New beginnings for St Paul’s Lane - Tower Hill residents embrace fresh start

As Euphema Laws wiped the floor of her brand new two-bedroom apartment last Wednesday, her face beamed with excitement, signalling the end of her long struggle in a one-room board house without running water or proper sewage. This was the start of a new chapter for her family, and she couldn't hide her joy.

"Bwoy, mi grateful because finally mi pickney dem a guh finally have somewhere comfortable to sleep," she told THE STAR yesterday, a bright smile lighting up her face.

Laws was one of the proud recipients of 36 apartments handed over to residents of St Paul's Lane, Tower Hill, in St Andrew West Central where Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is the member of parliament. The new apartment, complete with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room, is now home to Laws, her two young sons--seven-year-old Jevaughn and two-year-old Shevaughn--as well as her 23-year-old daughter, Deon Newman, and her partner, Leon Clarke.

Newman, who was busy helping her mother clean, shared her joy. "I am so grateful, like mi nuh have enough words to tell you how happy I am. The place is safer, better, and my brothers even have somewhere safe to play. They don't have to be playing in the middle of the road where they can get hurt, so I really appreciate this," she said.

For the Laws, this new home represents not just comfort but a healthier future. Her 10-year-old asthmatic daughter had to live with her father due to frequent hospital visits caused by the poor air quality at their old house.

"Every minute she used to pick up a bad chest infection, and the doctor said it was because of the air quality. She was in and out of the hospital, and it was really stressful," Laws said, relief washing over her as she looked around the spotless new apartment.

Her partner, Clarke, also expressed his gratitude. "As likkle rain fall, a di roof that a leak. Suh it feel good fi know seh wi have somewhere comfortable fi lay wi head," he said.

Clarke recalled their former home, where insects were an everyday terror. "Almost every night, 40-leg would a bite wi. Dem terrorise wi in deh."

A few doors down, 52-year-old small farmer and labourer Osmond Findley was preparing to move into his new space, joyfully cleaning his furniture. Findley, who has lived on St Paul's Lane for 36 years, described the nightly battle with centipedes at his old home.

"Forty-leg wi wake up to in a wi bed a night time. And if yuh wake up to the 40-leg in yuh bed and yuh nuh ketch him, yuh cah sleep back in a dah bed deh. Suh mi feel joyful, and mi cah wait fi move in," said Findley, who is also an asthma sufferer.

Meanwhile, another beneficiary, Shantae Scott, was busy cleaning her apartment while her pastor, the Reverend Leslie Mowatt, blessed her new home. Her six-year-old son, Sajay, excitedly explored his new room.

"The condition that we were living in was awful. One likkle board room, no running water, no privacy because is a big yaad. But now mi son have him own room, him have playground can play pan, and we have privacy," Scott said, her excitement palpable.

Mowatt, who has pastored in the community since 2013, shared in their happiness.

"For them, this is security, permanence, and the transformation of dignity. Now they have something to protect. They have four walls around them that they don't want to lose," he said.

"I have known their struggles and prayed with these people. So, this is proof that God is working in this community," said the reverend, who invited the residents to have their keys blessed and went from house to house, praying over and sanctifying the spaces with holy water.