MARSH HARBOUR, Abaco — South Abaco MP Edison Key said yesterday the government needs to address the shantytown problem once and for all, and he suggested that with all the government land Abaco has, a community could be established to accommodate the residents in a better organized and sanitary fashion.
Asked if he recognized how controversial his proposed solution could be, Key repeated that there are hundreds of Bahamians in the Abaco shantytowns.
He said there are hundreds of people in The Mud and Pigeon Pea who fall into that category “and it needs to be addressed.”
“They need to be sorted out because they have no other country,” Key said.
“They were born here; they’re not Haitians. They can’t go back to Haiti.”
Key said the government needs to address the problem of shantytowns throughout The Bahamas.
Central Abaco Administrator Cephas Cooper said officials were not yet sure exactly how many people were impacted by the fire, but he said the number would be more than 100.
While Key said he would support land being made available for residents of the Abaco shantytowns and a properly planned community being established, he recognized that there were immediate needs that must be addressed.
There have been at least three significant fires in The Mud in recent years. Nearby Pigeon Pea has also experienced fires.
