Branville: ‘it’s time for action’ on shanty towns

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

BRANVILLE McCartney, a former state minister for immigration, called on both political parties to “stop all the committees”, saying that it is time for action on shanty towns. These comments come after the House of Assembly rejected a move by opposition leader Michael Pintard to establish a select committee on immigration, with every government MP present voting against it. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he did not support the call for the committee, saying it was unnecessary.

When contacted by this newspaper, the former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader said that the prime minister holds a right to “support or deny” having a select committee, but suggested that the “real concern” should be focused on how to tackle the immigration matters.

Following the removal of a court injunction preventing demolition of shanty towns, Mr McCartney urged the Davis administration to further explain its plans on how it intends to tackle the unregulated areas.

“The prime minister certainly is right to support or deny having a select committee,” he told The Tribune.

“That’s not the issue, and that’s not the real concern.

The real concern is how we’re going to deal with the immigration concerns. That is, I think the point that needs to be considered.”

With Mr Davis sending mixed messages about when the government will move to demolish shanty towns, Mr McCartney scolded the government, saying they ought to stop making excuses.

“My understanding is that the government is saying that it’s going to take some time because, you know, people will be made homeless,” Mr McCartney said yesterday.

“The bottom line is these things (shanty towns) are erected illegally, they need to be dealt with, humanely, but they need to be dealt with.

“Almost like an excuse, to be quite honest. To say that we need to look at the living accommodations of persons