The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian realtors believe their new agreement with the Ministry of Housing is “pregnant with opportunity”, as they yesterday expressed concern about the island Land Use Plans imposed by recent planning legislation.

Franon Wilson, speaking just two hours before he handed over the Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) presidency to Carla Sweeting, said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two parties was “a wonderful opportunity”.

“This private-public partnership is pregnant with opportunity, and we see our role as being to help catch the baby,” Mr Wilson said.

“The Minister [Kenred Dorsett has given birth to this, and we’re going to do all we can to ensure people can own their own homes.”

Enphasising that the agreement was approved by the BREA Board, Mr Wilson said challenges created by the Planning and Subdivisions Act would be among the issues likely discussed at the national real estate conclave called for by the MoU.

He reiterated that at the time the Act was passed into law in 2010, BREA and its then-president, William Wong, had expressed concern that the legislation effectively ‘set in stone’ land use plans for each Bahamian island without these being discussed publicly first.

“The Act came into being, the Land Use Plan came in, and we never sat down and had discussions as to what is a Land Use Plan,” Mr Wilson said.

“How’s it going to work? It’s where we as a country need to end up, but the first step is dialogue. What is the best way to look at New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eluethera? Give us feedback on how to develop these islands.”

Enforcement of the zoning regulations will also be on the agenda, such as stopping shops and mechanics yards opening in residential areas.

Mr Wilson described the agreement with the Ministry as “the first step to much greater things, and building a sustainable Bahamas, one we can all support. This is a path where we can move to a better Bahamas”.

Other realtors also threw their weight behind the MoU agreement. Eric Russell, of TR Associates, said: “Every deserving family in the Bahamas should own their own home. I hope we can do a lot of great things together.”

Chandra Parker, of Mario Carey Realty, added: “These are issues we have every day in our profession; people having difficulty in affording housing in areas where they want their children to grow up.”