The Tribune

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement MP Hank Johnson railed against the government on Wednesday accusing it of ignoring the challenges of the small man and “dragging its feet” where Bahamians’ rights are being infringed as he spoke about a longstanding land dispute in his constituency.

Mr Johnson became passionate as he spoke about an issue concerning residents of Bannerman Town and John Millars.

His criticism came during his contribution to the resolution for the government to acquire land in the Fox Hill constituency to further its affordable housing initiative.

“It has been a matter of great pain for those persons concerned for their kids,” Mr Johnson said. “Like the families in Fox Hill, Bannerman Town and John Millars came about through slave plantations and like today my government has perhaps made an unpopular decision in the minds of those opposite, I say again we remain committed to you, the people of Bannerman Town and John Millars, and perhaps some neighbouring communities.

“Mr Speaker, one of the things that is disturbing to not just me, but to the people of Bannerman Town in particular and the people in the south on October 15, 2018, the Privy Council, our highest court, handed down a detailed, yet clear ruling on the land situation in South Eleuthera of which I previously spoke to this House last year. The decision in effect sounded the clarion call for my government, and by extension, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas of the corruption that I speak about. There has been a ruling in the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, yet the people in South Eleuthera do not have access to their land.

“It is wrong. It is entirely wrong when people’s inheritance (is) taken away.”

He continued: “We come here and we sit every day and we don’t pay attention to the small man on the street who’s hurting every day. I was sent here to represent them that I will do and I will stand and will speak on behalf of my people and I will say that which is right.

“It is not right that the inheritance has been taken away from those poor people. South Eleuthera has now been a land situation for the last 30 to 40 years all because the rich and the famous have decided to take what doesn’t belong to them.”

“This is unbearable,” he also said.

“I call on this nation to stand up. Let’s stand together and band together to make sure that these families do not suffer this type of treatment in this country any longer.

“We say we gonna root out corruption. Well let’s do that. Give the people what is entitled to them. I become very emotional and very passionate when people’s rights have been taken away.

“We have an opportunity; this government has an opportunity to set the record straight in this country.

“But what are we doing dragging our feet, Mr Speaker, life goes on. We don’t know the day, nor the hour. So now we have opportunity to do that which is right.”

Last October, Tribune Business reported that Sir Franklyn Wilson pledged that the Privy Council’s rejection of his development company’s claim to 2,086 acres “in no way changes our plans and commitment” to South Eleuthera.

The Arawak Homes chairman, who spoke after the Bahamas judicial system’s highest court found Eleuthera Properties had neither documentary nor possessory title to the long-disputed property near Bannerman Town, emphasised that there was no impact to its planned developments at Cotton Bay and Jack’s Bay.