ST JAMES, Jamaica — It was a bittersweet moment when senior citizen Neita Grey accepted the keys to her new, three-bedroom home in Bath Mountain, Westmoreland, on Friday from Prime Minister, Andrew Holness.

The $11-million house was one of four units built under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) that were handed over in the parish on the day.

Grey was happy to finally have a safe and comfortable shelter but was sad that her husband, Jeffrey Grey, who had started the process to acquire the unit, was not by her side to see his dream realised.

Unfortunately, Grey passed away in February of last year, leaving his wife to reap the benefits of his efforts.

Grey expressed gratitude to the prime minister, Member of Parliament for Western Westmoreland, Morland Wilson, and the people of Jamaica for the new home where she will reside with three family members.

“Mr prime minister, I thanked God the day I heard about the [programme] from [my husband], although he is now gone. Thank God I get a little home for myself that I can live in,” she said.

Her daughter, Sonia Grey-Royal, also conveyed her gratitude for the new dwelling.

“I just want to say I thank the people of Jamaica for this privilege, for this home. I just want to thank the prime minister and his team for doing all of this for the people of Jamaica. It’s an upgrade and I just want to thank you for your great work,” she added.

In an interview with JIS News, Grey-Royal expressed sadness that her father was no longer alive to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

“My dad died before this materialised, and that really hurts. He was the one who signed off on it. He was an elderly person and he died before this came to pass. It’s a joyful feeling with a bit of sorrow to it. He’s the person that was supposed to receive it, but my mom is here,” she said.

Holness, while handing over the house, said that the unit will benefit three generations of the Grey family.

“The beneficiary in whose name the documentation was perfected, Grey, he passed, unfortunately, so, he couldn’t benefit from the house, but his widow and his daughter and his grandkids will have this house,” he pointed out.

“So, this benefit is intergenerational, and we are very happy to see that three generations will benefit from this house, improving the quality of life of this family but also improving housing generally in this area,” Holness added.

Holness encouraged Grey and her family to take care of the house and to continue to be upstanding citizens in their community.

— JIS