President Irfaan Ali granted the Christmas wish of a single mother of six on Christmas Day, handing over a brand new, fully furnished house, on behalf of the government, located at Hampshire Village, Corentyne.
Anita Lloyd was living in a makeshift house on a GuySuCo reserve at Ankerville, Port Mourant with her children the youngest being her eight-month-old son. In 2014, she had applied for a house lot but could not afford to pay for it when she received a call from the Ministry of Housing.
Her story was publicized two weeks ago, and the government through the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative immediately signalled intention to help.
The MoM provided the land and house at the Hampshire location while Imran and Daughters Store in Rose Hall Town provided the furnishing. Ashraf Ali Jahoor from Ashiek and Son Motor Supply in Canje also donated a laptop and printer for the children.
On Monday, President Ali traveled to Region Six where he handed over the new three-bedroom house to Lloyd and her children.
According to Ali, the MoM has been doing very “quiet” work around the country “not only in infrastructure and housing but in the social sphere of things” which includes several medical and other outreaches.
He said that a major programme that will be launched in January is to have a more “community-oriented spirit and more discipline in our schools, our public schools, our private schools so we will have counsellors as motivators, we will have some soft and strong measures as we seek to embrace our young people in the education system and let them understand how important discipline is.”
Ali said that Lloyd will have to commit to keeping a job and taking care of her children which includes ensuring that they attend school regularly. Further, he called on the region, community, and media to ensure that the commitment is kept stressing that “education has the power to change circumstances of families.”
He said to the single mother, “We hope that you know that the community is standing by you and that you have a responsibility to this community and you have a great responsibility to your children. We want to wish you the best and wish these children the best future possible.”
He also encouraged the single mother to embark on small-scale planting as she now has space in the back of her yard.
Lloyd, tearily expressing her gratitude, said, “I just want to thank everybody very much” as her 12-year-old daughter turned the keys to open their new home.
Also present at the handing over on Monday was Minister with Responsibility for Finance Ashni Singh who has cabinet responsibility for Region Six, and Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal along with regional officials.
