Sun | Sep 14, 2025

‘Happy and feeling overwhelmed’

Two indigent Westmoreland families grateful for new homes

Published:Saturday | October 12, 2024 | 12:07 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer -
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From left: Amorkard Brown, councillor for the Leamington Division; Daniel Lawrence, Member of Parliament, Westmoreland Eastern; Danree Delancy, Mayor of Savanna-La Mar; and Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government share in a happy moment with Lloyd E
Herbert McKenis
From left: Amorkard Brown, councillor for the Leamington Division; Daniel Lawrence, Member of Parliament, Westmoreland Eastern; Danree Delancy, Mayor of Savanna-La Mar; and Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government share in a happy moment with Lloyd East, at the ribbon cutting to his new home in Belvedere, Westmoreland.
Clebert Vaz (centre) holds up the keys to his new house in Grange Hill, Westmoreland. Sharing in his joy are: (from left) Daniel Lawrence, Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Eastern; Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie; Savanna-la-mar's Mayor Dan
Herbert McKenis
Clebert Vaz (centre) holds up the keys to his new house in Grange Hill, Westmoreland. Sharing in his joy are: (from left) Daniel Lawrence, Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Eastern; Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie; Savanna-la-mar's Mayor Danree Delancy; and Treka Lewis, Secretary, Board of Supervision in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.
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WESTERN BUREAU:

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie brought joy to two Westmoreland families yesterday, presenting them with new homes under his ministry's Indigent Housing Programme.

The two recipients, Clebert Vaz of Grange Hill and Lloyd East of Belvedere, were cautioned by McKenzie to resist the pressure from criminal dons and extended family members who might attempt to take over their homes by force.

“I want to say to the people who are going to receive their homes, the Poor Relief Department has control of the house. You can't let anyone push you out and come in there,” warned McKenzie.

McKenzie also instructed Adrian Griffiths, the chief executive officer of the Poor Relief Department at the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC), and his team to provide regular supervision of the indigent housing solutions across the parish.

As it relates to Vaz and East, McKenzie expressed confidence that they would treat their new homes with respect and dignity.

“I have no doubt that both of you will maintain the dignity and pride of these housing units,” McKenzie stated.

“No don can push you out, and you can't bring any relatives from far away with a lot of grandchildren to take over your space and rent out one room while you are left on the verandah, if you have a verandah.”

MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT

Seventy-two-year-old East, who uses a wheelchair to navigate his Belvedere community after losing both of his legs to amputation, expressed his gratitude for his new two-bedroom house, which was built at a cost of approximately $8.3 million.

“I am happy and feeling overwhelmed because my living condition before now was never great. I was ashamed of what we had called home in the past,” East told The Gleaner shortly after receiving his keys from McKenzie.

Vaz, who is visually impaired, also expressed his appreciation, praising the Government for responding to his call for help to improve his living situation.

“I never asked him (the minister) for a house; I just said, ‘McKenzie, I need some plywood, a toilet bowl, and zinc to build an outside toilet’, and in return, Mr McKenzie built me a brand new house with a toilet and everything in it,” said Vaz.

According to McKenzie, the Government, through his ministry, has spent over $300 million in Westmoreland on social projects. He added that three more indigent houses are set to be built in Western Westmoreland.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com