I WILL PUT UP MY UPDATE TOMORROW

Hope for St Ann family
Progress being made in construction of new home
BY CONRAD HAMILTON Sunday Observer senior reporter [email protected]
Sunday, April 22, 2012

ONE month after the Sunday Observer highlighted the plight of an impoverished family living in a rundown shack in Stepney, St Ann, one of the agencies involved in assisting them to build a home, has indicated significant progress is being made.
During a tour of the community in mid-March, representatives of three state entities who had gone to the crumbling mud and stone house to assess living conditions were brought to tears as they observed the how Jonah Johnson, his common-law wife, Hyacinth Lewis and their five children were living.
Jonah Johnson, his common-law wife and their five children in front of their home in Stepney, St Ann.
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Days after the publication of the article, the Child Development Agency (CDA) intervened and removed the children to two government-run children’s homes. The agency declared that the living conditions were unsuitable for the children, and told the parents that their offspring would only be returned after the rehabilitation of the house. It’s understood that since then, the CDA has arranged for the parents to visit the children.
Richardo Aiken, the parish manager for the Social Development Commission — one of the entities involved in the effort — told the Jamaica Observer that relief agency, Food For the Poor has committed to constructing a house on the property now occupied by Johnson. However, he said construction of the building was awaiting the payment of back taxes and written approval from the owners of the land, who are said to be relatives of Johnson.
Aiken has since disclosed that the back taxes were paid by a good Samaritan from Kingston. He added that the Government, through the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education will be adding a bathroom and a kitchen to the structure.
Aiken says the state agencies, Food For the Poor, Member of Parliament, Keith Walford, and community representatives are optimistic that the house will be completed by Labour Day, May 23, and the family brought back together.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Hope-for-St-Ann-family_11305021#ixzz1sm13tD51