A homeowner is urging the government to pay the rent it committed to after leasing his home to house people affected by Hurricane Beryl in July.
The homeowner, who asked not to be identified, contacted iWitness News on Tuesday complaining that he had not received any rent since his house was occupied in September, even as he has to pay the utility bills.
He told iWitness News that he was overseas when he received a call on Sept. 7 inquiry about whether the house was for rent.
He said the person urged him to return to St. Vincent as soon as possible, and he did so on Sept. 12.
The homeowner said the person who contacted him said that the government would give two months’ rent and a month’s rent as a security deposit.
The rental arrangements were made with the Ministry of Tourism, the homeowner told iWitness News.
“Up to now, I haven’t gotten a dollar from them and the tenants are inside the house. I am paying the light bill, the water bill and everything and I can’t get any money from them (the government).”
The homeowner told iWitness News that he had heard similar complaints from other homeowners.
“The government is also renting their houses and not doing anything. … Every time I go to the people at Tourism, it is like they are pushing me around. They are saying they spelt my name wrong and they would try to correct it.
“I keep going back. They gave me a paper to sign, I signed it and it’s going on three months now and I never received a dollar from them. It is painful; very, very painful,” the homeowner told iWitness News.
He said that first month he paid EC$417 for electricity and water because there are six people in the house, which is fully furnished, including a washing machine.
“It is painful. Christmas is coming next week and if I don’t get paid tomorrow or Friday, it will be next year,” he told iWitness News.
You entered into a contract with the government, however SVG DO NOT have a Government. What we have here is Not a Government so things like this must happen.
Dem so bold faced in doing these things, no shame what so ever, why should you be paying the bills? I don’t think that is your responsibility ..soon dem go wrap up money in Jersey and share out.