The keys were presented by Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Carvin Malone (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), along with acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Social Development Ms Tasha K. Bertie, Deputy Secretary Mr Greg R. Massicote, Project Manager Mr Marquese Maduro and the Contractor of D E Property Development on November 9, 2021.

The home project began in May and was completed in October, according to a press release from Government Information Service (GIS).

Health Minister Malone stated: “It is pleasing that the Ministry of Health has stuck to their guns and have worked tirelessly with whatever resources that they were given to get our people back into homes. We would like to thank the Ministry’s Housing Recovery Assistance Unit for their steadfast work. We would like to thank the Premier for allocating the funds… to make sure that through this process homes will be built, until everyone is home.”

Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), during his Budget Address on Thursday, November 11, 2021, said the Ministry of Health and Social Development is aiming to construct 13 new homes and repair 25, in the coming year for residents whose homes were impacted by the 2017 hurricanes.

Millions of $$ allocated for housing recovery- Premier Fahie

Honourable Fahie added, “It is a joy to help people in need and even with this upcoming budget we have quite a few millions allocated to help many more people to get homes who lost their homes during Irma and Maria and even during some of these trying economic times of COVID-19.”

Premier Fahie, during his Budget Address on Thursday, November 11, 2021, said the Ministry of Health and Social Development is aiming to construct 13 new homes and repair 25, in the coming year for residents whose homes were impacted by the 2017 hurricanes.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development has been allotted $34.2 million or 9.57 % of the 2022 recurrent budget and 5.02 % of the development budget.

Meanwhile, Mr Franklyn Smith expressed gratitude on behalf of his family to receive the keys to their new family home.

The Housing Recovery Assistance Programme is designed to help homeowners rebuild in the wake of hurricanes Irma and Maria in accordance with the provisions of the Virgin Islands Housing Recovery Policy and Hurricane Irma Recovery Plan.