Officials of the Abaco Urban Renewal project are recommending that the government put in place vital infrastructure in Haitian shantytowns on that island, but the plan is already facing strong objections from some Abaconians.
Under the plan, roads in the squatting communities of The Mud and Pigeon Peas would be cut and paved; water and sewerage facilities would be put in place; street lighting would be erected; and the houses would be numbered.
The Urban Renewal team, headed by Jewel Major, also wants police foot and car patrols in and around those communities.
Ms. Major, an attorney, said that since February, urban renewal officials have managed to accomplish quite a bit, as they work to address the problems associated with the shantytowns in the most humane manner possible.
“So far we have managed to map roads for the communities and now my next move is to actually get dirt roads put in them,” Ms. Major said
“We have worked with the clinics; we have covered medical, immigration, customs, and school issues and basically an overall perspective on what the Haitians have contributed both positive and negative to Marsh Harbour.”
She said approximately 200 derelict vehicles have been removed from The Mud and Pigeon Peas and the Pan American Health Organization has donated six big garbage bins and have paid six times for them to be emptied.
Ms. Major said some people living in the Haitian communities are collecting funds to have the bins emptied.
But some Abaconians expressed outrage that the government is using taxpayer dollars to improve communities where people are living illegally.
Others said the government needs to get more serious and “weed out” illegal immigrants from those communities.
“They are having babies too fast, even the ones who aren’t straight are having babies,” said Usais Cornish, owner of B& Son Tyre and Auto Repair Shop in Marsh Harbour.
“So it does not make sense for them to clean up the communities; they just need to go in there, deal with the illegal immigrants who are not straight [and] get rid of them because it is tax payers’ money they are using.”
Yvonne Key, another resident of Marsh Harbour said, “I don’t see them living any better and trying to do better. But I am very supportive of the urban renewal presence. I am hoping that the plan makes a difference.”
She added, “I do think that putting a road through it and lights in those communities is good because down there is just a haven for criminals.”
Ricky Albury, who owns a significant amount of the land known as Pigeon Peas, said, “Unless they come in here with force, the efforts by the urban renewal official would mean nothing to them. They just keep building houses every day.”
“I would just like to see them try to do something about the situation before the Haitians outnumber the Bahamians.”
While they are asking the government to put infrastructure in those communities, the Urban Renewal officials are also suggesting that all new building in The Mud and Pigeon Pea cease.
They also want the government to encourage the squatters to purchase the properties. In addition, they have asked authorities to conduct more frequent raids, and move swiftly with processing immigration applications.
Ms. Major said project officials will release a comprehensive report on The Mud and Pigeon Peas communities next month.
By: Royanne Forbes, The Bahama Journal
