Bahamian Government to Begin Demolishing Shanty Towns by Monday

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bahamanian government says it will begin demolishing illegal structures in two unregulated communities in New Providence from next Monday.

(File Photo)Works and Family Island Affairs Minister, Clay Sweeting said that the 28-day notice had been served to the occupants of those 162 structures.

“Let this action be a clear and unequivocal message that the government of The Bahamas has a zero tolerance policy towards illegal and unregulated structures.” he added.

“Surveys undertaken on October 21 provided vital data on the residents’ conditions. In the five days following the 28-day notice, we will witness intensified monitoring by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.”

Sweeting said that while the Ministry of Social Services will provide housing assistance to Bahamians facing eviction from the Kool Acres and All Saints Way shanty towns, people of other nationalities will not get this help.

“We recognise the hardships many face and efforts are underway to facilitate as smooth a transition as possible for affected residents. Let there be no misunderstanding,  safety, order, and the rule of law will be upheld without compromise.”

Sweeting, who is also the head of the Unregulated Communities Action Task Force, told reporters of the Ministry of Social Service’s role in addressing the potential human consequences of the evictions.

“Social Services are assisting Bahamian citizens in that regard,” he said, adding Social Services will provide housing.

“We understand that Bahamians do live in these unregulated communities so we ensure that the Bahamians are assisted,” he said, adding that the Department of Immigration would be asked to deal with those who lack permits or legal status to be in the country, an apparent reference to the illegal Haitians residing there..

“The work permit holder is obligated by law that if you get a work permit for an individual, you are to provide housing for them. That is immigration law.”

Many of the Haitian residents in the shanty towns have told the Tribune newspaper that they are unemployed or are temporary workers with dependents and nowhere to go.

Some have complained that rental units are unavailable because they are under renovation.