Stroke survivor gets new home

Kimberly McNeil smile broadly as her sickly mother, Moveta Clarke, received a house in Newland, St Catherine, on Wednesday, under the Government's Social Housing Programme.

"I am ecstatic, overjoyed in fact. I am at a loss for words. I am 26 years old, and from I was a child my mother has been waiting on a proper shelter, and to see it fulfilled is like a dream come through," McNeil said. "Where we are coming from, whenever it rains, we would use pails to catch water. The wall was so thin that if you lean on it, you fell through. This is a true blessing." Clarke and McNeil shared that run-down home with two other persons. For Clarke's niece, Aliece Wynter, it was a proud moment to see the addition of a new house to the family.

"Aunt Moveta has suffered three strokes, the last of which was November last year. Her greatest concern was if she would live to receive this house. Now the rest is history," she said. Clarke, whose speech is impeded due to her latest stroke, still had a few words of appreciation.

"I am a very thankful to all concerned for my new house. I will be taking care of it. Thank everybody that make it possible," Clarke said.

The 55-year-old has been living in squalor for more than 15 years, during which time she has been at the mercy of the elements.

"Mi glad that dem can stop fret whenever the rains set up. This house really lift the social standard of the community," Michael Davis, a resident, said.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that it was a duty to make people live in a dignified way.

"We have come from a state where people gather and informally developed [houses], but those around want to have proper development. Therefore, proper development must take place as we are desirous to move the clutter and zinc fences," Holness said. "In addition to this house, we will be putting a budget in place to remove the zinc fencing from the entrance to this community."

Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central Alando Terrelonge said that he was pleased for the positive change for Clarke and her family.

"As a person who was raised in a one-room board house, I know the need to have upgrade," Terrelonge said. "This is one of five houses being done in the constituency, therefore, it is a great feeling to see that the people are beneficiaries under the Government's housing programme."