First Lady gifts $14M home to West Coast family of 6 at Christmas

Shaped by humble beginnings, a family of six didn’t just open a Christmas gift this year; they were presented with the keys to their new home. The house, valued at $14 million, was handed over by First Lady Arya Ali just hours before Christmas on Wednesday to her and her family in Meten-Meer-Zorg, Region Three, on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).
This house was handed over under a series of initiatives aimed at supporting people in vulnerable situations – including persons with disabilities and single parents.

The First Lady expressed how deeply moved she was to grant the family a home of their own, describing the experience as both emotional and a true reflection of the spirit of the season.
“Today is Christmas Eve, and we would like to give over this house to Teasha – and she would receive this because Christmas is about sharing and caring. There is no better way to give to Teasha and her family. I want to give her the best wishes,” she said.
The First Lady also shared on her Facebook page that, having been raised in a single-parent household herself, she understands some of the challenges Teasha has faced, which made the day’s handing over even more meaningful for her.
The new home was delivered to the family through the First Lady’s office, with support from Courts Guyana, Comfort Sleep, and Guyana Breweries Inc. This marks the fourth home her office has handed over to families in Region Three.
The recipient, Teasha Spellen, was visibly stunned by the gesture and could only manage a few words in response.
Reflecting on her challenging upbringing, she shared how difficult her life had been in the home she once lived in and how this new house represents a significant transformation in her life.
“Life was very challenging when I was growing up, but I never gave up. There were people around me who encouraged me not to give up. I am a single parent for 33 years; when I got pregnant, my partner left and never came back. Right now, I want to take this moment to thank God and also hope the police will move on with certain matters.”
Reflecting on her past experiences, she highlighted that her previous home was not safe for her family.
“My children are 14, 11, nine, six, and three. Life was really hard, and the place where we used to live wasn’t healthy for my children or me. I was even living with family, and it was tormenting for me.”
One of the five children was not present at the handover.
Spellen expressed her gratitude and optimism, telling reporters that she feels incredibly blessed and does not want anything more for Christmas. She reflected on the importance of peace in life, saying that material possessions mean little without it.
She added that she is overjoyed to see her children able to run freely in the spacious yard, and she plans to plant flowers and prepare traditional dishes like pepper pot. Teasha also vowed to care for the home, recognising how fortunate she is to have a place of her own after a time of having nothing.
“For anyone looking on and seeing this, I would tell them not to give up. I feel so blessed, and I don’t want anything more for Christmas. I am thankful to God for this. You can have everything in the world, but if you don’t have peace, you don’t really have anything. I am very happy, and my children can run freely and do whatever they want. The yard is very big, and I will also be planting because I love flowers. I will make pepper pot in the morning as well. I hope to take care of this house… because there was a time when I had nothing, so I will treasure it,” Teasha declared.
The home is fully outfitted with two bedrooms, each featuring double-decker beds, a fully furnished kitchen, essential amenities, a television, comfortable seating, and ample yard space for the children to play.
This marks the fourth home delivered by First Lady Arya Ali under this initiative, reflecting her ongoing commitment to providing shelter and security to families in need across the country.