SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland While on the campaign trail last year, attorney Michael Erskine, who was one of the aspirants seeking to replace the late Roger Clarke in the Westmoreland Central seat, promised to build a house for Esmerelda ‘Gene’ Kerr of Ricketts Street in the parish, after seeing the dilapidated state of her dwelling.

Just over a year later, Erskine made good on his promise when he handed over a newly constructed house to Kerr, even though he was not successful in his bid to become member of parliament for the area.

In fact, the attorney-at-law was out-voted by Dwayne Vaz in a selection process conducted by the People’s National Party (PNP) to determine who would contest the seat against the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP’s) Faye Reid-Jacobs.

Vaz went on defeat Jacobs in the December 1, 2014 by-election.

“She [Kerr] showed me a house — well I can’t even call it a house — a structure. She was living in squalor, she was living in dirt. The house was dilapidated, she was exposed to the elements and when she come into the house she had to step into mud and dirt and then go onto a concrete block before she can go onto her bed. The image rests with me and I came back a couple days and I said, ‘Gene, I am going to build you a house, whether win or lose, it doesn’t matter’,” Erskine told the

Jamaica Observer West, at a brief handing over ceremony last Saturday.

He said that merchants provided building material and construction workers were recruited from the community for the project.

“I am not taking any praise for myself alone, because I did not do it alone. With the help of God, with the help of some good merchants in the area, and also with these gentlemen, Alphanso Smith, also called ‘Rambo’, Eleazor Watson, known as ‘Pardie’, and his son Quincy, and Norbert Williams… volunteered their services and helped me to have this thing accomplished,” Erskine said.

At the handing-over ceremony, an emotional Kerr, who eked out a living for herself and family members by preparing meals for inmates at the Savanna-la-Mar Police Station lock-up, heaped praises on Erskine and the group of volunteers who made the construction of the house possible.

“Me frighten to see what Mr Erskine has done for me. Me thank him and the carpenter them who helped me, I thank them many, many times. And Mr Erskine I hope your food basket may never be empty,” said Kerr, as she used a piece of tissue to mop up tears that streamed freely down her cheeks.

Community activist, Tony Beckford, known as ‘Chicky’, also lauded Erskine for his leading role in the construction of the house.

“I congratulate Mr Erskine a lot, more than 100 times, for the house that he has granted. I congratulate the carpenters who dedicate themselves, leave their jobs to come here and do this,” Beckford said. “If we have 10 persons in Westmoreland and across Jamaica like this gentleman [Erskine], this country would be a better place.”