister Ralph Fonseca said $9 million of it will be given to the poor for home improvements. Michael Finnegan said someone should go to jail for it - and today a former Financial Secretary weighed in with her comment. We'll tell you what she said later...but first to the ground where the money should have been a political blessing for the PUP government but for some it's been more like a curse. On Wednesday police officers were dispatched to the Prime Minister's divisional office because of the crowd that thronged that office. But that was nothing compared to what we saw today at PUP standard bearer Oscar Rosado's office - where armed soldiers were brought in. 7NEWS was there.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Multiple teams of police and BDF soldiers, armed with M16 pistols, stood guard outside Rosado's office on Ceasar Ridge road this morning. The officers were called to regulate this crush of Port Loyola residents who descended on Rosado's office for their piece of the "Venezuela Money."
Man #1: They get their ten million big man. I think they got their ten million to help the people because the taxes we are paying all the while. We think that is our money.
Man #2: We need to know what's going on with our dollars which they are giving away. They already granted us loan, made us sign for it, and we done put in the application form. We are looking forward to that same way.
Woman #1: According to rumors a ten million dollars come in from Venezuela for Musa which they have to split up with us the people.
KS: You came here for money?
Woman #1: Exactly I came for here for my.... grant...each individual is getting four blues bwoys, That's according to rumors, according to everybody who filled out the application. That is what they are offering.
Man #2: We need to know what's going on with our money same way because it is free money same way and everybody is out here from seven o'clock in the morning - people are out waiting for the man same way.
That man is Port Loyola PUP standard bearer Oscar Rosado. He arrived at his
office shortly after we did.
Keith Swift,
You have a lot of unhappy people outside your office.
Oscar Rosado, PUP Port Loyola Standard Bearer
"Yes I know they have been waiting on this housing grant and the loans and that is what we are here to do again. We did two days of filling out forms but I have been waiting first to make sure that the ones that have already been processed at Housing, go through before I attend to other people. We still haven't gotten the people's grants from there but they have assured me that they are being processed. They told us to process the forms, get them to the house department and they will be in charge of putting in on the system and the treasury will release their checks for grants."
And so after speaking to us - Rosado had to break the bad news to the constituents - who were waiting in the sun for three hours.
Oscar Rosado Talking To Crowd: 'We will fill out the application forms, we will send it across to Housing and we will give you a call late next week.'
Man #2: They told us Friday and we are big men - we are not into pickney timing. I have pickney same way and we are not into that. We look out for others.
Oscar Rosado,
"We told them early next week so if somebody has said I had promised to them that they would get their money today, I don't know how they could say that. I told them early next week."
Man #1: The people said, because the people said they would get some money and that is why we come out to see if this man is there for us too right.
Man #2: They told us today and I don't know what's going on with these people because we into vote for them and we have to know what is going on with our money same way.
KS: How much were you supposed to get?
Man #2: Well a small money, only $400 these people are giving but we are looking out for that same way. It is still help same way.
Man #1: T_oday I came out and the man told me that next week I can get my money. But I am not satisfied with that because I don't have any work. I think they were for the people but it looks like they aren't there for the people because if they were they would create some small change and thing same way too.
And so no one received their money today. Add that disappointment to the presence of police officers and armed soldiers - and the tension was thick at times as the police tried to regulate the frustrated crowd. The morning remained calmed but for one man who observed from across m across the street - even when these voters get their grants, there still won't be reason to celebrate.
Man #3: Politicians shouldn't keep the Belizean people impoverished five or ten years so that we have to be in this predicament. So this predicament itself is fraud and it is corruption. That is all I have to say. So when it comes to the grant situation and I have to line up to get a grant, that in itself is corruption.
You can call it corruption but its reality. And since Oscar Rosado is running for office - he can expect voters to run to him for assistance. He says they shouldn't, at least not yet.
Oscar Rosado,
"This is the area representative that is supposed to be answering
if his needs for Port Loyola are being accepted or concern being taken. I am only the standard bearer and I think this is just the first time that I am running. I need to get a chance."
Hon. Anthony 'Boots' Martinez, Port Loyola Area Representative
"What is happening here Keith is that the People's United Party has neglected Port Loyola in their rights and the people believe that it is election time now and they need to get what they are just due. Every month as area representative I don't get a community vote from the government since I have been elected. From before there was the convention for the People's United Party, in Port Loyola, in Port Loyola Dolores was getting the community vote and after that it was Oscar Rosado."
Keith Swift,
But do you feel that if your constituents get these grants, that it will influence their vote?
Hon. Anthony 'Boots' Martinez,
"No I have no fear. Majority of the people in Port Loyola know what I stand for. As area representative I get nothing to give to the people, only from my salary I help them, from the business, and from the private sector. So it is time now for people to bum rush them and they are supposed to get, which is the truth."
The last word was that they'll get the money on Monday morning.
