DAWN RAIDERS: Abaco shanty town The Farm is target of huge multi-agency operation

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

LAW enforcement descended upon The Farm shanty town in Abaco yesterday in a joint sting operation, confiscating generators, food supplies, personal items, illegal contraband and arresting several residents for various alleged infractions.

Before dawn, officers of various agencies swooped into the illegal community near Treasure Cay, Abaco, handing out notices of eviction and as the sun began to rise, a 40ft container, flatbed trucks and forklifts moved in.

Officials could be seen removing food and boxes of personal items, which were loaded into the container.

Several generators and at least one chest freezer were also loaded onto flatbed trucks and taken away. The operation was carried out in a shroud of secrecy.

As it unfolded, no official – police or an administrator – in Abaco would publicly give details regarding what was taking place. The Tribune understands the area was cordoned off with officers standing guard.

Local reporters were not allowed in and officials required residents moving in and out of the area to produce identification and/or proof of status along with a receipt of payment for documents.

When the issue of the removal of personal effects and generators was put to Immigration Director Clarence Russell, he said several government departments had carried out their lawful duties, but suggested the generator removal was not related to his department. 

“The Department of Immigration is a constitutionally appointed group of individuals, hired with a particular lawful mandate,” he said. “The confiscation of generators does not fall under our purview of duties or responsibilities. A very unlikely story.

“However, a joint law enforcement, multi-agency operation was launched on the island of Abaco in the early hours of this morning where several government departments would have conducted their lawful duties.

“A number of suspected illegal migrants were in our custody for processing and where necessary further action,” Mr Russell said. 

Several hours later, the Ministry of Public Works confirmed the multi-agency operation in a statement.

“The Ministry of Public Works co-ordinated a multi-agency operation, with the assistance and advice of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF); the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF); Bahamas Customs Department; the Bahamas Department of Immigration; Bahamas Power and Light (BPL); and private sector partners in the unregulated community known as ‘The Farm’ near to Treasure Cay, Abaco,” the statement read.

“The operation resulted in the arrest of illegal immigrants and other persons who are suspected of being involved in various criminal offences; the seizure of suspected stolen goods; and the disconnection of a large quantity of illegally operated generators and gas tanks.

“The illegally constructed access roadways were closed; and signs written in English and Creole were erected. Signs were also posted on illegally erected buildings. The signs warn inhabitants of the legal prohibition of any new construction, and of the intention of the government to demolish all of the illegally constructed buildings.

“The Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defence Force will maintain a presence in the area to enforce these notices as officers of the Ministry of Public Works carry out their legal mandate during the upcoming weeks.”

The magnitude and complexity of the operation was something one Abaco resident said she had never seen before, but insisted it was long overdue.

“They had the perimeter of The Farm blocked off and they were not allowing anyone in, not even the news reporters,” the resident said. “If you’re coming out you have to show ID and work permit and they were also asking for the receipt where it was paid for.”

She continued: “It’s long overdue because even though officials were in there several weeks ago, the building has not stopped. They keep building as if there is no respect. Up to last night truckloads of building supplies was still going there.

“They have pieces of property sectioned and cordoned off saying, ‘This is my piece of property and you cannot come in there.’ Bahamians can’t do that.

“This was a real concern for us down here because residents were concerned that they were getting too close to the airport strip and that would be a big problem and not only that they are on our water table because some of the cesspits that are being put in there you could see the water clear as day because that is the farmland.

“This is our country you come in now taking over our farmland? No, no.”

In early February, Works Minister Desmond Bannister along with other government officials toured some parts of The Farm shanty town. Noting the situation will not be an “overnight fix”, Mr Bannister pledged to Abaconians that the government will take the necessary action to deal with unregulated developments on the island.

Aerial surveillance, released by Abaconians earlier that month, showed new construction taking place, with buildings being built more strategically and sturdier than what was seen in the irregular communities pre-Hurricane Dorian.

Before Hurricane Dorian decimated them last year, shanty towns across Abaco had more than 1,000 homes and an estimated population size of 3,500, according to government reports.

However, two weeks after the storm hit the island, the government issued an immediate ban on the construction of any new buildings in the four major shanty towns on Abaco.

Despite the government ban, unregulated homes continued to spring up on the island.

