NASSAU, BAHAMAS – An Abaco shantytown assessment report, which surveyed 777 households, indicated that 3,041 people reside in six shantytowns on Abaco, inclusive of Sand Banks, Farm Road, L & H (treasure cay), the Mudd, Pigeon Pea and Elbow Cay.
The report, released Wednesday, revealed that 80 per cent of persons are documented while 41 per cent hold work permits.
According to the report, the Mudd is the most densely populated shanty town with 51.4 per cent of the population, followed by Pigeon Pea with 19 per cent and then Farm Road with 15. 2 per cent.
Sixty-eight per cent of the homes have running water, 78 per cent have electricity and six per cent have cable services, the report stated.
The report further revealed that 28 per cent of persons living in shanty towns in Abaco earn between $400 and $600 per week.
Sixty-one per cent earn less than $400 and 14 per cent earn between $600 and $1,000 per week.
Seventy-three per cent of persons are employed and 77 per cent of persons own their homes.
Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield on Tuesday admitted that Haitians have some challenges in The Bahamas getting documentation, and he encouraged Haitians to visit their embassy for assistance.
The government set a deadline of July 31, 2019, for residents of the Abaco shantytowns to evacuate.
In August, the Supreme Court ordered the government and utility providers to halt any planned service disconnections or evictions in shanty towns pending a judicial review of the Minnis administration’s policy to eradicate those communities.
