Pleasantville fire victims demand new housing immediately

“We want somewhere to live and we want it today."

Minister of the People Glenn Ramadharsingh and San Fernando Mayor Marlene Coudray faced a barrage of criticism Monday when they visited victims of last week's fire in Pleasntville, in the San Fernando East constituency of former PM Patrick Manning.

About 100 people were displaced by the fire on Friday night at one of the apartment buildings owned by the Housing development Coprporation (HDC).

Ramadharsingh took hampers of non-perishable goods and sanitary products, as well as vouchers for pizza and a list of the financial grants available from his ministry. They welcomed the gesture, including the Valentine roses the minister took for the ladies, but demanded much more than that.

They said they want the government to provide them with alternative accomodation by the end of the week and threatened to “step up protest and burn tyres” if their demands are not met.

Some of the fire victims charged that they were treated "like some dogs" because they are not from a constituency held by the government. "If it was one of all you constituency everybody done relocated," one woman said.

They demanded action immediately: “We want somewhere to live and we want it today."

They complained about problems at their building that have existed for 11 years without anyone attending to them. 

“And it has been complaints for 11 years, broken pipes, leaking roofs, faulty electrical system, broken railings, no lights in the corridor, pigeon droppings wreaking havoc on your skin," one woman told the officials.

The residents refused to lay blame for the problems on their MP and the former government, insisting that it is a matter for the new government since the fire happened "under this regime.”

Ramadharsingh promised to use all the resources of his ministry to assist those affected. However, he said he is not in a position relocate them olr offer housing assistance.

He said families could access up to $6,000 for replacement of lost appliances, $1,000 clothing allowance, $1,000 for secondary students who lost their school supplies, plus $750 for primary school students.

Ramadharsingh told reporters he expected the hostility. 

"They were in shock, they were in trauma and I expected them to be really crying out for help, asking for help. I went in there knowing they would be a bit emotional when you have flood and fire people do get a bit emotional," Ramadharsingh said.

He said he had contacted his cabinet colleague, Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal who has promised to help.

He noted, "These...are apartments, so we might have to get Cabinet or something approved or we have to look at the laws and see. I do not want to promise you something and we get into problems."

Ramadharsingh said he asked Minister of Community Development Nizam Baksh to allow the residents to use the community centre as a temporary shelter "until everything is under control."