Woman Forced Out Of Home; Gov't Blamed

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Home in Greenlands, East End

(PLTM) - The government is being chastised for their negligence and host of unfulfilled promises after Idalia Hodge, a mother of five was forced to leave her home and find shelter elsewhere. This comes as the aftermath of a government project has made her living conditions unbearable and a threat to her family’s health.

In an exclusive interview with Ms. Hodge, who has been moving from house to house as a consequence, she explained to BVI Platinum News that as a result of a road constructed by the government in Greenland, East End, adjacent the Francis Lettsome Primary School, the flow of water was obstructed, causing all the excess to flow straight into her yard.

Delving further into the issue, she disclosed that the site, which now boasts of the newly constructed road, was once a ghut.

She noted that as a consequence, the yard which services her family along with two others is difficult to traverse, as it is terribly flooded and gets worse once rains persist.

“It’s like this for about two years now. You’re unable to pass from your door to the streets and vice versa without getting dirty and wet. Sometimes I have to climb a wall, me and my kids, just to get out of the yard. There is no way of getting out, I have to pass through it.”

She added, “My neighbors had to put rocks in their yard, just to be able to get from their door to where they are going. They jump on one after the other.”

After numerous pleas and complaints to Ministers of Government, Permanent Secretaries and other officials of various government departments, Ms. Hodge expressed that she has lost all hope in the government and their promises.

“Myself and the other families have been to persons in Public Works Department and various Ministers, including Marlon Penn, Ronnie Skelton. I’ve been to the PS (Permanent Secretary) for Public Works, I’ve met with persons in Sustainable Development Department and more, and nothing has ever been done.”

Ms. Hodge went on to say, “Hon. Penn came to visit the area earlier this year and said he will be back, and that never happened. All of them always assure you that they will fix it or address it, but nothing ever happens. They come, leave and never come back. I can’t keep running behind Ministers and these people. It’s getting worse.”

To make matters worse, she stated that the flooding also affected the septic tank of an elderly lady who resides in the area, causing it to over flow.

“We are trying to get persons to deal with it and I’m told that government is the one who has to attend to it, as it was the government who built the house for her. Dealing with the government on that matter again is taking the issue nowhere. We live there and we have to be smelling something real bad and not being able to walk properly.”

As it relates to health, Ms. Hodge disclosed that she took the issue to the Ministry of Health during the Territory's strong Zika campaign period, and again the matter was ignored.

“I can’t live in this condition. I have kids and they are my first priority. All kinds of sickness going around. When they get sick, people blame the parent.”

It is a combination of these issues why Ms. Hodge explained she is forced to seek shelter elsewhere.

“People are asking why I have a house and don’t live in it, but I can’t when it is very tiring and uncomfortable. Because of all that is happening, during this year I’m squeezing up in houses with my 5 kids because I can’t stay there. I can’t stay there and it’s not nice. I have to move from house to house sleeping to avoid the smell and mess the road construction has caused. Something needs to be done; they need to rectify the issue or find somewhere comfortable for me and my kids.”

Efforts to contact officials at the Ministry of Communication and Works on the matter were futile.

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