Tuesday, April 15 2008

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ALL THAT IS LEFT: Natalie Edwards lifts one of ten garbage bags filled with clothes and other items she salvaged from her fallen house. Edwards lost e...

Natalie Edwards is pleading with the authorities and the public for assistance to improve her life and the lives of her two young children.

Seven months ago, Edwards lost her home and all her belongings at Upper Rich Plain Road in Diego Martin, due to landslides. She recalled the heavy rains during the early morning of September 1, because of Tropical Storm, Felix.

She said during that morning she heard several strange noises outside her home, and when the rains had subsided at about 7 am, she went with her entire family to investigate. She noticed several small landslides around the foundations of her house. She recalled her neighbours warning her not to go back inside because the house looked as though it may fall.

“I thank God up to this day that my family was outside with me, because seconds later, the house collapsed. However, with the exception of the clothes on our backs, we lost almost everything that day. “ Edwards recalled.

Since then, Edwards has moved from home to home with her young son and infant daughter while attempting to look for another house. She said she has been trying diligently week after week since her house fell down to meet with the MP for Diego Martin, Dr Keith Rowley, but it seemed like a futile task.

Edwards indicated every Thursday when she called or visited Dr Rowley’s office in Carenage, she was always told, either the minister was occupied with a meeting for the day, or he was not in the country. She told Newsday, this has been going on every week since she lost her house, and she wondered if the minister actually did care about the needs of the people in his area.

Edwards went on to explain she was forced to live by her friends because she couldn’t afford to pay rent, and purchase all the appliances she would need to run a home. Although she was grateful to all who accommodated her, she believed it was not fair they should be inconvenienced because the minister did not have time for her.

Edwards claimed to have written the HDC as well, but the only response she has gotten was an acknowledgment letter from the Corporation in March.

“Those in power don’t seem to be interested in helping people these days. I lost everything when the house fell, I don’t have a fridge or a stove or anything to my name other than clothes. What does it take to get the attention of the minister?” she asked.

According to Edwards, her nine-year-old son has also been affected since he is unable to maintain his GPA since the event. She said the whole situation has stunted him academically and she did not know what to do to assist him.

Newsday called the Ministry of Trade, and was told the minister could not be reached because he was scheduled for meetings for most of the day.

Newsday also contacted the Diego Martin West Constituency Office, and was told by a representative it was a bit strange that Edwards has been unable to see the minister. The representative, wishing to remain anonymous, said, “The minister was here the first Thursday this month, and will be returning this Thursday, so I don’t understand why someone would say they have been unable to see him.

But even if this was somehow the case, it is a simple matter of speaking to any of the representatives at the office and leaving the appropriate information with them.