Special Project Unit Created to Address Shanty Towns
By Elcott Coleby
Bahamas Information Services
The Minister for The Environment and Housing, the Hon. Kendred Dorsett updated the public today on the policy steps his Ministry is taking to proactively address building code infractions and other environmental issues surrounding the proliferation of shanty towns throughout the country. According to Minister Dorsett, a Special Project Unit (SPU) was created within his ministry to address the housing and environmental health issues associated with shanty towns.
“The Department of Environmental Health Services has created a Special Project Unit headed by Assistant Director, Lennard Miller, to address infractions and environmental issues in shanty towns throughout the islands of The Bahamas. Existing reports on identified shanty towns in Nassau, Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera are being updated and new reports are being prepared in respect of shanty towns for which the DEHS (Department of Environmental Health Services) has not conducted an investigation” said the Minister.
Minister Dorsett also advised that the DEHS will fully enforce the law where there are instances of infractions under the Environmental Health Services Act. He pointed out that the SPU “will complete its comprehensive report by the end of January, 2013 and the DEHS is also establishing an Enforcement Unit, which will focus on prosecutions of infractions under the Environmental Health Services Act”.
December 28, 2012
Bahamas.gov.bs
