Assistance planned for Potter’s Cay vendors

As of Tuesday, May 4, 2021

AGRICULTURE and Marine Resources Minister Michael Pintard.

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AGRICULTURE and Marine Resources Minister Michael Pintard says government plans to assist vendors at Potters Cay who lost their businesses due to a fire last month.

The assistance will come in the form of building materials and there are plans to mark out the location for the rebuilding of six stalls.

In April the area was devastated after a structural fire left six stalls completely burned to the ground and two others with damage.

The minister gave an update on the situation yesterday stating he thinks there has been “significant progress in terms of moving the process along”.

He said: “What we’re expecting is several things. One, we are going to make a contribution in terms of building material that will assist in the rebuild at Potter’s Cay. Secondly, we have reached out to Public Works so that we are able to, along with vendors, to mark out the location for the six stalls.”

The ministry had contracted a private firm to focus on clearing and removing the debris from the water. This clearing will be a benefit, the minister went on to say.

“That area is cleared in preparation for us putting the pilings down because the stalls will be extended over the water to a larger extent than they were previously. The recommended layout is to stagger them. One stall will be five feet or back from the pavement and another would be ten and then the next one five… I think we’ve made significant progress in terms of moving the process along.”

A day after the fire happened, he insisted “a careful assessment” would be done along with discussions among his colleagues on the way forward.

He gave an update on the progress of those assessments.

“When you are managing public funds, you don’t wake up the very next day and make determinations that you are not authorised to make or the procedures do not permit you to make. You do the assessment, which is what we’re confidant the Ministry of Public Works, BPL, Water and Sewerage, have all been doing and having gotten some of the preliminary information we’re now in a position to move. So again, the public, but importantly, the vendors will see steady physical progress and we are partners with them,” Mr Pintard said.

Mr Pintard added that the government has invited members of the public, or any organisation that wished to contribute to do so to ensure this group of Bahamians rebuilds their businesses and continues to support their family.

When asked if this devastating event has now pushed the ministry in making vendors have other stalls evaluated to prevent a similar situation, the minister noted the issue of unregulated developments.

He argued: “We ought to have a candid conversation with the public about what are the building requirements and Bahamians ought to conform to those building requirements and then government has to be diligent in making sure that persons are in fact compliant. So, what we are experiencing whether it is at Potter’s Cay, whether it is in the communities where I grew up my entire life over-the-hill. We have a lot of unregulated developments and as a country we seem to be unwilling to have a candid conversation of where we are now and then decide that we’re going to make adjustments on how we behave.

“That we are going to gradually rebuild and rebuild back better taking climate into consideration. Taking the possibility of fire into consideration. The absence of proper utilities… So we need to not only have that discussion, we need to make the decisions or what we are going to do is we’re going to reap a painful and bitter harvest.”

DDK 3 years ago

Curious as to what the requirements are to qualify for assistance from government in the event of a personal or business loss...

tribanon 3 years ago

Not a one of the vendors who were operating these illegal, yes illegal, unsanitary and unsafe shanty shack stall businesses ever paid any taxes or fees into the public treasury. And yet the taxes and fees that have been paid by others will now be most unfairly used to put them right back in business. This is yet another shining example of the Minnis-led FNM administration wrongfully using our tax dollars to cherry pick their own 'winners' in our society with all the rest of us taxpayers being the 'losers'. Simply unbelievable!

Bobsyeruncle 3 years ago

Agreed ! One of the pre-requisites for operating one of these stalls should be proof of insurance. I can't imagine the cost of building one of these stalls is all that great, so insurance premiums should be very reasonable

The_Oracle 3 years ago

One day our Government will find it must help everyone, but be able to help no one. Oh they will all have successively helped themselves to, and live in exile while sitting at Wendies/Micky D in some foreign country arguing Bahamian politics, comfortable and happy with their ill gotten treasury gains, with zero conscience.

bahamianson 3 years ago

Agreed, if ones business burns down, the government does not help. If it has anything to do with straw vendors or conch vendors, the government gets its.brownie points. This is so not right. Everyone paying taxes should benefit from them. If you dont pay , you shouldnt receive. These vendors should have saved for a.rainy day. Bahamians need.to stop spending,.spending, spending. Miraculously, people find money for christmas, valentines day and musical events, but no money for meaningful things

themessenger 3 years ago

How many votes do you think they’ll get out of these six shacks? If you’re going to give away my money I’d rather it was spent rebuilding those families houses that were destroyed by the fire in Jennie Street instead of on some bar room or conch stand, speaking of which these idiots in government couldn’t run one!

John 3 years ago

These numerous fires over the past few weeks, the most recent which have claimed a life are starting to look spooky. Especially considering they are also happening on the Family Islands. But with the multi-BILLION dollar tourism rebuild, it will be a tragedy if government does not assist the fee Bahamians that are allowed to participate in this sector ( as entrepreneurs). to rebrand, improve and upgrade their products and services. ALL., yes ALL foreign owned businesses operating in the tourism industry get some form of government assistance, from tax breaks, tax exemptions, free property, assistance with advertising and promotions. And ALL you who oppose government assisting these vendors to the tune of several thousand dollars needs to take y’all prejudice, Bahamians hatin selves back home. Y’all could only be foreigners! Bah Mar alone got over $1 BILLION in concessions.

themessenger 3 years ago

You asking me to carry my Bahamian, Bahamian hating self back to the Bahamas where I born? I guess them people in Jennie Street ain Bahamians either, mussy all hyshuns or something ay? But they still people.

John 3 years ago

Government should spend a millionor two and redevelop the entire area. Plans were left in place.

themessenger 3 years ago

Where you going to relocate this shantytown to in order to redevelop the entire area? Did the plans left in place also include the ridiculous traffic flow and parking arrangements that was put in place? The shantytown inhabitants been complaining bout the negative impact on business since it was built.

Sickened 3 years ago

Can't believe they are going to get to build over our ocean as well now. One by one, all those shacks will accidentally burn down so that they can upgrade their premises for free as well. The next phase will be to allow these fellas to go out 30ft into our ocean and to put a marina in the back and rent out slips.

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