Surrounding homes at Mt D’or where the destructive landslip occurred on Tuesday that completely destroyed a house leaving five people homeless have been assessed by engineers of The Government’s Aided Self-Help Housing Programme.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian, St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh, who was very instrumental in getting immediate assistance for the landslip victim, Karen Telesford and her family assured that her neighbours, “need not fear for their own homes.”
During a visit to Williams Street, Deyalsingh said the engineers have assured that they will provide emergency response to them.
“They have ensured that emergency work will be carried out to stabilise their respective properties to prevent their houses from coming down also,” Deyalsingh said.
With respect to Telesford and her family, Deyalsingh said that a parcel of land has been identified by the affected family in which they can start rebuilding. Deyalsingh said once all the relevant documents have been presented with respect to the land occupancy, the family will get a $25,000 grant from the National Commission for Self Help for the foundation.
“Once this is done, I have already gotten corporate sponsors to assist in the construction of the rest of the house once everything goes well and the foundation is laid. In the meantime, I have donated two mattresses and household items. These people are amazing people and they have not laid blame on anyone but understand that this was an act of God per se,” Deyalsingh said.
On Tuesday, Telesford claimed that she, her husband and three grandchildren, ages 10, 14 and 16, managed to escape injury as they had abandoned the house on Monday.
She explained that earlier this year, she and her husband noticed the land slipping near their homes and cracks in the wall of the kitchen.
She claimed that after heavy rainfall two weeks ago, she contacted the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management to assist in assessing the house.
Telesford said while her family was able to save some items before they fled the property, most of their valuables were lost as the house collapsed in the landslide.
Members of the public who may want to make donations to the family can contact Telesford at 365-2082.