28th September
Housing Minister Explains Eviction Of Trailer Residents
By Kendea Jones
Minister of Housing Kenneth Russell announced on Thursday that Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini Obie Wilchcombe has assumed responsibility for 14 families who were ordered to move out of trailers in West End, Grand Bahama.

Housing Minister Kenneth Russell

According to Minister Russell, the government accepted the trailers from the developers of Emerald Bay, Exuma in 2004 that were used to house their workers. The trailers were used to house families who lost their homes in hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

Minister Russell underscored that the trailers were only "temporary housing".

"Each of the trailers has about 20 one and two-bedroom units, each with a sitting area," he said. "There is a communal kitchen in each trailer. The trailers are equipped with water, electricity and cable."

Minister Russell said the government paid for every utility except telephone.

"In the last three months it cost the government $16,000 for electricity alone and $5,000 for water," he said.

"Persons assigned to units in the trailers were informed in writing that they would have to pay a nominal rent of $50. Few ever paid," he said.

Minister Russell said the persons were given more than a month’s notice to move out of the trailers.

"They also knew from day one that the trailers were only supposed to be open for 12 months," he said.

Minister Russell said persons also were directed to the trailers by the Department of Social Services when they were paying rent for properties that were damaged or destroyed, were living with families who were renting or became unemployed as a result of the hurricanes."

Minister Russell said the Department of Social Services continues to provide assistance to all persons in need after the hurricanes.

"The department provided rental assistance for periods up to three months for those needing immediate assistance while more long-term solutions were sought," he said.

Minister Russell said the individuals also had access to supplies from the National Emergency Management Agency to rebuild their homes.

Recently, Mr. Wilchcombe lashed out on the government for attempting to evict the families.

"Governments that refuse to act with love and compassion and evidence spite, torture and inhuman barbarism are akin to those that history has condemned as evil," Mr. Wilchcombe said in a press release.

He demanded that proper housing is provided for the occupants of the trailers.

"The 18 adults and 23 children who now reside at the trailer home in West End will not be moved until adequate housing is made available," Mr. Wilchcombe charged.

Minister Russell said on Thursday that since then he has spoken with Mr. Wilchcombe.

"He asked me to let him take care of the people and let them stay there a couple more months. We have no problem with that because we do not own those trailers," the minister said.

However, he said the government has been more than lenient to those persons.

"Some persons have jobs and are not paying rent and who refuse to move," he said. "Persons are still reluctant to assume responsibility for housing, given the help government continues to offer – a help that stops short of a direct hand out.

"I am satisfied that the Ministry of Housing and the Department of Housing have discharged [their] obligations and duties to those displaced by the hurricanes in a responsible manner. We have a mandate to continue to correct the defects in housing available to other citizens of the Bahamas and we need to get on with this agenda using the limited resources at our disposal."

http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=14299

I have to wonder why people always believe that it is the Government's job to take care of them directly. I am so sick of hearing people say that "the government ain't do nothing for me". The fact that there are police on the streets, hospitals open, schools for children etc. means that the Government has done something for you.

I look at this situation and I am kinda disgusted. Yes these people lost their homes in the storm or had their homes damaged but gee its three years later. And then what further gets me upset is that they are gonna try and play the political card on this! When I listen to the amount of monthly bills the Gov't was paying for them to be at this place all I can think of is the fact that there are so many other needs the country has that are not being met.

If my house got destroyed today the gov't isn't going to come running to my rescue. Yes I may get a little bit of support, but I would have to lay my a** down on my relative's floor untill I can find alternative housing.

We as a people need to become more self-sufficient especially since we enjoy being a 'tax free' economy!

3 years. they should have been able to get back on their feet by now no? Were they on their feet before the hurricane? What about all the tens of thousands of other poor starving people in the Bahamas, are they going to just let them rot while helping these? What did Wilschcombes government do for all those tens of thousands of starving people for the 30 years they were the government? Answer, not a dam thing. If you are going to help them, you must help EVERYONE.

