The Tribune

THE lives of three Cat Island families have been improved after work by the Urban Renewal Small Home Repairs Programme.

The families of Vincent and Marina Jolly, Gladys McKenzie and Edith Williams now have proper bathroom facilities and running water in their homes thanks to the government scheme.

Michelle Reckley, Deputy Director of Urban Renewal 2.0 with responsibility for Cat Island, said Ms McKenzie, 88, was so grateful when water flowed in her home for the first time.

“When she actually saw running water, she was like a child with a new toy. At this stage in her life, she can say she was afforded the amenities she did not have through Urban Renewal.

“Edith Williams has a brand new bathroom and proper running water. She had no bathroom. She used whatever she could as a bathroom. It was very difficult in her condition.”

Mrs Reckley was part of a delegation headed by Colin Higgs, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Urban Development, that travelled to Cat Island on Thursday where they inspected infrastructure developments and repairs to homes.

The delegation also included Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, commission co-chair of Urban Renewal; Ricardo Moncur, personal assistant to Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis; William Munnings, urban agriculture co-ordinator; Gregory Butler, deputy director.

Jackson McIntosh, Cat Island administrator and Rosetta Wells, centre manager for Urban Renewal in Cat Island also joined the group.

Mrs Jolly said the repairs have made life a little bit easier for her family who reside in Old Bight.

Marina, who is disabled, and her husband Vincent “Blake”, who is visually impaired, said they are quite happy and satisfied.

“Life was rough,” she said. “The old house we had here leaked. It’s much better now. We did not have running water, toilet or bathroom. I thank God for the Commissioner and all who have a hand in it.”

Administrator McIntosh said that, in addition to the bathroom facilities, Urban Renewal extended the front of the house providing room for a washing machine and dryer and outfitted the house with solar panel.

“We are very proud of this being one of three projects that Urban Renewal did in Cat Island,” said the Administrator.

“The work started in September and was completed two months ago. This cost in excess of $12,000.”

Having a bathroom for the first time has made life much better for Ms Williams of New Bight. “I think Urban Renewal is doing a good thing helping people who cannot help themselves,” she said.

Ms Wells said she and her team of nine travel from settlement to settlement to determine which homes are in urgent need of repairs.

“Their surroundings were in poor condition. Mr Jolly is blind; his wife is disabled so we thought we would assist them. Ms Gladys has problems with her legs and Ms Williams has a problem too.”

Ms Reckley said Urban Renewal is about bringing relief, hope and help to those who cannot help themselves.

“We’re transforming one community at a time by bringing these people to a better way of life. We have three centres in Cat Island and an excellent staff who visit the seniors, the handicapped and those who need Urban Renewal.”

The Urban Renewal Commission launched the Small Home Repair Programme in November 2013. Co-Chair Algernon Allen described the programme as the most “significant” and most “substantial” in the history of the Bahamas. He said the end result will be a transformation in communities and uplifting not only of the homes, but of the spirits of residents.