By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

ENVIRONMENT Minister Kenred Dorsett says the government is investigating whether a shanty town off of the Sir Milo Butler Highway in New Providence is built on privately-owned land or land belonging to the government.

The shanty town was hidden by tall bushes until recently when it became exposed to motorists on the highway after brush was cut down and cleared by the government.

Mr Dorsett said yesterday: “Many would have seen the exposure of the shanty town on Milo Butler Highway because of the removal of trees to allow heavy equipment to go in.

“We went into that specific area because it was identified by public health (officials) as a particular concern for them and so we have begun the clean-up. So as a part of that the Ministry of Works has also been in there to serve notices and so that shanty town will now be our focus in terms of clean-up and elimination over the course of the next few weeks.

“We are trying to determine (if that plot of land) is someone’s who claims to be the owner of that land. But there is anecdotal information telling me that it is Crown land. I have yet to receive any information one way or the other who owns the land. So that is one of the things that we are trying to resolve.

“But we wanted to abate the public health risk associated with that area. I think the fact that it has been exposed has raised once again public concerns. As I have indicated to the public this is something that notwithstanding the limited financial resources that we have in the ministry to undertake it systematically, we are going to do what we can to remove the shanty towns.”

The government tore down structures in several shanty towns last year and earlier this year.