Government commits to meet demand for Young Professionals housing lots
Approximately 1,500 applications have been received for housing lots in the Prospect Ridge Community for Young Professionals, the Committee for the Development of Communities for Young Professionals has announced.
The six-week application period opened on 1 July 2021 and closed on 16 August 2021. Applications were submitted through the MyGateway portal and were received from Bahamians primarily resident on New Providence as well as a small number of Family Island residents.
“The immense response is a clear affirmation that there is a strong need to provide such opportunities for our young professionals,” said Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis.
“Given that the Prospect Ridge Community will only have approximately 300 lots, my Cabinet and I have agreed to make appropriate housing lots available in the Western District of New Providence to all persons who have applied and meet the criteria which was established by the Committee.”
The Prime Minister previously announced that the Government is also proposing to expand the programme to other islands of The Bahamas, including Eleuthera, Exuma, Abaco and Andros.
Committee Chair, Mrs. Viana Gardiner, said the application review process is now underway for the Prospect Ridge Community.
“At the request of the Committee, accounting firms in The Bahamas will conduct an independent first review of the applications,” said Mrs. Gardiner.
“This team will identify those applicants who have met the criteria established to participate in the programme, and make random call backs to financial institutions, employers and other information providers to verify application details.”
The Committee has indicated in its Guidance Notes that the application review process will be carried out until 30 September 2021. Applicants will be communicated with during 1 to 15 October 2021.
Other elements of the project are also progressing, including the Environmental Impact Assessment which is currently being reviewed by the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection.
