Campbell says govt working to resolve issues at Department of Social Services thenassauguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenassauguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
“Once again, we urge the FNM to stop embarrassing the country on the global stage”
NASSAU, BAHAMAS Human Rights Bahamas (HRB) yesterday condemned the government for “continuing to manufacture and perpetuate a humanitarian crisis in Abaco”, as demolition of shantytowns on the island reportedly moves forward.
Last week, amidst an appeal from United Nations (UN) human rights experts to halt the demolition of approximately 600 homes in unregulated settlements on the island, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Works Minister Desmond Bannister insisted he has a job to do in eradicating illegal dwellings.
A still from video footage purportedly showing law enforcement officers and what appears to be dozens of generators and other items loaded on a flatbed truck from The Farm shantytown on Abaco on Thursday, April 8, 2021.
What happens to displaced shantytown residents? Bannister says that’s not his problem
“It’s not my responsibility to take care of those residents”
NASSAU, BAHAMAS The government demolished 10 illegal housing structures in the Farm shantytown on Abaco over the weekend, as it continues its third phase of eradicating such dwellings throughout the country.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works Desmond Bannister told reporters yesterday the government has more than 200 illegal structures left to tackle.
“We have started the third phase, but we are doing it with decency, notwithstanding the legality that these houses were built with,” he said.
Minister tells migrants not to be afraid to come forward for assistance
Campbell: The Ministry of Social Services is not the Department of Immigration
NASSAU, BAHAMAS Shantytown residents on Abaco who are expected to be displaced following the demolition of their homes can seek assistance from social services, said Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell yesterday.
Campbell was responding to questions regarding the government’s position to assist those residents at risk of becoming homeless.
The Mudd, Abaco, following Hurricane Dorian in September 2019.
Many of those residents, some of whom are believed to be undocumented migrants, are still attempting to recover nearly two years after Hurricane Dorian ravaged Abaco and destroyed the two largest of the six shantytowns on the island.
Children’s Emergency Hostel
NASSAU| Shortly after a video showing the violent beatings of students by multiple employees at the Children’s Emergency Hostel was circulated on social media, an unnamed donor from Sandyport made calls to inquire about two donations made to the organization totaling $15,000.
The donor claimed the first donation of $7,500 in cash was presented to an employee of the children’s home in November 2020 and another $7,500 donation by check was presented to a senior social worker who had responsibility for the institution.
This call pushed Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell to contact the Commissioner of Police to directly oversee an investigation into the claims.