Five Structures Torn Down in Cowpen Road Shantytown

Advertisement

NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Five illegal structures in a South New Providence shantytown were demolished on Monday, as government continues its quest to rid the country of illegal communities.

The community, home to about 20 residents, was tucked away in bushes through a dirt road hidden from eyesight.

And while it’s small compared to other shantytowns torn down in the past, officials say they’re committed to tearing down all, no matter their size.

At 9 a.m., a huge excavator made its way up a dirt road off Cowpen Road.

The Unregulated Community Action Task Force preparing to demolish a small shantytown on Monday morning.

When Our News arrived, we met five vacant structures, with furniture, derelict cars, and other machinery scattered across the yard.

It wasn’t long before the structures came down, as the buildings appearing poorly constructed.

Most of them were made from wood or sheetrock, while others appeared to still be under construction.

We even saw solar panels leaning on the side of one of the houses.

Officer in charge of the task force, Superintendent Stephen Carey, briefing reporters.

Supt. Stephen Carey – Officer-In-Charge, UCATF
“Well, sometime during the month of April this year, 2026, we received a complaint reference to a shantytown in the Cowpen Manor area. As a result of that complaint, members from the task force visited the area in May, where we placed the 28-day notice on the structures. At the time, all persons that were occupying the residence were informed that these buildings will be demolished.”

The task force has torn down hundreds of structures since it began operations back in 2023, but it hasn’t always gone without some sort of drama.

Back in July, when the Montgomery shantytown was torn down, Carey got into an altercation with one of the residents. That video went viral.

When asked if a similar problem was encountered with this shantytown…

Supt. Stephen Carey – Officer-In-Charge, UCATF
“We made sure the area was cleared, no residents in, while we’re in here, so we have no confrontation.”

And it’s not limited to New Providence.

Shantytowns have sprung up across the Family Islands, with videos going viral showing structures in bushes near communities.

Supt. Stephen Carey – Officer-In-Charge, UCATF
“Well, we have a team right now that we are preparing to travel to Abaco to investigate that video that is going around. Andros, we have Andros scheduled for demolition by the end of this month. We should have a team preparing to demolish those structures that are in Andros.”