The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

THE ‘issue’ of migrant communities across the country which are in need of health services cannot be ignored, says Prime Minister Perry Christie.

During his tour of North Abaco settlements affected by Hurricane Sandy, Mr Christie realised the conditions some migrant communities face could lead to infectious diseases, he told the House of Assembly yesterday.

“A tour of Soundbank, a Haitian migrant community, revealed that there is an urgent need for environmental health services, social services, and the Ministry of Health to conduct assessments of the community which experienced flooding during the storm,” Mr Christie said.

“The country has walked around, dodged, ducked the issue of migrant settlements that are unregulated, that grow up spontaneously and expand spontaneously and we can no longer postpone addressing this issue.

“I can tell you that when it comes to communicable diseases, it knows no boundaries and this country cannot afford to take the risk by pretending that we do not know what is happening in these areas.”

There is a compelling urgency to know and to act, the Prime Minister said, and the leadership required must overcome the expected disapproval from those who might believe action shouldn’t be taken because the recipients are foreigners.

“We cannot ignore any longer the presence in our country of people, some of whom are now Bahamian, others permanent residents, others on work permits, who live under circumstances that are conducive to great health challenges,” Mr Christie said.

“To those of us who have the privilege to be in this place at this time, there is a need for a coming together so that there is no politics in this. We fix our mind on the challenges before us and we act.”