Patrick Faber Criticizes Housing Ministry Over Lack of Starter Homes in Collet

The debate on the loan motions segued to a list of other issues ranging from poverty to the upcoming elections.  Housing was one of those issues that came up as the UDP Area Representative for Collet, Patrick Faber, called out the Ministry of Housing for not constructing any starter homes in his division.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet: “We don’t want you to come and throw things in our face on the appointed time. And that is what I remembered when the Prime Minister came and said, yeah you don’t have to say anything because we’re coming to do you a little favor now and throw this on you. The people of the South Side of Belize City but all impoverished people deserve the service of the government. You know how many people on the South Side right there in my constituency and you could talk foolishness if I want about how many years I represent. My friend from Lake I represent the same or more years than me and we represent the same kind of people which is why I appreciate it when he came to me and he said Faber I want to take them on the tour in your constituency too. My friend from Port Loyola will agree because the three of our constituencies interlock and we got the same set of people. And if I tell you how many of our people still don’t have, we will give monies to BWS to extend the sewer system. You know how many of them don’t have a toilet? So how will they connect to any sewer system? My friend, the member from Cayo South the minister with responsibility for housing will tell you, although I will confess that whenever I call him he’s very nice to me but not a single starter home has been built in the Collet constituency. Not one of my people have gotten any of those homes that you boasted about. Plan Belize has failed our people insofar as that housing thing has been, you know, touted.”

Minister of Housing, Julius Espat, rose to respond to Faber, explaining that while houses are not being constructed in the division, there are residents from the area that are benefiting.

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South: “Presently, we have three people from Collet that their houses are about to be completed in the Blackberry development. The member from Mesop has six out of nine houses that have been built. Three are waiting and the member from Albert, I believe, has two that has been allocated for the Blackberry area that’s on the list that will be handed up. I am not sure of the member from Corozal North because he’s a very quiet man that doesn’t express himself, so I’m not sure. But we have built houses for the opposition, even though the member from Mesop went on TV and say he is not on building any house. Wasn’t it you that said that ? You said we want them to go to the bank and borrow the money to build the house right ? That’s what you said ?”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Certain sectors.”

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South: “Well which sector do you cater for ? The rich ?”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “We’re going to write off.”

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South: “Write off what ? What will you write off if you can’t give them a house ? How will you write it off if they have not been given a house ?”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “For the indigent.”

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South: “Which indigent ? “

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “The indigent.”

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South: “Madam Speaker,  this young man from Mesop. He is a fraud.”

Speaker of the House: “Let’s take that back.”

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South: “That’s not a bad….. you want me to take back the word fraud that I said of the Leader of the Opposition ? I can take it back Madam Speaker. From my heart I won’t but I will do it publicly. “

Speaker of the House: “Please, on the record, it’s not there.”