Mr Frank De Abreu, Director of De Sinco Trading Limited, learnt of Odetta’s plight through the print media, and decided to assist the woman in constructing a concrete, three-bedroomed house, complete with a small verandah.

Yesterday, Ms Blair and her father, Mr Desmond Blair, were doing last minute cleaning in and around the house, which is located in Farmers Section, Sophia.

Land was provided by the Government. Officials of the Ministry of Housing and Water signed a Deed of Gift sometime ago, and this document enabled Ms Blair to receive her Land Allocation Letter without having to pay any other monies after the initial down payment of $34,000 some seven years ago.

The piece of land was valued at $70,000.

A very elated Ms Blair told the Chronicle: “Words cannot express how I feel about owning my own home.”

At present, Blair and her children are staying with a friend, Ms Patsy Cozier in Middle Road La Penitence.

Only one of her children is attending school. She said that the others will soon resume classes at the Sophia school.

Mr Blair, a carpenter, assisted with the construction of the house, which has built-in beds in two of the rooms. The project began three months ago and was completed on May 1.

Mr Blair praised the substantial contribution made by Mr De Abreu especially in this time of economic crisis. He noted that the benefactor was a businessman with a social conscience.

According to Blair, several persons, including employees of De Sinco Trading, worked together to construct a beautiful home for his daughter and her children.

“I do hope that Odetta will not see this house as another hand-out, but as a blessed gift, to which she must add the kind of moral and spiritual ingredients,” Mr Blair said.

Ms Blair extended gratitude to Mr De Abreu; Ms Cozier, and all those who assisted with the construction of the house. She also mentioned those persons who helped remove her children from the house when it collapsed; the Help and Shelter agency; the Bosco Boys Orphanage, Ms Sealey of England; and members of the Assembly of God Church.