The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

ENVIRONMENT and Housing Minister Kenred Dorsett says the government’s move to prosecute shanty town land owners is “progressing well”.

Admitting the process is not moving as fast as he would like, Mr Dorsett explained that the July fire at the Joe Farrington Road shanty town, which saw the destruction of more than 50 homes, had slowed down prosecutions.

He also revealed that additional towns have been discovered, stating: “There has been additional filings by the Ministry of Works and the Department of Environmental Health Services in relation to additional shanty towns in New Providence.”

As for the shanty towns on Joe Farrington Road, the minister said, the government is continuing to move forward having redone necessary legal work in wake of the blaze which left more than 150 people homeless.

“We had prepared the prosecutions but as you know, there was a fire and there are five different land owners out there,” he said. “So the legal team had to go back in to determine which land owner still has units on their particular track of land, just to make sure that we’re bringing in action against the right people.”

That has been completed and the Ministry of Works is also now involved in the process, Mr Dorsett said. “And so while I would have wanted this to advance faster than it is, we are progressing and progressing well.”

Last week, the minister had explained the Ministry of Works involvement in the process. He had said: “I think that the reality is, under my legislation we do not have the ability, beyond prosecution, to do anything to anyone’s structure.

“So that is the reason why we were working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Works, who has that authority.”

The minister had explained in July, shortly after the released of the government’s Shanty Town Report, the government’s plan of action will involve a “collaborative approach” by several ministries in addressing the issue.

“I am responsible for the Department of Environmental Health Services, therefore where there are issues of environmental infractions, unsanitary conditions, the potential for groundwater contamination, my ministry will get involved and my ministry will prosecute.”

The Ministry of Works and Urban Development will be copied on all notices of intended prosecution, so when it comes to issues relating to building code infractions they will be able to take action, Mr Dorsett said.

“The Ministry of Social Services are also copied on all of our notices so they are aware of what we are doing. All of the data that we receive in relation to who occupies these properties – the number of adults, the children and so forth – all of that is passed on to Social Services so that team is also involved in that process,” he said.

“The Ministry of Immigration and National Security are also apprised, together with the Attorney General’s Office who advises us on any legal procedures that we take.”