Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney says Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett was contradictory when he indicated that the government will be taking a tough stance on shantytowns in The Bahamas.

According to Mr. McCartney, who is a former state minister for Immigration, just a few months ago, Mr. Dorsett said the issue of shantytowns is a complex one as they are protected by “the elite.”

“The fact of the matter is that nothing has been done about these shantytowns throughout the years and persons living there have been allowed to do whatever they wish,” Mr. McCartney said in a press statement.

“Simply put, administration after administration lacked the political will to rid our country of this vexing problem. And based on the minister of Immigration’s statement, if these administrations have allowed shantytowns to develop without consequence because of these so called ‘protectors’ and ‘elites’ history would reflect that they have forever done this commonwealth a tremendous disservice and will not be kind to them.”

Mr. McCartney said the statement by the minister of Housing and Environment expressly states that some notices have already been served.

“The Democratic National Alliance wishes to know whether notices were served to date on these “protectors” and “elites” as described by the minister of Immigration. Indeed, the minister of Housing and Environment seems to indicate that they are aware of who are the owners of the land the shantytowns are on. If this is the case, then is the government willing to divulge who are these “protectors” and “elites” and what sanctions will the government levy against them?”

The DNA leader said the party is of the view that many of these shantytowns are owned by prominent PLPs and FNMs, hence their unrestricted development over the years. The shantytowns were indeed “protected”.

“We await the minister’s report on who these “protectors” and “elites” are. If we fail to hear from the government it can only be assumed that our assumption as to ownership is correct,” Mr. McCartney said.

“Alternatively, since there seems to be some contradiction in the Christie cabinet on shantytowns is this just pure talk by the minister of Housing and Environment? Indeed, the country is aware that the PLP government is all talk but very little action. They demonstrated this in their last administration (2002 to 2007) and they are true to form thus far since coming to office in May 2012. Needless to say we have seen that they are the masters of promises. Are these comments by the minister of Housing and Environment just another set of promises? Remember, that a promise is a comfort to a fool. This administration had “fooled us” in the recent general elections and based on their works thus far they continue to “fool us.”