Thu | Oct 31, 2024

St Thomas fire victim gets new home

Published:Thursday | October 31, 2024 | 12:07 AM
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Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness (left) greets Indigent Housing Programme beneficiary, Marsha Davis (right), while Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, observes. The occasion was a handover ceremony for Davis’ new hom
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Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness (left) greets Indigent Housing Programme beneficiary, Marsha Davis (right), while Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, observes. The occasion was a handover ceremony for Davis’ new home on Friday, October 25, in Seaforth, St Thomas.
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness (centre) leads a ribbon-cutting exercise for an Indigent Housing solution in Seaforth, St Thomas, on October 25. Sharing the moment are Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie (second right)
Yhomo Hutchinson
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness (centre) leads a ribbon-cutting exercise for an Indigent Housing solution in Seaforth, St Thomas, on October 25. Sharing the moment are Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie (second right), and (from left) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Marsha Henry-Martin; Councillor for the Seaforth Division, Sheroo Stephens; daughter of the beneficiary, Vijae Bartley; beneficiary, Marsha Davis; and Mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Louis Chin.
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AFTER LOSING her home to fire two years ago, Marsha Davis of Seaforth, St Thomas, now has a new home, thanks to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Indigent Housing Programme.

The ministry, in fulfilling a commitment made publicly to Davis at the opening of the Yallahs Fire Station in 2022, delivered the keys to a furnished dwelling on Friday, October 25.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, speaking at the handover ceremony, shared that, “I recall distinctly that when we came to the parish to open the new fire station that this administration built as a part of our commitment to the parish to improve the amenities that you have, the families were all gathered there very distressed and asking for assistance.

“I committed the minister of local government to ensure that the houses were built, and I am happy today to be here to see the fulfilment, with Minister Desmond McKenzie, of that commitment made,” he added.

Holness outlined that both the Indigent Housing Programme and the New Social Housing Programme are structured to provide housing for persons who are assessed as being poor and in need of housing support.

To date, 168 indigent housing units have been built under the Indigent Housing Programme and more than 310 houses delivered under the New Social Housing Programme.

For his part, McKenzie said the Government is continuing to make the kind of investments in St Thomas that will ensure that the parish “retains its prestige”.

He noted that the community of Cheswick, in the eastern section of the parish, is slated to have eight indigent housing solutions being delivered over the next couple of months.

An emotional Vijae Bartley, who is the daughter of Davis, and who will be occupying the home with her mother and other family members, recalled that, “It (the fire) was a disaster for us, and I would like to thank the community also for assisting us on that day.

“We are so very grateful for this house, and I would like to thank the prime minister for this wonderful start,” she added.