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NAJ to fight eviction notices
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
The Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) is gearing up to do battle with the Ministry of Health over plans to evict some of its members from their homes.
Nurses and other public sector health workers, who have overstayed their time in Government-owned units at Manley Meadows in East Kingston, have been given notices to leave.
The Health Ministry is threatening to evict persons whom it says are refusing to relocate from its staff residences popularly known as Nurses Quarters.
But the Nurses Association is crying foul.
It says its members are being treated unfairly by the state which has ignored their plight in accessing affordable housing.
According to NAJ President, Edith Allwood-Anderson, the previous Government had reneged on a promise to provide low-cost units for nurses.
She is calling for the eviction notices to be reconsidered.
In addition, the NAJ is trying to get an urgent meeting with Health Minister Ruddy Spencer to discuss the matter.
It is reported that the units at Manley Meadows were built to temporarily house new employees who live far distances.
However, the Health Ministry says some persons have been there for the past eight years while others who received the units immediately after they were built more than 10 years ago have refused to relocate.
The Notices said some tenants violated Section 5 of the Ministry's Housing Policy, which restricts tenancy to a maximum of two years.
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
The Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) is gearing up to do battle with the Ministry of Health over plans to evict some of its members from their homes.
Nurses and other public sector health workers, who have overstayed their time in Government-owned units at Manley Meadows in East Kingston, have been given notices to leave.
The Health Ministry is threatening to evict persons whom it says are refusing to relocate from its staff residences popularly known as Nurses Quarters.
But the Nurses Association is crying foul.
It says its members are being treated unfairly by the state which has ignored their plight in accessing affordable housing.
According to NAJ President, Edith Allwood-Anderson, the previous Government had reneged on a promise to provide low-cost units for nurses.
She is calling for the eviction notices to be reconsidered.
In addition, the NAJ is trying to get an urgent meeting with Health Minister Ruddy Spencer to discuss the matter.
It is reported that the units at Manley Meadows were built to temporarily house new employees who live far distances.
However, the Health Ministry says some persons have been there for the past eight years while others who received the units immediately after they were built more than 10 years ago have refused to relocate.
The Notices said some tenants violated Section 5 of the Ministry's Housing Policy, which restricts tenancy to a maximum of two years.
