15787: Schweissing: Haitian-Bahamian Community Destroyed by Fire (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Daniel Schweissing <dan_schweissing@hotmail.com>

http://www.thenassauguardian.com

Pigeon Peas to get "immediate" resolution

Publication Nassau Guardian
Date June 02, 2003
Section(s) National News

By KHASHAN POITIER Guardian Staff Reporter

Five days after fire engulfed 70 homes at Pigeon Peas, last Wednesday, the
Government assured Abaco residents that there would be an immediate
assessment and resolution to the displacements.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, Foreign Affairs and Public Service Minister
Fred Mitchell, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe and Haitian Ambassador to
The Bahamas Harold Joseph travelled to Marsh Harbour, Abaco Saturday to meet
with the 800 fire victims.

The predominantly Haitian community, caught ablaze at about 5 p.m.
Wednesday, taking fire fighters about three hours to extinguish.

Hundreds of displaced residents gathered to listen to Mr. Christie, who
announced that Minister of Social Services and Community Development Melanie
Griffin would travel to the island today to address the social and community
concerns.

Ms. Griffin would gather vital information, including how much money will be
needed to rebuild (if that becomes an option) the houses, how much children
were in the group and how many people had places to stay.

Addressing the Haitian residents, Mr. Christie urged them to cooperate with
the Government. He stressed that it was important to find out their needs so
that a proper assessment could be conducted.

Though unable to state what type of temporary living accommodations would be
established, Mr. Christie said that Government officials must first meet
with community and religious leaders to determine what must be done.

>From the information they received and based on what they saw, the
delegation will pass it on to Minister of Housing and National Insurance
Shane Gibson, who will later determine a temporary housing or permanent
housing for the residents.

Afterwards, a larger delegation, consisting of Mr. Gibson, Mrs. Griffin and
the Minister of Labour and Immigration Vincent Peet, will determine how many
illegal refugees reside on the island.

With that in mind, Mr. Christie and his delegation fielded questions from
religious and Haitian leaders during a forum that was also staged on
Saturday.

As rumours circulated that illegal Haitian nationals were afraid of being
arrested and deported to their homeland, many were said to be "in hiding"
since the fire.

Mr. Christie assured that all Haitians would be treated fairly with
compassion, respect and dignity.

The Bahamas and Haiti signed a treaty last week, enabling the Government to
deport all Haitians that lived in the country after 1985 and who cannot
provide any proper documentation, including a valid worker's permit or proof
of residency.

Meanwhile, some residents accused the fire fighters of deliberately letting
the fire burn itself out and depending on rain showers extinguish it.

However, as one of the fire fighters pointed out, most of the Pigeon Peas
residents kept their propane tanks in their homes and avoided tracking
through the actually property in fear that one of the tanks may have
exploded.

Captions:HOMELESSNESS - Pigeon Pea residents gather near the Haitian
community to listen to Prime Minister Perry Christie and several other
Government officials who visited Marsh Harbour, Abaco Saturday. Photo by
Peter Ramsay/ BIS

THE BUCK STOPS HERE - Prime Minister Perry Christie chats with young
Abacoians Saturday, urging them to cooperate with the Government in
addressing the devastating Pigeon Pea fire last week. Photo by Peter Ramsay/
BIS

Posted Monday 2nd May, 2003

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