The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Please allow me space in your daily to touch on a vexing national concern, illegal and irregular communities aka shanty towns.

The former administration was forced to stop demolition of these communities by a court injunction issued by a judge, who has since changed her mind and lifted the injunction for this present administration. The enforced injunction stipulated that no further demolition must take place but no new structure must be erected. Then along comes Dorian and the communities were wiped out. It was a natural disaster like none ever seen in our Bahamas for decades.

With an active court injunction specifically stating that no new structures be built, why were so many new communities allowed to materialise without interference from our National Security Agencies, namely Royal Bahamas Police Force, Defence Force and Immigration? As these new structures were being built, and we became aware of them, why were they allowed to continue construction? The same injunction that forced the cessation of demolition should have forced the cessation of construction.

Now a change of heart by the same judge, which in actuality vindicates the former administration, states that these illegal and irregular communities are indeed a threat and should be demolished.

Not withstanding this new ruling, we have the Prime Minister still dodging the issue and sending mixed messages, the Minister of Foreign Affairs indicating that Haiti has a crisis, not The Bahamas and the Minister of National Security says everything is under control.

Bahamas, wake up. This vexing situation of illegal migrants developing irregular and illegal communities has festered for many, many years and is now like a volcano ready to erupt. These people have no regard or respect for the laws of The Bahamas. They come here and clear down land and build sub-standard structures that create threats to our environmental safety. They are fire risks and health risks. Some of these communities pop up in the backyards of regulated subdivisions and no one calls the relevant agency until it is out of hand. These structures should not be allowed to be completed. Why is it that they seem to be granted liberties that are not granted to Bahamians? Then these migrants, for the most part, reproduce frequently, sometimes twice in a year, thus putting a strain on our health system. These children then put a strain on our education system and our social services. They are benefitting from us and not giving anything substantial back to our economy.

It is said that there are about 150,000 immigrants in The Bahamas, that is all nationalities, but the greater portion are Haitians. These are the registered immigrants. Now take into consideration the illegal ones that are not registered. We are said to be a population of about 400,000. Do the math. We will soon be outnumbered and second class citizens in our own country. Our culture is slowly diminishing and being replaced by others. Some of us are selling our birthrights for the mean green and not looking beyond our hands. These illegal and irregular communities must be demolished and the land reclaimed by Bahamians. We are not responsible for taking in the whole region nor are we capable of taking care of and supplying their needs. While there is nothing wrong with assisting our neighbours in the region in their time of troubles, we cannot afford to support them for a lifetime. It drains our already uncertain economy. There is an old saying that “Charity begins at home and ends abroad.” In other words our people, Bahamians, must come first. We must not cut off our nose to suit someone else’s face.

We are celebrating 50 years of nationhood but what do we have besides sun, sand and sea? If others can come and see the value of our land, we must wake up and work this land for ourselves. If there is no demand for them, there will be no need for supply. Let us take responsibility for our destiny. This is not being xenophobic, this is being real.

Where is the national pride? Politicians where is the loyalty to country first? I beg you to enforce the laws of the land to ensure that this land is secured and protected for Bahamians now and yet unborn lest we too become “boat people” one day.

May God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

VANESSA SCOTT, JP

Nassau

February 27th, 2023