Sea Lots woman appeals for help

Worse, at the back of her house in Production Driver, Sea Lots a ravine was covered with floating garbage which entered the waterway by being washed down from the St Ann’s river during heavy early mornig showers.

This is not the first time her house has been flooded and the ravine at the back, carpeted in garbage. Through her tears, Isaac said this is going to be her fifth Christmas living like this and she is tired of such a life.

Isaac is a 46-yearold single mother of 12, four of whom live with her. She survives on social welfare as an asthmatic condition has rendered her medically unfit to work.

Isaac said her home was rebuilt through the assistance of then Minister of the People Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh.

Past news reports verify that Issaac was one of 52 mothers who received low cost housing from the then Ministry of the People in 2011.

Each house at the time cost the state $71,000.

Isaac however said when the house was being constructed she told the builders to raise it to a level as to prevent flooding when the ravine overflows due to floodwaters from the St Ann’s river during heavy showers.

The workmen told her she would have to pay them separately to make any other adjustments that deviated from the Ministry approved design and build project.

The ravine’s waters flows out to the Gulf of Paria.

When the tide rises, this also causes a backup and consequent flooding.

She said her daughter who attends Success Laventille Secondary School has to do her homework on the flooded floor as the house contains not much furniture.

Isaac is pleading with the authorities to assist her in any way they can.

She told Newsday she “tripped off ” last year as a result of the extreme social conditions under which she lives. The social welfare cheques received every month for $1,150 often goes to the hardware to purchase material to repair the house, she said. She has applied for state housing in 2013 but is yet to receive a response.

Isaac tearfully said, “I have no food card.

I have tried everything.

I just don’t know what to do again.”