The extensive damage and destruction in The Mudd after Hurricane Dorian. (AP Photo/Gonzalo Gaudenzi)
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Housing and Environment has issued an order prohibiting the construction of residential or commercial buildings in the Mudd, Pigeon Pea, Sand Bank and Farm Road communities of Abaco.
The areas were flattened by Hurricane Dorian.
Before the hurricane decimated them, they had more than 1000 homes and an estimated population size of 3500, according to government reports.
The order says: “No person shall erect any new building or development for the purposes of residing or carrying out any commercial activity” in those communities.
In a statement yesterday, the government said: “The purpose of the Order is to allow for recovery efforts and the removal of storm debris related to Hurricane Dorian. The Order is made in accordance with Section 24(1)(b) of the Planning and Subdivision Act, 2010 and the Planning and Subdivision (Prohibition to Build) (Abaco) Order, 2019.
“As previously indicated by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, the government intends to provide initial temporary accommodation for all affected residents in safe alternative locations on Abaco.”
“The Order is valid for six months but may be extended for a further period up to six months as required.”
Last year the government planned to demolish shantytowns nationwide. Residents in such communities on New Providence were given until August 10, 2018 to leave while Abaco shantytowns were given until July 31, 2019.
Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson granted an injunction last year blocking the demolition of shantytown structures.
Comments
joeblow 5 years, 1 month ago
A Bahamian can't add five feet to their home without the red tape of a building permit etc, but in six months squatters can rebuild? The government is not using this opportunity to rid those communities of the illegals that are there.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 1 month ago
Precisely! Here we once again see our Minnis-led FNM government kowtowing to the illegal Haitian community at large. This is an outright absurdity and speaks to the rampant lawlessness within our very own government which, itself, is becoming increasingly Haitianized. Why are the Bahamian people standing for this nonsense. There is nothing whatsoever humanitarian about these shanty towns which have popped up everywhere and are a blight on our country. The only humanitarian thing to do is aggressively identify and detain these illegal aliens in designated detention centres, where they can be humanely held pending their repatriation back to Haiti.
It's also in the national security interest of the U.S. to assist us in any way that they can with the massive repatriation effort necessary to avoid the destabilization of our country. Doing so would help thwart the Xi-led communist regime's efforts to grow their influence on the door-step of the U.S. in the post-Dorian era.
B_I_D___ 5 years, 1 month ago
ZERO lessons learned...SAD.
geostorm 5 years, 1 month ago
Six months, there needs to be a compete ban! There should be no rebuilding in those areas. We are where we are because of lack of will. No illegal should be allowed to build in those areas and if there is any rebuilding it better be to code.
They just need to put a large fence up around those areas after they are cleaned up. Get the land owner involved. He is the reason for all of this mess anyway. Time for him to sell parcels of land and do it the legal way.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 1 month ago
I thought this was private land...they said the previous problem was the owners couldn't get the people off the land. well now that the squatters are off, shouldn't the govt prosecute anyone trying to build for trespassing? why is the govt talking about a six month moratorium?
TalRussell 5 years, 1 month ago
Ma Comrade ThisIsOurs,wasn't the lands, crown lands that were signed over by colony's government to be developed for farming, yes, no ....Curious what kinds vegetables were being cultivated on the shantytown lands ....
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 1 month ago
There you go again Tal speaking up for the lawlessness of your fellow Haitian brethren who have entered the Bahamas illegally and squatted wherever they choose. It seems you just can't help but waive that Haitian flag so defiantly over all things Bahamian that you want to become Haitian.
SP 5 years, 1 month ago
We just can't get a break! From Pindling to Ingraham, to Christie and now to Minnis, every prime minister to date has catered to Haitians at the expense of Bahamians.
Now we are totally inundated with illegals in Nassau who we all know will not find employment and will have to turn to crime for survival.
The PLP and FNM created this mess against the wishes of the electorate. It is about time we demand our voices are heard before the PLP and FNM finish destroying what's left of our country!
Where is the Peoples Movement?
mandela 5 years, 1 month ago
There needs to be a total ban in any and all those areas that were once squatted on, if they are not privately owned, then they are crown land and if this government has any intention of giving our crown land to foreigners so they can go to banks and get loans with land paper in hand, and we born and bred Bahamians who are entitled to these crown land and are being denied and given the run around, then we must protest, go on strike, shut the islands down, Total Ban INDEFINITELY
Godson 5 years, 1 month ago
This was suppose to be Fred's moment to reply but notice how the Tribune quickly moved this of its front posting. The Carrons are looking out for their friends, family and lovers.
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