$350 Million Spent on Social Infrastructure in Westmoreland
By: , October 15, 2024
Photo: Serena Grant
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second right), cuts the ribbon to officially hand over a two-bedroom home to beneficiary Lloyd East (right) in Belvedere, Westmoreland, on Friday (October 11). Participating in the ribbon cutting are (from left) Councillor for the Leamington Division, Amorkard Brown; Member of Parliament, Westmoreland Eastern, Daniel Lawrence; Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Councillor Danree Delancy, and Mr. East’s spouse, Madge Williams (in background at right). The unit was one of two handed over by the Minister, with the second being a studio unit in Grange Hill, in the parish.
Photo: Serena Grant
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second left), shares a light moment with beneficiary of the Ministry’s Indigent Housing Programme, Clebert Vaz (centre), after handing him the keys to his new studio unit in Belvedere, Westmoreland, on Friday (October 11). Sharing the moment (from left) are Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Eastern, Daniel Lawrence; Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Councillor Danree Delancy; and Secretary of the Board of Supervision, Treka Lewis.The Full Story
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the Ministry has spent more than $350 million, so far, on social infrastructure and programmes in Westmoreland.
Speaking to JIS News after the handover ceremony for two housing units in the parish, under the Ministry’s Indigent Housing Programme, in Belvedere on Friday (October 11), the Minister noted that the units bring to six the number that have been completed and handed over in the parish, adding that four more units are to be presented in Westmoreland.
“We have been having some problems with the land, and that is being sorted out. As soon as that is done, construction will commence on those units,” he informed.
Meanwhile, the Minister outlined that some $200 million has been added to the Ministry’s budget for indigent housing.
He further noted that there are 10 units “waiting to be handed over shortly, and we are going to be working to hand over those units before the end of this calendar year”.
During the ceremony, a two-bedroom unit was given to Lloyd East in Belvedere, and keys to a studio unit in Grange Hill went to Clebert Vaz.
“We spent more than $15 million constructing both units. So far, we have spent close to $80 million on indigent housing solutions in Westmoreland,” the Minister said.
“Today, I am happy that these two gentlemen have received their keys. The Government continues to build more social housing. These bring to 102 units that we have built, so far, under the Indigent Housing Programme,” Mr. McKenzie outlined.
For his part, Mr. Vaz, who spoke on behalf of the recipients, thanked Mr. McKenzie for going the extra mile after speaking to him about his plight.
“I never asked him for a house you know. I said, ‘Mr. McKenzie, I need some ply, a toilet bowl, lumber and zinc to build a little bathroom’. In return, Mr. McKenzie built me a brand-new house with toilet and everything in it. When I spoke to him, he never asked me once who I voted for, so I give thanks to all who made [my home] possible,” he said.
The Indigent Housing Programme was designed to address challenges experienced by the poor and most vulnerable citizens in acquiring homes.