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Bahamian Politics Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Bahamaland – My Piece of the Rock
By DNA Candidate Rudolph Dean (Golden Gates)
Nov 18, 2016 - 12:03:29 AM

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“This land is my land, this land is your land. From Grand Bahama down to Inagua. From the Berry Islands across to Mayaguana. This land is made for you and me.” These words from a popular Bahamian folk song come to mind when I think of my Bahamaland.

I am prompted to write this article after the controversy over the Chinese agriculture and fishing proposal. It involved making available 10,000 acres of crown land in Andros with another 10,000 acres to follow. With its fresh water lenses and good farming soil, Andros has the capacity to not only feed The Bahamas, but be a major source of food export. The proposal also called for deep sea fishing in one of the most fertile fishing grounds on earth. The fish in The Bahamas migrate all over the world. Two of our most precious resources would be affected in one blow: the sea and the land.

As a real estate broker, I would like to deal with the land issue. The Bahamas comprises 700 islands, cays and islets. In Exuma alone, there are enough for each day of the year. The Bahamas has a total land mass of 5,382 sq. miles and ocean space of 180,000 sq. miles.

In 1981, Sir Lynden Pindling implemented the Immovable Properties Act. This law had numerous restrictions on foreigners purchasing land. In 1993, the new FNM government implemented the International Persons Landholding Act. This allowed foreigners to purchase homes or vacant land to build a home without needing Cabinet approval. Only anything over 5 acres would need approval. Also, any home purchased or built valuing over $500,000 came with Permanent Residence for the entire family. As a result of that, most of our prime land is now own by foreigners especially beach front lots. On top of that just about every major development that comes to The Bahamas is given large acreages of Crown Land by the government. The investor then use that same land to gain financing for their project. The only thing the PLP and FNM government are concerned about is jobs and taxes. Never once did it hit them that they should demand equity shares for our land contribution to the investment. That must never happen again.

In The Bahamas, only foreigners are charged Real Property Tax on vacant land. In 2010, it was reported that there were some 22,000 vacant land debtors who were foreigners. There are laws in place that allows the government to seize and sell vacant lots that are behind in taxes. At that time, $156 million was outstanding by foreigner for vacant lots nonpayment of Real Property Tax. Both the PLP and FNM are negligent in collecting and managing the people’s money. They prefer to borrow money rather than collect outstanding money. This is probably the only country in the world where that is allowed to happen.

The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) has articulated a clear and progressive land policy. We are the only one providing bold and dynamic solutions to the issues the country face. Here are some of our solutions:

Land Bureau – Just about every Prime Minister we had kept Crown Land under his portfolio. By doing so this makes the granting of Crown Land political. The DNA will level the playing field by putting this power in the hands of an independent agency that will grant land to citizens based on merit of ideas and capacity. Land would also be made available for housing.

Land Registry – We will move The Bahamas closer to the first world by establishing a public land registry. Everyone in the registry land title would be certified.

Quieting Act – We will finally abolish that evil law that allows people to acquire property while the legal owner is still around.

Generation Property – We will free up Family Island properties that has been an economic handicap to Family Island growth and development.

Real Property Tax – Every property owner will be required to pay their taxes in a timely manner like it is done in every country in the world. By doing would produce hundreds of millions and reduce the need to borrow.

Lease Only – All government owned properties will only be leased to foreigners.
Prime Rate – We will cause the prime rate to be lowered which would reduce the cost of mortgages.

The DNA would see to it that the government allow all real estate sales be recorded in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This has been the request from the international agencies which has been ignored by the FNM and PLP. This would allow proper comparable, analysis and accurate valuation of real estate in The Bahamas. The DNA would ensure that proper zoning is carried out throughout the country to prevent unplanned and unsuited development. A proper Geographic Information System(GIS) for the entire country with emphasis on coastline erosion will be done. The DNA will move to have an Environmental Court with stiff penalties for abuse. This will come with Warrens placed throughout the country.

The DNA is the only party that is proposing wholesale changes to the entire government landscape. The reason why there has not been any changes over the years is because both parties are complicit in the problem which leads to wide scale abuse and corruption. For things to change requires something fresh, new and different.

Rudolph R. Dean
DNA Candidate
Golden Gates

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