NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Fears have ignited over the government’s plans to demolish unregulated communities in North Eleuthera. The move could potentially displace hundreds of residents and reportedly also impact businesses that employ them.
Works Minister Clay Sweeting acknowledged that while “it’s never a perfect scenario, it’s the right thing to do.”
The worries have become more prominent as the 28-day notice, which was posted on unregulated communities in North Eleuthera, ends today. Sweeting, the Central and South Eleuthera MP, explained, however, that while the notice ends today, demolition is not set for today.
“We always put a 28-day notice according to the act, which provides time for the task force to do their assessment, inclusive of social services, building control, immigration, and other parts of the task force. We have not set a date as of yet; however, it can be any day after the 28 days as that is required of the task force by law. Please note the homes are on Spanish Wells commonage land where most have been built without a permit and the approval of the commonage committee.”
Sweeting added: “The committee has stopped the construction of unlawful structures on numerous occasions, but people with no entitlement to the land continued to construct them because there hasn’t been any enforcement of the law in the past.
“That being said, the task force meets this week to review the count of Bahamians and permanent residents who may need assistance. Individuals who have a permit should be assisted by the permit holder. The task force continues its thorough and holistic approach to dealing with unregulated communities.
“It’s never a perfect scenario, but it’s the right thing to do. We must continue to protect the land and rights of Bahamians,” Sweeting said.
One concerned resident and business owner, speaking with Eyewitness News on the condition of anonymity, expressed serious concerns about the displacement of hundreds of people, many of whom have only known the Bahamas as their home. Furthermore, the business owner noted that many of the people living in these communities are employed by local businesses.
“On March 18th, 28 days ago, the task force came and posted these notices all over the majority of Haitian houses in Russell Island, Spanish Wells, and also Blackwood. Blackwood is a bit different in that it is a Spanish Wells commonage land on North Eleuthera. From what I’ve been told, that shantytown area after Dorian went from being about 50-60 houses, mainly of people who work in the Spanish Wells area, to upward of 300-400 houses. On Russell Island, the majority of the houses that are targeted are on Bahamian landowner’s property, which has permitted the people to build there. Some of the people have been there for 40 years. They are Bahamian residents and work permit holders. They have not been given, in my opinion, enough time to bring everything up to code. They have been told if they don’t have the paperwork, their houses are going to be razed to the ground,” they stated.
The business owner added: “Houses have gotten light water and internet. The government has allowed this for decades. I know that some of the landowners on Spanish Wells and Russell Island do not want this to happen. They want to be given the option to bring the housing up to code since much can’t be done in 28 days. Besides that, where are these people going to go? There is no housing in Spanish Wells for these people. Some of them are already sleeping in public parks, and there is going to be more sleeping in the parks, beaches, and bushes. You are talking about children, the elderly, and babies who are going to be out on the streets. The government has allowed this to go on for so long. Construction, marinas, boatyards, and grocery stores all employ these people, many of whom have valid work permits and residency. We think the government is going about it in a very inhumane way.”
Spanish Wells Commonage Committee Chairman Ivanhoe Sweeting told Eyewitness News: “We have not heard anything on an actual date when they are going to start demolitions. The task force reached out to me, the Spanish Wells local government, and the Ministry of Works when they were going to do the eviction exercises. Some homes were built with permits that are going to stay and we have to go back and check. There are some homes built before permits were required. Some of them will need repairs. As for the rest of them, sadly, we can’t do anything with them.”
He continued: “The Commonwage Committee is working with the Ministry of Works to have a plan ready so that once this exercise is over and the dust settles, any person who is a registered commoner and gets registered will be able to acquire a piece of land and build a proper home for the people they hold work permits for. It will have to be done properly. We already have some floor plans we will approve.
“Sadly, however, a lot of people are going to be homeless, a lot of people I know and am friends with, but I can’t help because of the way the homes were built. Unfortunately the large majority of them we can’t do anything for. Some of the homes people are starting to take down themselves to save the materials. Some people are leaving and going elsewhere because they are not employed by a registered commoner of Spanish Wells.”
