Illegal construction fight has been ‘a rank failure’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMIAN Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday said builders are asking “why should we follow the law” following the country’s “rank failure to manage the built environment”.

Leonard Sands told Tribune Business that the recent shanty town ruling by Chief Justice Sir Ian Winder had further exposed the double standards and “two sets of laws” that exist in Bahamian society due to the multi-decade neglect by successive administrations over enforcement of the Building Regulations.

While Sir Ian found that only two of 260 unauthorised structures could be demolished, as other owners had not been properly notified of the Supreme Court injunction preventing further construction, the BCA president said

• Contractor chief warns on ‘incredibly dangerous precedent’

• Says shanty town ruling exposes society’s ‘two sets of laws’

• Legitimate contractors ask: ‘Why should we follow the Act?’ his ruling did not address the failure by inhabitants to seek permission to build in the first place.

Branding the failure to properly enforce the Building Regulations Act as “incredibly dangerous”, due to the “precedent that has been set,” Mr Sands told this newspaper that developers and contractors are openly questioning whether they should endure the cost and time associated with doing projects legitimately by obtaining the necessary permits and paying due inspection fees.

“You’re telling a developer with $100m that they can’t go ahead and start development without the necessary permits, yet you’re allowing almost 300 residents to build and expand without making a single application to any government agency for permits,” he blasted. “What if an illminded developer takes that as precedent and does the same thing?

“We have a number of contractors waiting to be engaged

Claims Bahamas ‘in cahoots’ with SBF are ‘shockingly inappropriate’

• FTX creditor group blasts Ray’s attacks on nation on millions of dollars of work, but they’re waiting on building permit applications to be approved. Is it fair for them to be waiting? You’re also telling a developer, a builder or contractor through the building permit process that they have to pay for all the inspections. If those residents have not paid for inspections, why are we paying money for the right thing to happen and go through all the bureaucracy?

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