From left: Project Manager in the Ministry of Social Care, Ken Knight; Member of Parliament for Christ Church East, Dr. Denis Lowe; recipient of the new three-bedroom house at Parish Land, Christ Church, Marlene Bourne with her granddaughter, Jakeeya Inniss-White standing in front of her; and Minister of Social Care, Steven Blackett, in conversation outside the new house.
At least nine families will be receiving new houses this year, through the Ministry of Social Care’s Poverty Alleviation Reduction Programme.
This was the word from the Minister heading that Ministry, Steven Blackett, who also announced that a number of dilapidated houses will also be repaired.
According to the Ministry’s Project Manager, Ken Knight, approximately 44 houses have been built and repaired through the six-year-old project, to provide housing solutions for poor Barbadians.
“We identify families who are in need of housing solutions because their house has fallen under disrepair. Leaving it to them to effect repairs or rebuilding of the houses would be an impossible task,” Blackett said.
Yesterday, Blackett handed over the keys to Marlene Bourne, the owner of the first house built for the year, at Parish Land, Christ Church. Bourne and her family of six received the three-bedroom, one-bathroom house, which took five weeks to build, at a cost of Bds$74 000.
Blackett said he was approached by Minister of Environment and Drainage and Member of Parliament for Christ Church East, Dr. Denis Lowe, who identified Bourne, who had been living in deplorable conditions for many years, as a deserving recipient of the Ministry’s generosity.
“I did not see the house before it was rebuilt, but I understand that it was in deplorable condition. I am happy this morning Miss Bourne that we could deliver this house to you so that you and your family could be much more comfortably accommodated. I hope that with God’s blessings that you continue to take care of your house,” Blackett said.
Lowe also said that 320 job opportunities have been created for constituents to ensure that “people are better off today than they were when we intervened”.
“We don’t build houses for people who can build their own homes. We don’t repair houses for persons who can repair their own homes.
“We identify persons who need the support of the state. If, it is one thing that I am proud of in our Government is that we have not just talked about it, we have gone out and we have done it,” Lowe said, adding that he was extremely pleased that the Bourne family would now be living in comfort.
Bourne, who is retired, said she was pleased with her new abode, stating that living in the previous structure was “rough” before the intervention was made.
She thanked the Government for the help rendered to her family.
Lowe suggested that efforts were being made to assist the family with furnishing the home. (AH)