NASSAU, BAHAMAS — In less than three months, illegal structures erected in one Abaco shanty town increased by nearly 300 percent, according to a senior Ministry of Works official.
The information was revealed in a February 3rd affidavit by Craig Delancy, a professional architect, and Building Control officer in the Ministry of Works in charge of the supervision and control of the process for obtaining building permits.
It was filed in support of a summons by the Office of the Attorney General which is seeking permission to stop the expansion of a shanty town in Abaco and two locations in New Providence. Delancy noted that noted that since the 2018 injunction prohibiting shanty town demolitions was issued there has been an increase in illegal structures in those areas. A final decision is still pending in the judicial review application, which was concluded back on June 15th, 2021.
"Since the grant of the injection it has come to light that a number of residents and or occupiers of these shanty town areas, particularly in the areas around Marsh Harbour and Treasury Cay, Abaco known as the Farm and on both the north and south sides of S.C. Bootle Highway south of Marsh Harbour and in the shanty towns throughout New Providence have continued to engage in construction, erection and alteration of buildings or structures within the said area without obtaining permits in violations of the BRA and BBC," Delancy said.
Delancy noted that site inspections were made on two of the shanty towns in Abaco on the north side of S.C. Bootle Highway and the other on the south side of the same highway.
Delancy noted that walk throughs were conducted on the north side on January 4th, 2023, and the south side on January 5th, 2023.
"The site inspections revealed that there are presently 101 structures erected on the north side and 131 structures erected on the south side," he said.
"It is important to note that a previous walk through was performed last year on the 27th of October 2022 at which time there were only 60 structures on the north side and 39 on the south side. It is evident from these figures of the rapid expansion of illegal structures in less than three months by almost 100 percent in the north side and by almost 300 percent on the south side. It was noted that several structures are being used as shops, liquor stores and building supply stores, with construction activity still ongoing.
In relation to the The Farm near Treasure Cay it was noted that on March 14th, 2021, there were only 40 structures, however as of January 12th there were 120 structures.
While referring to the All Saints Way shanty town in New Providence, Delancy noted that in 2018 there were 85 structures. However, an aerial photo taken on January 26 showed 98 structures. With regards to the Montgomery Road shanty town on the north side of Cowpen Road,
Delancy noted that in 2018 there were 35 structures and as of January 31st there are now 45 structures at the site. As for the shanty town at Butler's Way off Carmichael and Gladstone Road; Delancy said there are now 60 structures, compared to the 33 structures recorded in 2018.
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