By EARYEL BOWLEG 

Tribune Staff Reporter 

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

WORKS Minister Clay Sweeting said the government has identified Crown land to relocate roadside garages around New Providence.

He said an inter-ministerial committee, formed by the prime minister, is in talks with businesses to develop a relocation plan that works for all parties.

He said officials will prioritise discussions with the largest operations first, acknowledging that the issue involves “a lot of moving parts”.

He said the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) is assessing the feasibility of the proposed site, emphasising that the government must ensure the move does not create new problems down the line.

He said the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs, and the Prime Minister’s Office are all involved in the relocation effort.

For years, residents have complained about the unchecked spread of roadside garages, citing environmental hazards, derelict vehicles, and fumes affecting nearby homes. However, despite their frustration, enforcement has been absent, and the problem has only worsened.

The issue came to the forefront again this month when a fire destroyed Honda Plus, a vehicle storage and car parts business located along the main road in the Victoria Gardens subdivision. Residents expressed renewed concerns about businesses like these operating in residential areas, with one claiming neighbours had been trying to get the establishment shut down for years.

The owner, Bryan Bethel, defended his business, insisting he had obtained five different licences and operated legally. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Victoria Gardens’ MP, Dr Michael Darville, announced plans for a town hall meeting where government agencies will present a plan of action to residents.

Other MPs voiced their growing frustration, but the reality remains: they have the power to act but have yet to implement an effective solution.

Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin said enforcement is “complicated” and has failed to yield timely results. She stressed that authorities must conduct a thorough assessment before approving businesses in mixed-use communities to avoid negative impacts on residents.

“These roadside garages are popping up, with cars littering the streets, derelict vehicles piling up, and fumes affecting nearby homes,” she said.

Nassau Village MP Jamahl Strachan said the issue is worsening, estimating there are now ten to 15 roadside garages in his constituency. He attributed the growth to people seeking entrepreneurship opportunities without fully understanding environmental regulations.

Centreville MP Jomo Campbell said at least four garages had been identified in his constituency, though he suspects there are more. He argued that addressing the problem requires more than just removing the vehicles.

“It’s a mindset that we have to work towards changing,” he said. “We don’t just want to remove the vehicles and leave the mindset. Residents must understand that this is their neighbourhood, and they should want to keep it as clean and pristine as their own home.”

Bain and Grants Town MP Wayde Watson said there are more than five garages in his constituency and agreed relocation is necessary.

“Apparently, we need to relocate them so they can continue their business, but it’s really dampening the aesthetics and contributing to social ills,” he said.