The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

DNA Leader Branville McCartney is calling on the government to do what is right and get rid of the country’s shanty towns.

He told The Big T yesterday: “They ought to be removed and we as Bahamians should be outraged - outraged because of the situation.”

He claimed residents living in shanty towns are given “red-carpet treatment” in being allowed to live illegally and government ministries should mobilise against shanty towns. He criticised the government for targeting the towns solely from an environmental perspective.

“It was said that notices would have been issued to [the owners of the property] for them to deal with the environmental infractions - because quite frankly I think the minister is only allowed to deal with the environmental infractions.

“We didn’t hear anything from the Immigration Minister, we haven’t heard anything from police or the Minister of National Security, we didn’t hear anything from the Minister of Works because of the infractions regarding the buildings, and BEC... It is time for all departments to be involved in ridding this country of shanty towns.”

Mr McCartney said he is asking the government to name the landowners who have shanty towns on their properties.

He said: “We’ve called on them to name the persons who’ve committed almost treason against our country by allowing persons to come and live on their property - many were given properties through the government by way of Crown Land, and then they become landlords of the shanty towns.”