Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently handed over the keys to a brand-new house to St Elizabeth resident Winston Wint, who was living in squalor, but Jamaican Twitter users questioned the effectiveness of the goodwill gesture.

Holness, who shared a tweet on Thursday

(July 23), said that Wint was the beneficiary of a one-bedroom home constructed

at a cost of JMD 5.9 million under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP).

Wint, an 88-year-old senior citizen with

disabilities, hails from Bogue District, Braes River in the parish.

“The unit has a living area, kitchen, and

bathroom. It is connected to a septic tank and has a connection for potable

water and electricity,†Prime Minister Andrew Holness tweeted.

5.9 million for a bus stop ? — rasssscla (@readerman777)

5.9 million for a bus stop ? — rasssscla (@readerman777) https://t.co/Bhti0PpTM8July 23, 2020

While many applauded Holness for his

continued efforts to provide housing solutions for many citizens, Twitter

users, incensed by the size and the cost of the dwelling, queried the

feasibility of an island-wide project similar to what was made possible for the

elderly Wint.

“Happy for Mr Wint, who has won a

“lotteryâ€. But this is not the way do social welfare. The govt cannot

build a $6m house for even 1% of the destitute in the country. So this is just

feel-good inactivism. We need instead a universal, meaningful social safety net

& public services,†tweeted Damien King, Executive Director of the

Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI).

Happy for Mr Wint, who has won a “lottery”. But this is not the way do social welfare. The govt cannot build a $6m house for even 1% of the destitute in the country. So this is just feel-good inactivism. We need instead a universal, meaningful social safety net & public services. — Damien King (@DamienWKing)

Happy for Mr Wint, who has won a “lottery”. But this is not the way do social welfare. The govt cannot build a $6m house for even 1% of the destitute in the country. So this is just feel-good inactivism. We need instead a universal, meaningful social safety net & public services. — Damien King (@DamienWKing) https://t.co/h3D9ocMVgjJuly 23, 2020

King’s sentiment was echoed by several users of the social media platform, who questioned whether the land’s estimated value was included in the overall cost of the house’s construction.

A few outright refused to accept the cost declared for the one-bedroom home.

First of all, NHT giving us 6.5M so is this unnu expect we fi build/buy? — Princess Goldilocks (@BigBattyVulpix) Secondly, unless this is furnished that’s a damn lie.

First of all, NHT giving us 6.5M so is this unnu expect we fi build/buy? — Princess Goldilocks (@BigBattyVulpix) Secondly, unless this is furnished that’s a damn lie. https://t.co/oinv4dpVtCJuly 24, 2020

For many, the handover further underscored the

need for an overhaul of the domestic market as many citizens find the current

loan limits at the state-owned National Housing Trust (NHT), which stand at

$6.5 million for single applicants, inadequate and out of touch.

Just a reminder that the Welcome To Montego Bay sign cost 17 million Jamaican Dollars. — General’s Governor Ÿ‡¯Ÿ‡² (@Nicholaski) Unuh teef issa shame

Just a reminder that the Welcome To Montego Bay sign cost 17 million Jamaican Dollars. — General’s Governor Ÿ‡¯Ÿ‡² (@Nicholaski) Unuh teef issa shame https://t.co/DpJJVc8ZXMJuly 23, 2020

“After reading the figures I believe the

@TheNHT should be reviewed on their loan threshold. $6.5m is clearly not enough

to build a comfortable home. I think consideration should be put forward for

the NHT to grant a figure that the person’s earnings can afford to repay,â€

@AlexMJordonJr replied to Holness’ tweet.

Others were not so critical, expressing

their well-wishes to Wint for a home finally worth calling his own, even after

88 years.

why all the negative comments?— nightie billionaire ŸŒ¬ (@_victoriabg) an 88 year old senior citizen living with a disability was given a new home! me? happy fi him!!

why all the negative comments?— nightie billionaire ŸŒ¬ (@_victoriabg) an 88 year old senior citizen living with a disability was given a new home! me? happy fi him!! https://t.co/ZOIvn9Pw9JJuly 23, 2020

The handover ceremony, done this past

weekend, after Wint was selected on the recommendation of North East St Elizabeth Member of

Parliament, Evon Redman.