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.