Four Deserving St. Thomas Residents Receive New Homes under NSHP

Emotions ran high in St. Thomas on Thursday (May 15) as four deserving residents, two of whom have physical disabilities, received the keys to their new homes from Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

The units were provided under the Government’s New Social Housing Programme (NSHP).

The recipients are Carline Williams of Highbury Crescent, Elaine Bennett of Lloyd’s District, Denise Chito of West Albion, and Jahmel McGowan of Grants Pen.

Prime Minister Holness noted that the circumstances of the beneficiaries are different but pointed out that they are all deserving.

“NSHP is designed to treat with persons who have the worst of the worst living conditions, which can be described as absolute poverty, but we also assist households that were affected by some form of disaster, man-made or otherwise”, he pointed out.

An overjoyed Miss Williams could barely contain her excitement, thanking the Prime Minister; Member of Parliament for St. Thomas Eastern, Dr. Michelle Charles and the taxpayers of Jamaica for what she described as “the gift of lifetime”. Miss Williams said she has lived on the property with her grandparents since childhood.

She explained that over the years, the dilapidated structure in which she lived had been subjected to the ravages of the elements including numerous hurricanes, which led to further degradation of the building, rendering it unfit for safe occupancy.

Elaine Bennett of Lloyd’s District, while reflecting on losing her house and all her belongings to a fire of unknown origin, expressed thanks to everyone who contributed to making her new home possible.

A tearful Denise Chito, who has a physical disability, related her story of perseverance in seeking assistance to provide for her children, as she was unable to work.

She said she was grateful to be relocated from a flood-prone area and urged similar assistance for her former neighbours.

Jahmel McGowan of Grants Pen thanked the Prime Minister, the Member of Parliament for St. Thomas Western, James Robertson and the members of the community who assisted with the construction of the house.

Mr. McGowan who has a prosthetic leg, proudly informed Prime Minister Holness that he had construction experience and that he had participated in the building process.

The overjoyed beneficiary highlighted the importance of family support, noting that his story may have been very different had he not been able to lean on his relatives and friends.

He encouraged persons living with disabilities to not give up but to have hope.