Friday, October 25, 2019
By Leandra Rolle
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
NEARLY two months after Hurricane Dorian ravaged the northwestern Bahamas, debris from the Pigeon Peas shantytown in Abaco has “virtually” been cleared and work on the Mudd has already started, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands.
In speaking to reporters at the Bahamas Podiatric Medical Association Conference on Friday, Dr Sands noted that much progress has been made with the clean-up efforts in Abaco, but there is still more work to be done.
“When we look at the clearing of the Pigeon Peas, it is virtually completed. The work on the Mudd has started. When we look at communities like Green Turtle Cay, Hope Town, Man-O-War, there’s tremendous work being done,” he said.
“It is hard to look at the magnitude of the problem because you could believe that it’s going to be an impossible task, but the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step and that first step has definitely been taken.”
The powerful Category Five storm made landfall in Abaco and Grand Bahama early last month, destroying a number of homes and businesses.
Shanty towns across Abaco were also decimated as a result of Dorian, leaving hundreds displaced.
Last month, the government awarded contracts to several companies for the cleanup of shantytowns in Abaco.
And according to Dr Sands, the process of clearing debris in these storm-affected communities is being done in layers.
“We expect that there could be human remains so the ability to arbitrarily and recklessly move debris is not an option. We have to be very careful so obviously that increases the length of time it takes to clear and if you were to look at the Pigeon Peas right now, it is clear,” he said.
Earlier this week, Eyewitness reported that debris from the Sandbanks shantytown in Abaco has been cleared.
It is unclear how much debris has been removed from the island thus far, but Dr Sands speculated it to be about ten or fifteen percent.
“If you were to ask me what percentage of the debris has been removed from Abaco, a non-scientific, anecdotal response from me would be maybe about ten or 15 percent. We have a long way to go and yet we have come a mighty long way to go,” he said.
Comments
TheMadHatter says...
It's just incredible how since the hurricane - regarding cleanups - all you can hear from government (this is not the first report) is progress on cleanup of shanty towns. Contracts awarded for their cleanup!!!
This is insane !!!! Why are we paying to cleanup these towns?
Im sure we will know very soon when we see the former residents return and start rebuilding just as before. Government is paving the way (literally) for this to happen.
Can govt at least use some of the millions of dollars to buy enough bullets to kill us, the Bahamians? Please. Just get a Court order and kill us all dead. This is obviously not our country anymore and we have nowhere else to go. So put us out of misery. Please and thank you.
Posted 25 October 2019, 10:55 p.m. Suggest removal
BigSlick says...
STFU
Posted 26 October 2019, 7:42 a.m. Suggest removal
ohdrap4 says...
They had to clean up for health reasons. The place stunk, and probably still does.
The govt is too slow in everything , so people went back unchecked and started rebuilding through the bushes.
Now the immigration is there checking people including from the mailboat. It is harder though to hide.
Posted 26 October 2019, 8:10 a.m. Suggest removal
TheMadHatter says...
I see. Yes health reasons makes sense. I wasnt concerned about people hiding or even about the immigratiom issue. Just the money. You never hear about government tractors cleaning up anyone else's land.
Haitians live here and we live here. Thats fine. We all know that. Im just saying i think it's unfair they get their land cleaned up for free and we dont.
Posted 26 October 2019, 8:59 a.m. Suggest removal
DDK says...
THEIR land?????
Posted 28 October 2019, 1:43 p.m. Suggest removal
TheMadHatter says...
Yes - it is their land. They have been squatting on it for 40+ years. Bahamians have accepted them as members of the community, offering them employment, electricity, selling to them fuel to run their generators, selling food to them from the food stores. Having them work both legally and illegally as gardeners and sheet rock installers, carpenters, you name it. They ride freely without any inconvenience or question on the several ferries that travel back and forth to Guana Cay and Hope Town twice daily. Employers seek them out actively - and if they mistakenly hire one of them whose paperwork is not quite fully completed, the government is kind enough not to charge the employer any fine for such a minor error.
So now to suggest that they just appeared one week before the hurricane and have no rights / claims is simply unjust. They are desired by the Bahamian people individually and the business community at large. They have been welcomed. I have heard of Bahamian vessels being made to pull off from the dock to make room for a Haitian sloop to discharge/load goods. The gate to the dock is left open on weekends for these goods to come and go without any inspection of officers that work from Monday to Friday.
