The Tribune

MORE and more Bahamians are moving into shanty towns originally occupied by Haitian immigrants – prompting longtime dwellers to complain about deteriorating standards.

According to a new government report, established residents of unauthorised communities claim the “new arrivals” do not have the same regard for proper hygiene and respect for law and order.

This was among the several findings of the Department of Environmental Health study; others report that serious environmental and health concerns exist across the shanty town network, and that a number of illicit industries flourish there – among them the illegal burning of pine forest to produce coal and the unauthorised sale of prescription medication.

“The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has been inundated with persons from the Republic of Haiti for many years. Communities have formed, which generally do not meet environmental standards,” said the report.

It noted that nevertheless, many of the long term residents have assimilated and are recognised as productive, law-abiding citizens who contribute to the growth and development of the country.

“Historically, many of the older occupants in these areas were farm labourers who were hired by diverse persons from throughout our society. These labourers in some instances were allowed to occupy the land after the owners had ceased farming operations. In return, these occupants are expected to share a percentage of their crop and pay the landowner a varying small fee,” the report said.

It said shanty towns resulting from Haitian migration are found primarily in New Providence and the larger populated Family Islands, where the labour force is larger.

It was observed that most, if not all of these shanty towns are on government Crown land issued to Bahamian families for the purpose of agriculture.

“As noted in the first survey (conducted two years ago), these communities are informally organised, overcrowded with illegal/poorly constructed dwellings, improper or no sewage disposal systems, compounded with derelict vehicles and garbage accumulation which give rise to the breeding of rodents, mosquitoes and other disease carrying vectors.

“All buildings in these shanty towns are made from discarded wood or metals without any regard for the Bahamas Building Code. Construction was ongoing in most of these towns,” the report said.

It said profitable businesses of varying nature observed included: liquor stores, convenience shops, numbers operations, animal rearing (chickens, sheep, goats, and pigs), cock fighting, recycling of bottles, and coal production.

“Manufacturing of coal seems to be a big business. The Bahamian pine is being utilised in disregard to the Forestry Act,” the report said.

It also warned that the storage of used bottles in great numbers in shanty towns gives rise to health concerns because it encourages the proliferation of pests that carry disease, such as mosquitos.

Water is available in all the towns, in some instances being piped into houses.

But there is serious concern over the biological quality of the water, the report said.

“Only three of the 46 samples taken meet World Health Organisation (WHO) Standards. All the others failed with very high faecal coliform counts. Two of the samples had residual chlorine present.

“Bucket wells are most common. These open, untreated water sources are undesirable due to their susceptibility to contamination from runoff and debris.”

“Closed well supplies are also unsatisfactory due to their improper construction, proximity to improper sewage systems and the natural fluctuation of groundwater quality.

“Attempts have been made to provide some form of sewage disposal. None of the structures provided conform with the law and in most cases are in a state of disrepair,” the report said.

It added that the number of “sanitary conveniences” is not in proportion to the population, and that human faeces was noted in common walking areas between homes, in nearby bushes, and around animal pens.

“The inadequate disposal of sewage increases the risk of transmission of fecal-borne diseases and contamination of groundwater supply,” the report said.

Due to the layout of most of the towns the Department of Environmental Health was unable to provide individual waste collection.

“Residential waste placed at the front of the property in proximity to the main road is collected. This method is not very successful as most of the houses are located far away from the road and residents are reluctant to bring waste the distance required for proper disposal. This obviously results in garbage being deposited throughout these ‘towns’, and nearby bushes,” the report said.

Household refuse, mostly food waste, is routinely thrown outdoors, often in the common pathway, around the houses, or wherever is convenient.

“There is strong indication of rodent infestation in and around living/sleeping quarters as evidenced by live rats and burrows,” the report said.

Disease carrying pests proliferating in derelict vehicles is also a major cause for concern.

As average house is approximately 80 square feet and houses a family of six, it is fair to assume that overcrowding is an issue, the report said.

“This issue is not as significant as the structural integrity, minimal (or lack of) sewage and water infrastructures and solid waste management issues.

The report added: “There is what seems to be an ocean hole near one of these towns that became the dumping ground for whatever needs to be discarded.

“Domestic animals that are produced for food are permitted to roam throughout the town. This presents a major health concern, as the animals are in contact with faecal matter and other items they may consume for food making them unfit for human consumption.”