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St Ann indigents get houses from Ministry of Local Government

Published:Tuesday | January 15, 2019 | 12:00 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
Taylor's House in Williamsfield, North East St Ann.
Albert Osbourne
Gladstone Taylor, with McKenzie in the background.
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Two indigents in St Ann on Friday (January 4) got the furnished houses they were promised by Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie after a delay in the arrival

of furniture prevented their handover before Christmas as originally intended.

Gladstone 'Singer Man' Taylor of Williamsfield in the Lime Hall division in North East St Ann and Albert Osbourne, otherwise called Mason, who lives in Mile End, South East St Ann, were presented with the keys to their respective houses, much to the delight of the two elderly gentlemen and community members.

The presentation of the two houses brings to six the number of such houses built for needy persons in Jamaica by the Government in recent times.

McKenzie said that funds have been provided to build two such houses in St Thomas and two in West Rural St Andrew during this month and two each in Trelawny and Westmoreland in February.

 

TAKE CARE OF OTHERS

 

In presenting the houses, McKenzie said that one of the measuring sticks for any government is how they deal with the less fortunate. He reminded the audience that one of the responsibilities of councillors is to take care of those who are in need.

Acknowledging that he has known Taylor for over 40 years, the minister said that the cost to provide the furnished house for him, which consists of a bathroom, toilet, a kitchen, a bedroom, a dining area and a patio, was $2 million.

"It's about doing what we should be doing," McKenzie said in his comments.

Member of Parliament for North East St Ann and Minister of Social Security Shahine Robinson, in her remarks, said that the provision of the houses was truly community development at work.

"We thank him (McKenzie) for what he has done. This has been a team effort, a community effort," Robinson stated.

In Mile End, where national attention was earlier drawn to the dilapidated structure that Osbourne called home, the presentation process was repeated, with Member of Parliament for South East St Ann Lisa Hanna and Councillor Ian Bell of the Beecher Town division, who had brought Osbourne's plight to the minister, in attendance.

"Indeed, I am happy for the gentleman. I am happy for the minister's commitment and execution of his commitment, and I know that this gentleman, at the age of 91, is overly happy for this contribution that he was able to secure at this age," Bell told The Gleaner.

Osbourne's niece, Shannette Taylor, said she was very happy for the house for her elderly uncle.