In response to comments attributed to Mr. Franklyn Wilson in a Tribune article of 2nd June, 2011, regarding the Ministry of Housing’s plans for the Mackey Yard squatter community, I wish to assure the Bahamian public that the Ministry of Housing is in no way jeopardizing the interests of the Bahamian public, by seeking to regularize Bahamians and Permanent Residents who lived in Mackey Yard, or who live in any other squatter community.
In fact, the Ministry is doing the very opposite, as it is seeking to do away with the unhygienic and lawless conditions which exist on these sites, which impact neighboring communities, and which have engendered so many demands for action by my ministry.
The problem of squatter communities is not an easy issue. According to information compiled by the government, there are 36 such communities in New Providence, and most of this land is not vested in the Ministry of Housing. I am however compelled to deal with those persons living on Housing’s land, and I am committed to doing so. As such, in addition to the Mackey yard community, my Ministry will also be regularizing persons squatting in Dignity Gardens, Pride Estates, and on the former Leonard Sugarman property in Fox Hill. The 250 lots referred to in my budget speech relate to these areas.
I must of necessity balance the requirement for the development of properly ordered communities, with my obligation to provide affordable housing for low and middle income persons. It is an inescapable fact that the persons resident in squatter communities live in these areas because they feel they have no other options. While this is no excuse, and while we do not condone their actions, it is clear that their removal from Housing’s land will likely result in their re-location to other squatter communities, allowing the current conditions to be repeated. They will also continue to be wards of the state, and ultimately, drains on the Bahamian taxpayer.
Our efforts will bring balance to the situation, as In addition to cleaning up the squatter communities, and bringing relief to the Bahamian tax payer, we are also providing residents the opportunity to better their condition in life, by offering them land for purchase, on which they will be required to build a house in keeping with the Bahamas building code. This offer is not open-ended, as affected persons will be required to pay for their land in a timely manner. Additionally, another component of these new developments will be the inclusion of lots which will be available for non-squatters already in the Housing system.
Lastly, the Ministry of Housing wishes to stress the fact that good governance requires making hard decisions, which are morally correct, though they may not be popular. The people of The Bahamas put their trust in the government to do just that, almost five years ago. The consultation Mr. Wilson seeks has therefore already been achieved. We at the Ministry of Housing are committed to doing our part in this effort.
