Officials are pictured preparing to begin the shanty town census. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By MORGAN ADDERLEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
madderley@tribunemedia.net
THE national survey of shanty town residents began yesterday in New Providence.
Assistant Director of Labour and Secretary of the Shanty Town Committee Morgan Graham spoke to The Tribune yesterday outside the Carmichael Road Police Station.
Mr Graham explained the purpose of the initiative is to assess the state of the various communities and to gather demographical information about the residents.
He also promised the census will be handled sensitively, echoing earlier comments made by Labour Minister Dion Foulkes.
“This afternoon we’re kicking off our surveying of the various shanty towns,” Mr Graham said.
“We have three teams that are going to be doing surveying in the Carmichael Road area today and two teams will be up at Cool Air up off of Joe Farrington today as well.
“This initiative has been designated by the government for us to get an assessment of what is going on in these various towns and our assessors have all been trained and we intend to do this in a sensitive and compassionate way.”
Mr Graham added each team would be composed of approximately five people from various ministries and departments.
When asked if he had any concerns about the venture, Mr Graham said no, reiterating the census had been previously announced and that it has the cooperation of various pastors.
“We don’t anticipate any difficulties,” he said.
Mr Graham could not provide an estimate of the number of homes the teams would be able to visit. However, he explained yesterday’s venture would “set the groundwork” for what the committee could expect going forward.
In terms of the demographical information they are looking for, Mr Graham said they are interested in “overall numbers.”
“We’re trying to ascertain exactly how many persons live in these shanty towns, how many are males, how many are females, how many are employed, how many are still in school, those with disabilities as well. Those are some of the questions that we intend to find out today.
“So we’re interested in overall numbers.”
The status of shanty towns in the country has been under recent debate following two fires in The Mud shanty town in Abaco earlier this year.
Mr Foulkes, head of the government’s shanty town committee, has said a census of people living in the 11 shanty towns across New Providence will take place before any demolition.
Last Tuesday, Mr Foulkes added any structures in these areas that do not adhere to building codes will be “demolished.”
He also promised the matter would be carried out sensitively and humanely.
Comments
TheMadHatter 6 years, 7 months ago
"Mr Graham said they are interested in “overall numbers.”
That way they know how many blank passport books to order.
DDK 6 years, 7 months ago
It is quite ridiculous!
DDK 6 years, 7 months ago
How long will it take for the data pad that home boy is holding to get lost? Another COMPLETE waste of tax payers' money.
Islandboy100 6 years, 7 months ago
They gonna cost a war between Bahamians and Haitians one day this should have been done forty years ago
John 6 years, 7 months ago
A problem will not disappear unless the factors that create or contribute to the problem are addressed. And, apparently government is taking the right approach by systematically addressing the problem of Shantytowns. Three main factors help create these shantytowns besides the fact that they are a refuge for illegal immigrants. One the cost of living in this country is extremely high and many people find it difficult to come up with the funds to move into regular housing. And even when Social Services assists, they create a problem for landlords because they help persons move into apartments with no means of paying future rent as it becomes due. So the landlord eventually have to kick them out and they are either on the streets or back in the shantytowns. Two : There is a definite housing shortage in many of the islands and areas where shantytowns exist. And when government completes its survey it will see that the number of people living in shantytowns far exceed the amount of housing available. And this leads to the third problem. The long and seemingly unending downturn in the economy has lead to not only rental units falling into disrepair and now off the market, but also a number of private homes and family dwellings have suffered similar fate. Just drive around this island or go into many settlements on the Family Islands. So how can Government assist in getting some of these buildings repaired and persons back in them? The economy must impfor certain.
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