Single Mother in Garden City Gets a New Home

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing handed over the keys to a new starter home to Joleen Martinez earlier today in Belmopan.  Martinez has been a tenant for the past fifteen years and finally has the opportunity to move into a house she can now call her own.  Present for the handing over was Belmopan Area Representative Oscar Mira.

Joleen Martinez

Joleen Martinez, New Home Owner

“I can’t express it.  Words, I don‘t have at the moment, but feeling, I‘m very grateful.  I‘ve been paying rent in Belmopan for the past fifteen years and it‘s not small rent because it‘s me and my children.  So this starter home, guys you don‘t know what you have done for me and I will show how much I appreciate this down the line.  Thank you guys very much.”

Oscar Mira

Oscar Mira, Area Representative, Belmopan

“It’s changing lives.  You cannot, I think, explain how you feel when you own your land, when you own your house, it‘s a game changer and this government is committed to making sure that first-time landowners get that opportunity.  I wish we could do more, we‘ve always spoken about trying to do more, but we are doing what we can and I think that our track record as a PUP government has been that we transform lives and this is one way of doing it.  For the last thirteen years under the previous administration, we never heard about a house being built, we never heard about any handing over taking place.  And these are not, I know the critics will say, oh da wah small lee house and, you know, it’s a one bedroom, but it’s a starter home.  This is what we want to ensure that our citizens, our members of our community understand that we are starting you with a home.”