National

AG: Ruling Won’t Stop Shantytown Demolition

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The recent Supreme Court ruling on shantytown demolitions will not impact government’s plans to demolish illegal structures.

Published

12 months ago

May 9, 2023

Berthony McDermott

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The recent Supreme Court ruling on shantytown demolitions will not impact government’s plans to demolish illegal structures.

The attorney general explaining to reporters on Monday the plan will continue.

Despite a recent Supreme Court ruling making way for only two shantytown structures to be demolished, Attorney General Ryan Pinder K.C. says government is still moving forward with its plan to bulldoze the illegal structures.

Before ruling the Minnis administration shantytown eradication policy was lawful, Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson issued an order prohibiting the construction of structures in shantytowns throughout the country.

The Office of the Attorney General wanted the supreme court to order the demolition of more than 260 structures in New Providence and Abao that were built despite an injunction prohibiting construction.

However, the chief justice found that those residents were not properly notified and cannot be penalized for the breach.

In that ruling the chief justice acknowledged that the process lies under the remit of the minister of works and utilities.