I have to wonder why people always believe that it is the Government's job to take care of them directly. I am so sick of hearing people say that "the government ain't do nothing for me". The fact that there are police on the streets, hospitals open, schools for children etc. means that the Government has done something for you.
I look at this situation and I am kinda disgusted. Yes these people lost their homes in the storm or had their homes damaged but gee its three years later. And then what further gets me upset is that they are gonna try and play the political card on this! When I listen to the amount of monthly bills the Gov't was paying for them to be at this place all I can think of is the fact that there are so many other needs the country has that are not being met.
If my house got destroyed today the gov't isn't going to come running to my rescue. Yes I may get a little bit of support, but I would have to lay my a** down on my relative's floor untill I can find alternative housing.
We as a people need to become more self-sufficient especially since we enjoy being a 'tax free' economy!

Well se that's where we need to make the dicision. If we want the government to do everything for us, we have to pay through the nose in taxes.

But the trailer situation annoyed me, and if nobody moved sooner or later, it would threaten to become permenant. And what's even more annoying was that some people are not the original tennants and refuse to pay and have the nerve to shamelessly beg for "the goodness of people's hearts".

It was the same situation with the exingency orders. Good decision, but it was abused, and then people continued to ask for extensions.

I saw where Obie say he gone use his own $$ to make sure these set do not get evicted. It just goes to show how skewed he is. Instead of being realistic and realizing that these people are taking advantage he is making noise just to gain political points when he should be telling these people to carry they hip. Three years living on the governments dime, i woould not want to move out myself. They will realize soon enough that this government is not the same jokey one that put them in those death traps in the first place. Time to grow up and look after themselves. What a novel idea!

People in New Orleans are still reeling, but I think this West End situation is different.


If they want to stay, they should at least pay a decent rent. That would show initiative and some responsibility. You could have compassion for people striving to pay the rent and give back SOMETHING!

Most of them didn't pay the $50 rent.

if my sewer overflowed and ruined all I have here in this apartment, and I had to move because of that, would the government do the same for me?

Here is the Freeport NEws version of this story. It is a different story

Occupants of the trailer community in West End can breath a sigh of relief today after being given a three-month extension one day before their eviction deadline.

The eleventh-hour extension was announced yesterday in the capital at a press conference held by Housing and National insurance Minister Kenneth Russell.

http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/293523191915921.php

Here is the Freeport NEws version of this story. It is a different story

Im all for that though, give them some extensions, but make them realize they will still need to try to make it on their own at some point.

not to be so political but maybe dey is plp's anyway. Obie musee tell dem dey could say dere free forever if they vote for him but he didnt expect his party to lose, so he gatta live up to his end of da deal.

Obie Wilchcombe is an azz of epic proportions. What is he willing to do for these people, fund their kids college? What he is doing is not practical. How long is he willing to pay the rent and utilities for these individuals? Can he afford to spoil them? I doubt for a very long time. If these people had an iota of sense, they would go and find alternate lodgings, instead of depending on a hand out from Obie Wilchcombe.

They should have been kicked out before this. Obie is just prolonging the inevitable.

This is just lousiness on all sides. The thing is, considering the circumstances, we have to give the families more than one month to move; I would have given them three at least. Even though they have been way past their time, finding homes in a short space of time is very challenging.

Now, those people are dead wrong fro overstaying their time. In fact, the government should charge them for the extra time they spent in the faccilities; if this is feasible. We know just how people tend to take advantage of a situation, when no one is prepared to deal with it.

Russell is wrong too. He should have given those people more than one month. My God, considering the fact that they were lousy in mind in regards to not wanting to move in the first place, three good months would have been better than one and OUT. Not saying that he should have pampered them, but do not try to be cruel in the process even though these people sound lousy.

Now, those people are dead wrong fro overstaying their time. In fact, the government should charge them for the extra time they spent in the faccilities; if this is feasible. We know just how people tend to take advantage of a situation, when no one is prepared to deal with it.



WOW! I actually agree with you on your above statement, I am surprised

This is just lousiness on all sides. The thing is, considering the circumstances, we have to give the families more than one month to move; I would have given them three at least.


(3) THREE YEARS AIN LONG ENOUGH!! THEY WERE GIVEN NOTICE BEFORE.
15,000.00 FOR LIGHT BILL, (TAXPAYERS DOLLARS) AND THE UNITS GAT AIR CONDITION.

I MOVING THERE TOO!
I GUARANTEE YOU IN THREE MONTHS MORE STRAGGLERS WILL BE MOVING IN.