The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Property owners of land acquired by the Government of the Bahamas over ten years ago are still awaiting payment.

Please allow me a space to voice my concern with the Government of The Bahamas refusing to settle with the owners of multi-parcels of land acquired by the government in 2009 during the New Providence Road Improvement Project for the extension of the Sir Milo Butler Highway to connect with Cowpen Road (also known as Corridor 41).

I have written numerous letters to the Office of The Prime Minister (OPM), to both the Right Hon Perry Christie and the Most Hon Dr Hubert Minnis. During the last Christie Administration, a final price was negotiated for my property, however, payment was never received. With a change of government in 2017, I delivered another letter to OPM requesting resolution and giving background information on the acquired land, despite the fact that Prime Minister Minnis was Minister of Health during the time of acquisition and therefore fully aware of the acquisition and the lack of settlement. The current Minister of Works and Member of Parliament for Carmichael, the constituency where the properties are located has yet to address this matter with affected constituents. To date, ten years later some property owners have still not received financial settlement.

During the Prime Minister’s mid-year budget contribution on Monday, February 24, 2020, he spoke about giving Bahamians Crown Land for development thereby providing an opportunity for individuals to make investments and own a piece of the proverbial pie. It is always good to give a helping hand, and, I daresay, a duty of any government to provide opportunities for its citizens.

So, Mr Prime Minister, what about the property owners of Corridor 41 who made the sacrifice to purchase a property, invest in the development of said property, only to have the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas acquire it during the last Rt Hon Hubert Ingraham’s administration (2007-2012) and to this day, the government, which is continuous by law, has refused financial settlements to some of the private property owners. A few choice property owners received payment from both Mr Ingraham and Mr Christie’s administrations. The question now is why did the others not received payment? Is it a question of cherry-picking who a government thinks might be a supporter? I should hope not as governments should deal evenhanded and fair with each citizen.

Where is the opportunity for these private property owners to settle this long standing matter so that they are in a position to take advantage of other investments to provide for their families?

Is it not hypocritical for a government to preach the importance of law and order and at the same time the right to own private property afforded to citizens in Article 27 of the Constitution of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Land Acquisition Act stating payment should be made at time of acquisition are being denied by the same so-called law and order government?

The property owners are requesting settlement for their private property that the government decided to compulsorily acquire. These properties were never on the market for sale. After ten years, is it not time to settle this matter and allow each party to move on? This is now abuse of power by consecutive governments of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas from 2009 to today, February 26th, 2020 and beyond, until this matter is concluded. I am sure the government has contact information for each property owner.

I thank you for the opportunity

MERCIANNA MOXEY, MD MPH

Property Owner

Corridor 41

Nassau,

February 26, 2020.