Shots were fired in Port Loyola today, but they didn't come from a gun. Rather, they came from the division's area rep, Gilroy Usher, and they were aimed at his own government.
To give you a bit of background, Usher had organized a ceremony for the handing over of one of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing's starter homes. His constituent, Apolinaria Choc, was to get the keys and start moving in ahead of the Christmas season.
But, that handing over never happened - and we'll tell you why later. But for now, Usher didn't take the news of the postponement too kindly. He called out the MIDH for not giving Port Loyola as much attention as other constituencies and said that the residents are not being given equal treatment.
Here's a snippet of his rant:
Gilroy Usher, Area Rep. Port Loyola
"I'm saying publicly Minister Espat we thank you for the many homes that you've built throughout the country. Minister of Infrastructure, we thank you for the starter homes that you've built throughout the country, but its time that tremendous effort, serious effort made to deliver on the starter homes in the Por Loyola Division and we do not want the houses 3 months or a year before the election. People want their houses as quick as possible, just as the other divisions. The people are tired of living in shacks and thing, the people want to experience the promise in the PUP constitution of better housing for all Belizeans and so let us move forward as a government and get the houses built for the people of Port Loyola. We are tired of excuses. It's time for the government, for the ministry of infrastructure to work along with the people of Port Loyola, to get the starter homes built at a faster rate. We have the contractors, we have the lands, the lands are filled up, so what the continued excuse with the delay? At this rate once starter home in 2 years, at this rate in 5 years you will only have 2 and a half starter homes."
