Jost Van Dyke resident Mr. Lucien “Claude” Callwood is the latest recipient of the Ministry of Health and Social Development’s social home as part of its Housing Recovery Assistance Programme.

The handover came on the heels of another handover to Mr. Dalvin Callwood also of Jost Van Dyke last month.

Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley stated that the handover was his second in Jost Van Dyke since he became the Health Minster and thanked the team at the Ministry for its dedicated work in ensuring residents on the Sister Islands get the help they need.

Honourable Wheatley said, “I must thank the contractor, my team at the Ministry and Project Manager Mr. Marquese Maduro. For us, this is another project that has been well, executed in a timely fashion. I must say, even though they build these houses very quickly, they do not compromise on quality and standards. It shows our continued commitment to ensure the persons who were displaced by the hurricanes find a haven.”

In addition, Second District Representative Honourable Melvin Turnbull noted the Ministry of Health and Social Development has been diligent in using the Housing Recovery Assistance Programme to assist residents of Jost Van Dyke who lost their homes during the 2017 hurricanes.

Honourable Turnbull said, “This has been the fifth house that has now been built on Jost Van Dyke for residents who have been displaced and I want to congratulate Mr. Claude Callwood on his house.”

Honourable Turnbull congratulated the contractor and his team and applauded the team at the Ministry of Health and Social Development for its diligence in executing these projects and making the people from Jost Van Dyke comfortable in an environment that can withstand hurricanes and be safe.

Mr. Callwood thanked the Ministry of Health for making it possible for him to get a home and stated that he was grateful for the assistance.

Meanwhile, contractor Chad Skelton from Construction Engineering Systems (B.V.I) Ltd said it was an honour working with the Ministry of Health and Social Development to provide Mr. Callwood with a nice home.

Mr. Skelton said, "Working on the outer islands is always a challenge but my team deserves the praise because they understood the assignment and completed the job in quick time. We are pleased and we hope the Minster, the District Representative and the recipient Mr. Callwood are also pleased.”

The Project Manager Mr. Marquese Maduro also thanked the team at the Ministry for its continued work on the Housing Recovery Assistance Programme.

Mr. Maduro said, "I like to specifically commend Honourable Wheatley and the team at the Ministry for their commitment to ensure that residents continue to receive homes and are properly protected. Special, congratulations to Mr. Chad Skelton and his team for the job well done. The house is flawless and it was built in record time.”

More than 25 homes have been built and over 200 repaired since the inception of the Housing Recovery Assistance Programme.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is committed to improving the health and well-being of the people of the Virgin Islands.