Family house in Owia left hanging after wall collapses

A family in the North Windward village of Owia is now living on the edge after their home was left dangerously perched on a hillside.

This follows a landslide that caused the larger part of a retaining wall at the home to collapse last Saturday night, September 17.

Home owner, Candi Pollard Sutherland told SEARCHLIGHT on Monday that their present situation is “a very scary one.”

Pollard Sutherland

She said the wall collapsed during the heavy rain experienced on Saturday night.

The rainfall was associated with Tropical Storm Fiona, which did not directly impact St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Sutherland said it was sometime between 10:00 p.m and 10.30 p.m that the wall collapsed leaving most of her five bedroom house dangerously exposed.

“We have a goat that we usually tie down by the wall, but for some strange reason on Saturday night, the goat kept bawling,” Sutherland related.

She said she eventually sent her son to remove the goat and tie it elsewhere.

About half an hour after the goat was moved Sutherland said the retaining wall collapsed.

Sutherland, a teacher at the Owia Government School is appealing for assistance to make her home safe again.

When SEARCHLIGHT spoke to her on Monday, she was waiting on a visit from officials from the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO).