The Tribune

EDITOR, the Tribune.

Mr Bradley Roberts has missed the boat again. It is understandable that the former representative of Bain and Grants Town will find some way to mislead and seek to misinform Bahamians, especially the people he left requiring extensive “Urban Renewal” to eliminate the mess in which he played a pivotal role.

Now to have a better grasp of what Mr Bradley Roberts and the PLP are taking issue with, let us define the term they sought to use. Gentrification as defined by Dictionary.com is “the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighbourhoods by upper- or middle-income families or individuals, thus improving property values but often displacing low-income families and small businesses.” This is a phenomena that occurred in many countries over millenniums, with one of the earliest recorded in 3rd century AD in Rome.

In other words, what Mr Roberts and the PLP are seeking to describe is the influx of persons from outside our “Over the Hill” communities pushing out those who presently reside, with some families having been resident in these communities for generations.

However, in the very same article (Nassau Guardian, Monday 24th November, 2014 by Royston Jones Jr) states that Dr Minnis’ plan includes providing incentives to residents. Now, if the stated plan indicates it is for those who reside in the area, then it does not include non-residents, unless they are property or business owners. Therefore, it is not possible for gentrification to take place if those who are presently resident are the ones who are able to have the homes refurbished or rebuilt.

What elucidates their delusion is the fact that the PLP would take many Cabinet Ministers and other senior government officials for photo opportunities and as a PR stunt for one house. However, want to find it a problem and use scare tactics to offer that very same opportunity to a greater number of Bahamians. Is this the “serious action” referenced by Mr Roberts and the PLP?

Then Mr Roberts goes on to make a series of statements about shifting of defined areas and some mythical plans of Pindling’s policy. Well these great revisionists of history would note that plans for Urban Redevelopment predates the first PLP government. Secondly, it is the PLP government led by Pindling that oversaw the deterioration of our historic “Over the hill” communities.

When Mr Roberts and the PLP highlight this as a matter that they “wrestled with for 30 years” it clearly highlights that it is a wrestling match they lost; so referencing Pindling’s name does not advance the case in any regard.

I understand Mr Roberts and the PLP’s dilemma, these are areas that the PLP has represented for nearly five decades almost uninterrupted. It is their representation that has presided over the deterioration of these once proud communities that have produced so many of our leaders in all spheres of our national life, political and otherwise. It was Mr Roberts and the PLP’s stewardship that caused for there to be such great need for all manner of social and economic intervention.

The PLP must come to grips that there is a doctor needed to help with the healing of this nation. It will be Dr Minnis and the team of bright minds who are prepared to innovate, re-engineer, develop and properly implement positively transformative plans for the Bahamians residing in the “Over the hill community”.

Rather, than seeking to scare people and throw red herrings due to his and the PLP’s inabilities to help the very people they represent, he should see what they can do to meaningfully help these very people they have neglected in their last 2? years of governance. Based on their previous inability to get anything done, it will be left to Dr Minnis and his team to usher in a new day and era of hope for historic “Over the Hill”.

COLLIN INGRAHAM

Nassau,

November 25, 2014.