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Family displaced by Irma receives keys to new home from Gov't

- Keys to Greenland home handed over on October 13, 2022
Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), 3rd from left, said the initiative of delivering social homes is important to persons who may not have the means to build homes from the ground up. Photo: GIS
One of the social homes built by the Government of the Virgin Islands. Photo: GIS
One of the social homes built by the Government of the Virgin Islands. Photo: GIS
GREENLAND, Tortola, VI- Homeowner, Ms Bernerdean Brazier and her family have received the keys to a brand new home as part of the Government of the Virgin Islands Housing Recovery Assistance Progarmme

Ms Brazier, who was previously displaced by the hurricanes of 2017, received the keys to her new home during a short handover ceremony on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

Many more homes to be handed over in coming weeks- Hon Penn

According to a press release from Government Information Service (GIS), Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) said the initiative of delivering social homes is important to persons who may not have the means to build homes from the ground up. Honourable Penn said "this is something that I was a part of in 2018 when I was minister and I am happy to see the support for deserving families materialise." 

“We are excited for this opportunity to hand over this home and many more to come in the coming weeks and months.  It is a good initiative and it is one that we will continue to fund in the next budget cycle to bring more relief and support to persons in need,” Honourable Penn stated.

“I am very happy I really appreciate the Government doing this for me.  We have our own home and I thank God and everyone who did it for us.  I really appreciate it,” an elated Ms Brazier said.

The home was built by Lawrence Wheatley Construction and is located in Greenland Tortola.

18 social homes built

A total of 18 social homes have been built while over 200 homes have been repaired since the commencement of the programme.

Currently, nine social home projects are at various stages of the public tendering process with two more new constructions scheduled to be completed by next month for homeowners on Anegada and Jost van Dyke.

22 Responses to “Family displaced by Irma receives keys to new home from Gov't”

  • ccc (16/10/2022, 07:17) Like (15) Dislike (8) Reply
    This was in the works from Carvin time the Smurf played no role
    • bbb (16/10/2022, 09:36) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      Didn’t Smurf inherit the ministry.?
      Think before you type
    • @ccc (16/10/2022, 19:49) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Perfect example of youuuuu ccc, letting your feelings take over rather than LOGIC. Penn inherited the Portfolio and that is one of the duties of the Portfolio. I am surprised at the amount of people that hit the like button
      to your ridiculous comment. LOGIC OVER FEELINGS.
  • Hmm (16/10/2022, 07:54) Like (25) Dislike (4) Reply
    So what about ppl who living and contributing here who lost everything during Irma. What about people with school kids who lost everything and was never even given a bed sheet. Irma didn't visit locals alone.
  • great (16/10/2022, 08:14) Like (12) Dislike (18) Reply
    must be great, get a free house, no where else in the world does this stupidity, probably be on the market in 7 years
    • We don't want no badmind people (16/10/2022, 10:18) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
      Let the woman and her family enjoy their new home please, irma wasn't no joke.
      • Why (16/10/2022, 21:58) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
        but why not everyone get a new home then? My business was demolished, gone, nothing left , I had to rebuild by my own hand and start again. `Not 1 dollar did i get from the government.....and im a BVIslander
  • Not true (16/10/2022, 08:53) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Other places in the the world give homes out too .....bigger and nicer ones too........but that's not important....being Great full is ......happy for you home owner.
  • east (16/10/2022, 09:08) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    My friend is waiting since Irma , live in a lil board house, no light , water, nor breeze.. His went from Kedrick (NDP) to Carvin and now Marlon..It’s been in cabinet several times..one biddder keeps getting it..????????????
    • Hmm (17/10/2022, 00:44) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      Bet he liming and drinking every weekend. Save his money get light and water in his place
  • eye (16/10/2022, 09:10) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Good vibes
  • Hon. Malone did that (16/10/2022, 10:02) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    Give Hon. Carvin his credit! all other hours that’s under construction currently should be given credit to Hon. Malone.
  • Norris Turnbull (16/10/2022, 10:41) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    People need to stop being ugly. Be greatful.
  • Well..... (16/10/2022, 11:31) Like (1) Dislike (8) Reply
    I NEED A FREE HOUSE TOO. RICH ALWAYS RICHER.
  • one-sidedness (16/10/2022, 16:15) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    marlon and kye taking care of their district alone
  • Yes (16/10/2022, 17:37) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    These house now being built is from under the Honerable Ronny Skelton and his then ministry of health and social welfare. The ndp government. I can remmember that very well when they wanted to fix the road ,, the then ronny said take the.15 million and gave the people to fix and rebuild their homes after the hurricane Irma and maria...the hon Calvin was still on the vi side then,,
    AFTER THE ELECTION THE NDP GOVERMENT LOST THE ELECTIONAND CALVIN GAIN HIS PORTFOLIO OF MINISTRY HEALT AND SOCIAL WELFARE
    CALVIN CONTINUE THE PROGRAM IN HAVING THESE HOMES.TO.THESE PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR APPLICATION IN TO GET THEIR HOME REBUILD..

    WITH RONEY SKELTON AND THE RDA NOW CONTINUING.THIS MAKING SURE APPLICATION ARE COTINUEING, SO NOW MALON WILL TO FOLLOW UP ON WANT TAKIN PLACE
    SO SEE PEOPLE THIS STARTED O UT ONDER NDP WATCH AND HAVE TO CONTINUE NO MATTER WHAT OR WHO GET THAT PORTFOLIO many people was approve through application ....the then ndp had to do some thing to help the people and who ever government get in they have to follow through case close and that's that
  • c (16/10/2022, 20:33) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    So who chooses who for a new home. Can’t give everyone who lost a home a new one.
  • Tired of the stupidity (16/10/2022, 21:43) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    What difference does it make who started the project? The main thing is it gets done. Sometimes some of you act like you lack basic common sense or play the stupid game.
  • WHA AH GWON? (17/10/2022, 01:06) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    WHAT ABOUT THE LOW-INCOME SOCIAL SECURITY HOMES???
  • Well deserved (17/10/2022, 02:50) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am happy for this lady. It is a good initiative. Government cannot build a house for everyone whose house was damaged. But just appreciate the fact that they are helping. They maybe could have done more, but regardless this is a great help in any society. There are people whor are always going to be negative but when we learn to ignore such negativity it will eventually die out.
  • J (17/10/2022, 15:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am happy for this family. However, I would like to add that there are lots of other persons who are finding homeownership to be a very distant dream, as the cost of living in the VI is so high and construction prices are beyond the roof. We need real solutions for the hard working families who will not be lucky enough to be gifted with a home.
  • Interested (17/10/2022, 19:18) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Carvin inherited this Scheme from Ronnie and Marlon inherited it from Carvin and the best goes on


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