Comments

SP says...

Haitian prime minister Fred Smith will have a field day with this one!

Posted 9 April 2021, 8:55 a.m. Suggest removal

Emilio26 says...

SP I'm surprised the Fred Smith QC hasn't went to Tribune or Nassau Guardian as yet to express his outrage.🤣🤣🤣🤣

Posted 9 April 2021, 9:36 a.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

The first serious law enforcement action taken against the illlegal shanty town dwellers since May 2017. You can definitely smell a national general election in the air. And if Minnis is foolishly allowed to remain as PM, it will be at least another 5 years before another similar action is taken.

And what about the other fast growing shanty towns on Abaco and on the other islands, e.g. Andros? Will we see a wider cast law enforcement net and meaningful sustained action aimed at eliminating these illegal communities once and for all? If Bahamians did what these illegal squatters do, they would be arrested and charged with a myriad of serious crimes with the court throwing the book at them. That's a simple fact!

Posted 9 April 2021, 9:42 a.m. Suggest removal

John says...

Look for lawsuits and serious backlash from this operation. Seizing contraband and illegal items and rounding up undocumented or illegal immigrants or persons wanted by the authorities is one thing, but when you start to seize personal effects and food items? And not to attempt to justify the illegal redevelopment of the shantytowns in the least. But does Abaco need this type of operation/intervention at this juncture? Yes, the island is struggling to recover and redevelop from the most intense hurricane of the century and is still in the midst of the worst pandemic of the century. And when people go to Abaco to assist with the rebuilding efforts, the biggest cry, even for established utility companies, is ‘there is no suitable place to stay.’ And another cry is ‘the place is too dark and desolate. It starts to play on your mind, so you have to leave. You have to come back to reality.’ So will this operation push Abaco further into the twilight zone and stem its redevelopment? Some reports say that government isn’t doing much to help with the housing crisis. The domes have never been completed and reports are that containers and flatbeds sit loaded with building supplies and materials that locals can use to rebuild their homes. But obviously the government, at least on the local level in Abaco sees it more fitting to let it sit and rot, than to hand it out to be utilized. Abaco Strong!

Posted 9 April 2021, 10:15 a.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

Your real name wouldn't by chance be Jean Duvalier?

Posted 9 April 2021, 11:38 a.m. Suggest removal

DDK says...

.

Posted 9 April 2021, 1:30 p.m. Suggest removal

DDK says...

This IS THE BAHAMAS, NOT PORT AU PAYS!!!! These shanty towns are not legal and have the habit of increasing one hundred fold almost over night! If they are not allowed to be created they will not have to be destroyed.

Posted 9 April 2021, 1:36 p.m. Suggest removal

UN says...

HYPOCRISY. Every day we’re up one Haitian gal’s behind (HER parents are OUR parents - we even call them by THEIR Haitian names) AND when President Trump kindly allowed us to stay for a LITTLE bit we overstayed our welcome (dis land is now our land)? We don’t wanna go back to that s-hole? Yep - HYPOCRISY. Pot meet kettle..

Posted 9 April 2021, 1:28 p.m. Suggest removal

DWW says...

Any parallels here with Woods Rogers? probably not, but maybe? Abaco needs labour. Can we make it easier to be a legal immigrant? Offer some of the young set papers then they aren't illegal anymore? It is a huge humanitarian issue which occurs the world over. no right answers here unfortunately.

Posted 9 April 2021, 1:44 p.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

I guess you haven't heard that thousands of Haitian nationals who entered our country illegally already have residency and/or work permits which they were able to buy under the table. And many others of them even have Bahamian birth certificates that they were able to 'purchase' in order to obtain a driver's licence and other official documents.

Posted 9 April 2021, 4:20 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

**Well, yes, could be mistaken** as the nervously, early sign that might just point to a **failed realm,** in the makin,' when its junta's at the battle-ready joint military forces, were physically lurkin' under the cover of the morning's wee hours - to **sprung upon for confiscation, the unsuspecting freezer** - full of essential frozen kinds of groceries stuff.
**Just would've before,** have saw given much thought to be makin' up, such kind sprungin's an all-out military-style assault, against a freaking appliance - **the freezer!**

Posted 9 April 2021, 3:06 p.m. Suggest removal

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