By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

A 25-year-old Haitian man is among dozens facing uncertainty over their future after his landlord informed him that the home he has lived in for two years is set to be demolished next week - just days before his $350 rent is due.

Mr Louissaint was sitting outside an unregulated multi-dwelling on Fire Trail Road when The Tribune visited the area yesterday —one of several sites visited by this newspaper.

The Haitian national, who struggled to communicate in English, appeared dishevelled, scratching his head as he tried to figure out his next move.

The structure appeared to be a two-storey home with two additional extensions. A pile of garbage covered the ground, and a broken gate, curving inward, was being used to hang residents’ clothing.

Mr Louissaint and several other tenants tried to go about their day as normal, but the large red number marked on the unfinished concrete building served as a stark reminder of the government’s plan to demolish it.

On Sunday, he said his landlord told him he would have to find somewhere else to live.

“I don’t have no house, for the time I’m supposed to move,” he said.

Mr Louissaint said he often does landscaping jobs to cover his rent. Some of his relatives live in the unit with him, but they are not in a position to help him find a new place before he becomes homeless.

Last week, Minister of Works Clay Sweeting announced that shanty town demolitions would begin in New Providence in the coming weeks after nearly 200 eviction notices were distributed.

He added that two sites previously issued 30-day demolition notices would be targeted first.

“The first community would be one that we already demolished, and they had, I think, around four structures constructed there, so we’re going back there to deal with those, and then we’ll go to the next site,” Mr Sweeting said.

The demolition of shanty towns has been a contentious issue. Successive governments have cited health concerns, illegal land use, and building code violations to justify the removals, yet critics argue the approach lacks compassion and fails to address housing shortages.

Since ramping up efforts in November 2023, the Davis administration has reported the demolition of nearly 500 unregulated structures across several islands.

Stephen Carey, chairman of the Unregulated Communities Task Force, confirmed Social Services had visited the area to assist people with legal status.

The government has repeatedly said only those with legal status in the country will be provided with housing support. Individuals on work permits are expected to be housed by their employers.

Mr Carey estimated that around 20 people live in the unregulated building. Demolition is expected next week.

Asked whether people are taking the eviction notices seriously, Mr Carey said: “A lot of persons are taking it seriously. They’re moving into regulated apartments and getting their lives together. But some persons, they just wish to continue living in a shanty town.”

Mr Carey said the task force is working to prevent more children from being raised in such conditions.

Another unregulated area visited by this newspaper was on Miller’s Road in the Bacardi Road area. The site included several dilapidated wooden homes that had also been marked for demolition.

Mr Carey said eviction notices had been issued there previously, but demolition was delayed as officials needed to confirm which structures were legally built.

Residents said the task force visited in December last year. While some people initially evacuated, many eventually returned.