BELIZEANS GATHERED AROUND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SEEKING HOME IMPROVEMENT GRANTS AND LOANS

January 07, 2008

This morning a number of Belizeans gathered in front of the Housing Department on North Front Street in Belize City. Love News was on the scene and we spoke to several of the residents who said they had come to access home improvement grants and loans. We were told some of them had placed their applications with the department months ago. Others we spoke to said they heard that Housing Department had received ten million dollars from Venezuela and so they wanted to apply for either a loan or a grant. Because of the number of folks gathered at the Department, law enforcement officials were used to maintain order. We spoke to an official at the Housing Department who told us the home improvement loan and grant programme is closed for now. We were told the department is only dealing with applications that have already been submitted.

In speaking with the media this afternoon Minister of Housing Ralph Fonseca said of the ten million U-S dollars received from Venezuela, one million dollars is reserved for the construction of a sports complex. Minister Fonseca said the government has been receiving applications for grants and loans since last June. He said the rest of the money will be used for home improvement grants and loans as well as for providing better infrastructure for the country.

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