CHAPELTON, Clarendon — Seventy-year-old Allan Edwards, known to his neighbours as Jah Lloyd, was moved to tears when he received the keys to his new house in Tanarchy, Clarendon, on Tuesday.

The amputee, who is also blind, had high praises for his political representatives and could not hold back the gratitude he felt as he was being led inside the fully furnished one-bedroom unit.

“I feel fantastic, my hope has been renewed, my pride and dignity has been restored. When I lost my leg, my hope was shattered; when I lost my right eye, it was further shattered; and a year later when I lost my left eye, I virtually gave up.

“But thanks to the Prime Minister the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, who was inspired by God to do this for me and for others before me, presently in different circumstances, and I’m sure many more to come, I am forever grateful,” said Edwards.

He was one of three recipients who received houses through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Indigent Housing Programme.

The house for Edwards was built through the Clarendon Municipal Corporation at a cost of $7 million.

Edwards, who lived at his mother’s residence in Low Ground, an adjoining community, was a welder by profession who taught many others the trade. He is diabetic and over the years his health deteriorated, which forced him to stop working.

Last August councillor for the Rock River Division, Uriah Mitchell (Jamaica Labour Party), in collaboration with Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Central Robert Morgan, invited Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie to tour the constituency.

Moved by the living conditions of the people he met, McKenzie decided to assist, and the handing over of the three units —built at a total cost of $27 million — on Tuesday was as a result of that tour. Alberta Henry, who lives in Coxwain, also in the Rock River Division, and Marcia Stewart from Pennants, in the Chapelton Division, were the other recipients. They each received a two-bedroom unit.

“I am happy, very happy. It’s a blessing and I am thankful, and even for Alberta, the condition she was living with that little girl wasn’t a healthy sight. I am happy for them because their living conditions weren’t good. Some things that you see out there you can’t repeat because poor relief is a private and confidential committee. When I saw Jah Lloyd cry yesterday, it touched me,” said McKenzie during the handing over ceremony.

“The Government has been responding in a positive way to the various concerns of Jamaicans who are not in a position to help themselves in the way they want to. Today [Tuesday], this is a continuation of the work of an Administration that has taken pride in providing housing solutions for the less fortunate of this country.

“We are building structures that can withstand any hurricane. I challenge any mister or mistress hurricane to blow off the roof of this house and to touch any of the houses that we have been constructing.

“They have paid their taxes, they have contributed to the growth and development of Jamaica. Without some of these people we couldn’’t survive, because they have built the foundation on which, as a country, we are progressing,” added McKenzie, who declared that the houses are being built so the owners can feel a sense of pride and belonging.

In the meantime, Morgan said he promised Jah Lloyd a roof over his head and is happy he could deliver.

“I am extremely happy, because he is someone I have known for several years and I have known his contribution to the community and the work that he has done. He has fallen on challenging times, lost his sight, lost a leg, but he is always in high spirits and is always positive,”said Morgan.