President Dr. Irfaan Ali declared on Saturday that healthcare workers in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) who have pending home lot applications will be given priority to receive young professional houses by the first quarter of 2019.
President Ali revealed that nurses from the area make up about 120 of the pending house lot applications. He noted that these nurses would receive help in purchasing homes as part of the government’s commitment to raising residents’ standard of living.
Overall, there are about 150 healthcare workers in the region and the President said all of them will get the young professional houses.
“I’ve instructed the Minister of Housing we have about 150 medical personnel comprising of doctors, nurses, medical technicians, lab technicians who have applied for the young professional homes here in Region Ten.
“We’re now developing Plantation York [and] I’ve asked that before the end of this year we must have those who have applied for the young professional [houses] pre-qualified and the banks approve their loans so by the end of the first quarter next year they can have and move into the young professional homes,” President Ali said.
The housing area situated at Plantation York along the Linden Highway is part of the massive 1,000 Homes Project in Linden. This project will see housing units being constructed to cater for young professionals of all income brackets by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA).
The Head of State explained that opportunities to study, adequate salaries and good living conditions are paramount for the overall enhancement of young people living here. Already the nurses have undergone salary adjustments and training programmes are available with job opportunities at the Health Ministry.
The President said although the government is making available the infrastructure for nurses to train and providing monetary support, the issue of housing has been an imperative one for many.
“One of the things that we are focused on is ensuring that our healthcare workers, our nurses, that they also live in decency, that they have access to homes, young professional houses so that they can enjoy an uplifted standard of living, provide for their families and create opportunities for their own children,” Dr Ali said.
Currently, 20 of the 40 elevated and flat units in Amelia’s Ward have been completed as part of the first phase of the 1000 homes project. In order to obtain these young professional homes, the government supports the client when engaging banks and other financial institutions to ensure that homeownership is achievable.
