BY CLEMIA NEELY
Journal Staff Writer

As the government advances its “Clear, Hold, Build” initiative a critical part involves repairing and rebuilding homes that are barely habitable for older citizens who do not have the means to do it themselves. On Thursday the Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal Keith Bell was at a dilapidated home on Peter Street that his team was demolishing.
“We have made a very conscious decision through our Clear Hold Build initiative to take this elderly couple out of this premise today. We have already renovated a government rental unit where they will be housed. We’ve put furniture there, we’ve provided them with food, electricity, running water, and proper bathroom facilities,” he said. “It is our intention to take them out of here today and put them in those facilities and demolish this structure and construct something which is appropriate and proper for human habitation.”
There were some family members who were initially against the demolition of their family home, but after a while, they were convinced that this was the necessary move. The government insists that this is the best thing for the elderly couple who lived in the home, as well as for other family members.
“We are satisfied that in the public’s interest, this home, or whatever you want to call that, cannot remain. We cannot allow persons to live in those conditions and run the risk, as you would have seen recently the number of fires we would have had, there’s no question in our mind that what we are doing is in the best interest of them and the people,” Minister Bell said.
Immediately following the demolition, Minister Bell, along with Urban Renewal Authority officials, relocated the elderly couple to one of the government rental units with the intention of constructing a new home for the couple.
“The couple that we just moved out of Peter and Brougham Street have just taken occupation of the unit behind us and they would remain there as long as it takes to put them back into a home. But these, as I indicated, belong to the government. There is no reason why we are to ever take them out of there if necessary.” Minister Bell explained.
Minister Bell said that in a matter of weeks, people will see the Clear Hold Build initiative take on a whole new level. The government is going through the streets in a very deliberate way to ensure the best living conditions for the Bahamian people.