These things have been going on for decades.
So the "surprise" at their residence status and employment status, and central position and importance in the heart of downtown Marsh Harbour must surely be fake. Nobody should be surprised.
The law will find that the land belongs to them - and long before that happens, their homes will be rebuilt. Their homes will be back in place well before Christmas.
And so it should be. I see no issue with them living comfortably near their places of employment. No issue whatsoever.
Bahamians should also be happy that they are getting brand new igloos to ride out the winter down near Spring City, where the fresh springs of water flow and the cool breeze in the winter pines will be buffeted by the Nordic design of the igloos. A win-win for all Abaconians.
Posted 28 October 2019, 7:09 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
The Government will invest $6 million in igloos to put on 20 acres of land near Spring City ...... Is that the new shanty town???????
Will Bahamians live in those igloos??????
What will happen if Bahamians do not take up residence in the igloos???????
Posted 26 October 2019, 10:48 a.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
The Government needs to make out the clean up bill and deliver it by hand to the bona fide (white) landowner ........ Private property that collected millions of squatter rents for 50 years.
Posted 26 October 2019, 2:13 p.m. Suggest removal
truetruebahamian says...
Fool only blame white people - fool!
Posted 26 October 2019, 6:10 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
Truetrue ........ white people did create the Haitian problem in Abaco ..... Can't dispute that ....... Pindling & Ingraham just capitalized on it (politically).
Posted 27 October 2019, 11:35 a.m. Suggest removal
crawfish says...
For the benefit of the uninformed; there is NO CLEAR OWNER of the land known as Pigeon Peas. It is a small portion of the 246 acres of land granted to Nathan Key. To this day NO ONE has clear title to any of this land, even tho many 'claim' it as their own. Currently, ownership of this land is before the Supreme Court.
Posted 26 October 2019, 3:21 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
Good talking points ......... I have a lot in the Peas to sell you.
Posted 26 October 2019, 3:24 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
You two comrades are so entitled to your own opinions but you're both factual all terribly wrong on your above outlined points.
Not only has the Pigeon Peas track land been long owned and titled by Abaco Farmer Ricky, the poor man's has never collected a single red penny off anyone living on his land - but this and previous administrations have failed to lift a damn single finger to assist Farmer Ricky be getting the long squatting shantytown squatter residents to be evicted off his damn land, yes, no...
**Yet, PM Minnis and AG Carl Wilshire does goes about pretending that it's all King's Counsel Fred's fault ..... again, disregard what government wants populaces to believe cause for the record it is the colony's Queen who has and still holds the land title to the track land known as the Mud.** ....
Posted 26 October 2019, 3:36 p.m. Suggest removal
Gotoutintime says...
I know one thing---QE 2 sure as heck don't want nuthin' to do with Da Mud!
Posted 26 October 2019, 4:28 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
Comrade Gotoutintime, Abacoians love they Queen Liz, yes, no .... The Tribune might want try out conducting some true in depth journalism by reporting on the misery that the shantytown squatters whilst under the protection colony's governments have long brought upon Farmer Rickey .... Time go easy with the blame game on King's Counsel Fred be dealing his health challenges during a long period of recovery ....
Posted 26 October 2019, 4:41 p.m. Suggest removal
Gotoutintime says...
Tru Dat Tal!!
Posted 26 October 2019, 5:10 p.m. Suggest removal
bahah42 says...
All the Pea and Key Tract is under court Quieting and therefore no clear title. Ricky or anybody after 1965, 1970 is in fraudulent title. The Key Tract including the Pea are all squatters. The titles people think they own on the Key Tract are in fact illegal squatters. It's typical island assisted by the corrupt government to take land away and sell it. Judges, lawyers over the years are all in concert to make money off fraud.
Posted 27 October 2019, 2:23 p.m. Suggest removal
Well_mudda_take_sic says...
Justice Winder is the problem.
Posted 28 October 2019, 12:44 p.m. Suggest removal
bahah42 says...
yeah, how so? I know he was on the court for the quieting then removed himself. Seems that many of the lawyers Mallis are signers on clear title claims now defending the squatters, knowing if he loses he gets sued by all dem squatters.
Posted 30 October 2019, 6:34 p.m. Suggest removal
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