Bannister defends action on shantytown

The government intends to demolish all illegal structures in The Farm shantytown on Abaco that were built since the passage of Hurricane Dorian, Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister said yesterday.

“Notices were affixed to all of the structures that were erected subsequent to the passage of Hurricane Dorian,” Bannister said during a communication in Parliament.

“There are two types of notices. For incomplete and unoccupied structures, the notices advise that they will be demolished after 14 days in accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Subdivisions Act.

“For occupied structures, the notices advise that they will be demolished after the passage of 28 days.”

The action is part of the government’s phased plan to deal with the unregulated community, which Bannister said has flourished since the hurricane in 2019.

Government officials conducted a raid of the community last Thursday. All but one of the illegally constructed roads into the community were blocked off at 4:30 that morning, Bannister said.

A 2018 Supreme Court order prohibits the government from demolishing shantytown structures that had already been constructed, and prohibits anyone from constructing, erecting or altering unregulated shantytown buildings anywhere in The Bahamas.

Hurricane Dorian decimated portions of Abaco and many of the shantytowns on that island.

“Shortly after the passing of Hurricane Dorian, the government caused drone footage to be taken of The Farm community,” Bannister said.

“The footage revealed that 30 of the shacks had survived Hurricane Dorian.

“It is clear that the injunction prevented the government from demolishing those buildings; however, in defiance of the court order that prohibited them from constructing more buildings, persons continued to build more and more unregulated and unsafe structures.

“It is clear that these structures that were altered or erected after August 2018 without valid building permits, blatantly disrespected and breached the court order and also contravened the provisions of the Buildings Regulation Act and the Planning and Subdivision Act.”

Following this information, the government conducted an operation in the community, which included officials from the Ministry of Public Works, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Bahamas Customs Department, the Department of Immigration, Bahamas Power and Light and other private sector partners, Bannister said.

Nine commercial generators were confiscated, he said.

“Several were being operated for commercial purposes and in contravention of the Electricity Act with a capacity to provide electrical power to close to 200 structures,” he said.

“The police also confiscated a number of generators that were believed to have been stolen.”

Bannister said in addition to selling electricity in the community, people were also stealing electric wires from Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and “stringing them up haphazardly throughout the unregulated areas to provide electricity to the shanty houses”. 

“Moreover, the wiring of these houses are unsafe and in breach of the Electricity Act, as are the generators themselves,” he said.

“One need only recall the devastating fire in The Mudd a few years ago to appreciate the danger that this practice poses to human life.

“Mr. Speaker, I might add that this electrical wiring process is not done out of human kindness; rather it is done so that persons profit from the misery of their fellow human beings, who are charged a weekly fee for the service.”

The deputy prime minister also said that several illegal bars and commercial operations were closed and suspected uncustomed goods were also confiscated.

“A number of persons were arrested for possession of a firearm; possession of dangerous drugs; possession of uncustomed goods; and for violations of the immigration laws,” he said.

The Carmichael MP said every resident in The Bahamas must adhere to the law.

“I repeat that much of what has occurred has happened with the complicity of many Bahamians,” he said.

“Where those persons are identified appropriate, action will be taken.”

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