DENISE CHITO RECEIVES FURNISHED ONE-BEDROOM EXTENSION TO HER HOME UNDER THE INDIGENT HOUSING PROGRAMME
Denise Chito and her family were smiling from ear to ear during the handing over ceremony, last Friday (July 25), for her furnished one-bedroom extension to their previously built home under the Indigent Housing Programme.
Chito, who is a mother of four, previously received a one-bedroom unit under the New Social Housing Programme. During the handing over ceremony for that structure in May 2025, on instructions from Prime Minister Dr the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, Hon. Desmond McKenzie pledged to provide an additional bedroom under the Indigent Housing Programme to better accommodate Chito and her children.
“Right at this location, the Prime Minister gave me direct instructions that the Ministry of Local Government, our Indigent Housing Programme, should now come in and take up where the social housing aspect left off” Minister McKenzie said while speaking at the Ceremony.
“When I spoke with the Mayor, I said to him that I want this unit to be completed as quickly as possible and the technical team in the ministry as well as the technical team here in St. Thomas, put their heads together and so today, we are here now to open part 2, the indigent housing programme side” he continued.
Minister McKenzie emphasized that under the Indigent Housing Programme, the houses are built and furnished with the basic necessities for recipients.
“We provide the home, additional section to house the entire family, they don’t have to worry what [they’re] going to sleep on, they don’t have to worry what they’re going to sit around and eat, all the basic furnishing has been provided for this home” he added.
The Minister also said that the children’s welfare is the responsibility of Local Government, adding that the state will ensure that the children’s needs are met until they no longer require assistance from the Poor Relief Department.
A part of the Minister’s commitment was to also provide Ms. Chito’s daughters with a laptop to help with their studies— a promise he fulfilled during the ceremony.
In delivering the vote of thanks, Ms. Chito expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and other agencies that have assisted her over the years.
“I feel so alive, thank you very much” she said.
“We are blessed, we are grateful to each and everyone who have blessed our [lives] in a positive way. Some might gave us a word of encouragement, some might [gave] us prayer, we are thankful to each and everyone who have blessed me… Today I am not only looking [for] help for myself from my children. I want my children to go out there and help others” she explained.
