from various income groups will be given the opportunity to settle down. Construction firms that want to participate in the national housing program will not be allowed to only do business with one target group. A portion of the homes will be given to people with low income while other homes will be allocated to people with a middle income. “The 3 to 5% loans will make sure that people with a low income can also purchase something via that system,” said President Jennifer Simons who added that people who barely earn SRD 11,000 per month are also entitled to a house. Under the current circumstances this group is being excluded from receiving financing so having their own home stil seems like a distant dream. Suriname’s first ever female president and her team want to make the dreams of these people come true. “If we succeed in making it possible to arrange a mortgage, you would only have to pay SRD 4,000 per month so that the house could be yours after 30 years.” It is estimated that about 30,000 people need a house. The head of state acknowlegded that it would not be possible to build that many houses in a short period but made it clear that she wants to take an important step towards lifting the housing shortage. Her administration will pump SRD 270 million in the National Housing Fund.