by Jerome Pinder
Thursday's Tribune has the following front page article: "Govt bid to put clamp on Nygard."
This story has received a fair amount of attention over the last month or two, after a neighbor's house was raided by police. Subsequent reports confirmed that there were no illegal findings.
Friday's article tells us that Mr. Nygard has yet to comply with a directive issued by the Office of the Prime Minister. Further, it is reported that the mini development has been expanded over the last several years, with only some of the work being authorized by Government. What about the man made beach? It appears that the matter was referred to the AG's office since January, but there is little hope here.
What about all the parties and noise pollution? The authorities were very quick to move on a residence in the East when this type of activity was taking place.
Frankly, I am surprised that the Lyford Cay community and their Association have not been able to put greater fire under the Government. I could go on, but the article clearly gives the impression that something is not right. I smell a rat!
Now what about me? If I tried to add on a room to my little house in Sea Breeze without a permit, the Government would be all over me. And lets not even get into all the red tape that local businesses have to go through to get approvals for business expansion, opening new stores, etc. I could list story after story of what some local businesses have been through, because they chose to do their activities through the proper channels.
Yet it appears that to the western end of the island, we have a different set of rules for certain individuals. I certainly have no problem with foreigners coming into the Country, but if they are going to live above the law, as far as I am concerned, they can take the next flight out no matter what benefit they may bring to the Bahamas. There is no benefit here anyway.
The Government should move in with bulldozers and tear the structures down that have been built illegally. What message are we sending to the masses, when we allow someone to blatantly ignore our laws and directives from the highest office in the land.
As far as I am concerned, Bahamians should be mad as hell.
