The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

IN an effort to address the problems that many “marginalised” Bahamians face, police officers and Urban Renewal workers did a walk-about through the community of a government complex known as “The Big Yard”.

Located on Windsor Lane off East Street, the complex is home to several families and faces an array of problems, including unemployment and crime, according to Algernon Allen, co-chair of the Urban Renewal Commission.

“We’ve come here really to get a first hand look at some of the problems which confront us as we seek to uplift the lives of the marginalised in our country and also to chart our way forward,” Mr Allen said.

“When we make a visit like this, it is really dealing with literally the tip of the iceberg; but, we will be able to determine the type of individuals we should send back in – whether from Social Services, whether from areas of the police force, whether from the Ministry of Health. We’ll be able to send them in so they can deal on a more in depth, more personal basis.”

Supt Stephen Dean told the press, police believe there is a direct correlation between crime and environmental conditions and thus are focused on improving the conditions of The Big Yard.

“If a criminal wants to operate, these are the types of areas they like – where persons are vulnerable and they try to prey on these individuals,” he said.

“We believe that if we constantly come with a comprehensive approach - all the relevant government agencies - we will be able to eradicate and improve the quality of life for these individuals in these communities.”

Former Parliamentarian and Urban Renewal Commission co-chair Cynthia “Mother” Pratt also participated in the walkabout and also took note of the issues the community faces – including a single mother of eight who has been unemployed for the past seven years.

“There are many problems in this area, in the past, and certainly they need to be addressed so we’re trying to see how best we can rectify some of the problems,” she said.