Prime Minister Philip Davis put residents living in shantytowns across The Bahamas on notice last night that they will be required to find alternative housing and said his administration intends to hold accountable the "network of people" who make these shantytowns possible, though he gave no timeline on when the action will happen.

Davis said the move is all part of "Operation Secure", which immediately started after a Supreme Court judge lifted an injunction barring the demolition of shantytowns in the country. The injunction was in place for nearly five years.

"The operation is focused on identifying irregular migrants, documented migrants, and Bahamians living in these communities, and addressing their status in a comprehensive and coordinated manner," he said in a televised address, which came ahead of House debate today on a resolution by the opposition for a select committee to address illegal immigration.

"We cannot have shantytowns on our islands; they are unsafe, a hazard to public health, they are against the law, and they directly impact our way of life.

"Our priority is decisive action, based on the laws of our land.

"Undocumented migrants will continue to be processed and repatriated. This is already underway and will be greatly expanded in the coming days and weeks.

"Documented migrants living in unregulated communities will be required to relocate at their expense or their employer's expense, or face repatriation.

"And any Bahamian citizens found to be living in these communities will be required to relocate.

"In addition, we must also hold accountable the entire network of people who make possible these shantytowns.

"Through Operation Secure, we will prevent the exploitation and abuse of migrants by unscrupulous landowners and businesses, holding accountable those with a reckless disregard for our laws."

The operation, a collaboration among police, defense force and immigration officials, will also target those entering Bahamian borders illegally.

"If you are a Crown land holder, who is unlawfully leasing land, you will be prosecuted," Davis said.

"If you are engaged in human smuggling, you will be prosecuted.

"And if you are employing migrants illegally, you will be prosecuted.

"We will have a zero-tolerance policy for anyone seeking to break or circumvent the laws of The Bahamas."

On February 10, Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson ruled that the government's shantytowns eradication policy and its actions in seeking to execute it were legal.

The action was brought by a group of shantytown residents after the Minnis administration took action aimed at getting rid of the communities in 2018.

For more than a year, Davis said, officials have "conducted surveillance and gathered evidence establishing that these communities are unlawful and expanding".

The prime minister's hardline approach to shantytowns as articulated in his address last night, contrasted in tone to the softer response on the issue when questioned about it at the CARICOM meeting closing press conference on Friday.

"The removal of the injunction was to enable the government to have as many options as it could to deal with this issue that has become quite a hot topic in the country today," Davis said at the time.

"Shantytowns [are] a challenge and a problem in this country and we do propose to deal with it, but we cannot deal with it by addressing one problem to create another problem.

"If we move as quickly as some would wish to take down the shantytowns ... people are living in these buildings and in the shantytowns, so taking down shantytowns could create the other problem of leaving hundreds or thousands of persons homeless.

"[What we then] create is another crisis, and so there is no sense responding to a crisis to create another crisis, and so thought is being given as to how best we deal with the shantytowns which is ongoing and we are only influenced by the fact that we need to have a response, we need to deal with it, and that is what will influence our actions going forward."

Haiti

Last night, the prime minister also defended his administration's policy on immigration and said he understands that many Bahamians are frustrated over the influx of migrants seeking to gain entry to The Bahamas.

Since the assassination of Haiti's president in 2021, the country has descended into chaos. Thousands take to the sea in unsafe boats, looking for a better life in the US. Many end up in Bahamian waters.

Earlier this year, a boat with nearly 400 migrants was intercepted in The Bahamas territory.

The instability of Haiti was a major issue discussed during the 44th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting held in The Bahamas last week. Davis, who is chair of CARICOM, said several initiatives to address Haitian migration were agreed to.

"The pillars of the CARICOM plan to address the Haitian migration crisis include: Coordinating a meeting with Haitian stakeholders to develop a plan to restore security and the rule of law; strengthening the capacity of the Haitian National Police; developing a plan to hold elections and restore a fully functioning Haitian government; and securing support from international partners including the Canadian government, which has committed to providing security assistance, as well as millions of dollars in humanitarian assistance," Davis said.

"In the coming weeks, the details of these pillars will continue to be developed with regional leaders.

"This is important because stabilizing the situation in Haiti is the most effective way to decrease the amount of potential economic migrants coming to the The Bahamas each day."

Davis said while The Bahamas is willing to help, "our country has been through a lot".

"We have very serious challenges and limited resources with which to face these challenges," he said.

"We are a compassionate people, but we cannot take on new burdens."

He pointed to his decision not to sign on to a commitment last year to take on refugees.

"We are standing strong on this position," he said.

"Despite pressure, earlier this year, when the United Nations called for countries in our region to halt deportations to Haiti, once again, I decided to continue repatriations.

"This is a decision I made for the benefit of all Bahamians and future generations of Bahamians. The Bahamas is for Bahamians, and for those who are prepared to follow the laws of our country. We simply cannot afford open borders."

Davis has faced criticism from the Coalition of Independents, a fringe political party, and its supporters, that his administration is soft on immigration. The group has frequently held protests outside Parliament and elsewhere.

In what appeared to be a subtle response to the group, Davis called on Bahamians to be "informed and know the facts".

"We are posting the plan on the OPM (Office of the Prime Minister) website," he said.

"Understand the law, understand the facts, and understand the role you can and should play in supporting our plan.

"This government recognizes the urgent need for action on immigration.

"We are overseeing concentrated, strategic efforts to take this issue on and mitigate the economic, social, and environmental damage done to Bahamian communities.

"We will continue to adapt to the situation on the ground and in our waters.

"We have a collective responsibility to do our part to protect what is ours."

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