Abaco Shanty Town Report (Preliminary-Revised) · The results of the Abaco-based shanty towns...

PRELIMINARY

S H A N T Y T O W N T A S K F O R C E M I N I S T R Y O F L A B O U R

ABACOSHANTYTOWNASSESSMENTREPORT,2018

SHANTYTOWNPRELIMINARYANALYSISANDREPORT

November,2018PreparedbyDr.CheritaMoxey

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TableofContents

INTRODUCTIONANDEXECUTIVESUMMARY................................................................3

ASSESSMENTMETHODOLOGY.....................................................................................4

ABACOFINDINGS:ANIN-DEPTHSHANTYTOWNPROFILE............................................7AGE&SEXOFHOUSEHOLDRESPONDENT............................................................................8LEGALSTATUSOFHOUSEHOLDRESPONDENT......................................................................8ShantyTowncommunitiesinSouthAbacohadthegreatestshare,69.9%,ofrespondentswhoareself-reportedlyundocumented.......................................................................................8OWNERSHIPSTATUSOFDWELLING.....................................................................................8OTHERHOUSEHOLDOCCUPANTS........................................................................................9

OccupantsThatAreMinors....................................................................................................9WORKANDWEEKLYINCOME..............................................................................................9UTILITIES............................................................................................................................10LENGTHOFSTAYINASHANTYTOWN................................................................................11DISABILITYPROFILE...........................................................................................................11

ANNEXI:LegalStatusGraph......................................................................................12

ANNEXII:AssessmentTool........................................................................................13



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INTRODUCTIONANDEXECUTIVESUMMARYJanuary2018markedthegovernment’scommitmenttoadvanceasignificantsocialpolicyreformenvisagedtohumanelyregulateandelevatethelivingconditionsofpersonsresidinginShantyTowns.WiththeapprovalanddirectionoftheCabinetofTheBahamas,MinistryofLabourledamulti-agencySecretariatandTaskForcetoexecutethisreform.Thereformshiftisundergirdedbytheaccentuatedrisksposedtooccupantsofsuchcommunities.Inputsforthereformprocesswillbecomprehensive,includingthefollowingprongs:-

• Acensusandcharacterizationofshantytownresidents–theAssessment;• Inspectionofphysicalstructureswithinshantytowncommunities1;

• Identificationofregulated,mainstreamandaffordablehousingoptionsforrelocationandintegrationofaffectedindividualsandfamilies;

• EngagementwithculturalmediatorsfromHaitianNGOsandFBO;

• DialoguewithinternationalHumanRightsbodiestoensuretheprocessaccordswiththehighestlevelsofdignityandrespectforhumanrights;and

• Legislativereviewforcompliancewithbothinternationalconventionsandlocallaws.TheMinisterofLabourhascommissionedtheconductofanassessmentofallShantyTowncommunitiesintheCommonwealth

ofTheBahamas.ForNewProvidence,thisassessmentwasconductedduringApril,

2018followedbytheassessmentinAbacoduringthemonthsofAugustandSeptember,2018.TheresultsoftheAbaco-basedshantytowns(NorthandSouthAbaco)are

1ThisisparticularlyimportantinlightofthebeliefthatShantyTownstructuresdonotaccord/conformwithbuildingcodes.Suchinfractions“injurethepublicinterest…createsrisktohumansafetybyconstructionofsub-standardhousing,andisdetrimentaltoorderlydevelopmentanduseoftheenvironment”.

ABACO’SKEYFINDINGS• 777–Participatinghouseholds• 84.9%,Responserate• 47years–Averagerespondentage• 3,041–Populationsize.TheMudd

andPeacontribute70.4%tothetotalpopulation

• 632–Minorsattendingschool• 20%-Undocumentedrespondents• 352–Householdshavingasingle

breadwinner• 61.7%-Householdsearningless

than$400perweek• 90.7%-Respondentslivingina

shantytownforatleast12months• 23.2%-Renteddwellings

Shantytowns“breakeveryregulationandlaw[on]safetystandardsinthecountry…Thiscannotcontinue.They[occupantsofShantyTowncommunities]wantbetter”

- T he M ost H on our ab l e P ri me M in i s t e r

H u be r t M i nn i s

BoxA:KeyFindings



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containedinthisreport,withthemainfindingsareoutlinedabove(BoxA).Fromacomparativeperspective,AbaconianShantyTownshaveatleast1,629moreoccupantsthanthoseinNewProvidence.

ASSESSMENTMETHODOLOGYOBJECTIVETofurnishtheMinisterofLabourwithquantitativedataonhouseholds2withinShantyTowns;andhavethatdataguideandadvancetheworkoftheCabinetappointedShantyTownTaskForce(SATF).Theassessmentseekstoobtaindemographicinformationandtoobjectifyselectedvariables–legalstatus,workstatus,income,accesstoutilities,school-agedminorsanddisabledpopulation(seeAnnexI).INCLUSIONCRITERIATobeincludedinthesurvey,thesurveyparticipantmust

1. ResideinoneoftheShantyTowncommunitiesidentifiedinDEHS2013Reportand/orbytheRBPF

2. TheHeadofHousehold(HOH)mustbeatleast18yearsofageEXCLUSIONCRITERIA

1. TheHeadofHouseholdparticipantisundertheageofconsent2. TheHeadofHouseholdisobservedtohaveamentaldisorder,is

developmentally/cognitivelydelayedortobeundertheinfluenceofapsychotropicagent(s)

SAMPLINGFRAMEAconveniencesamplingapproachwillbeused.Asurveyinstrumentconsistsof27questionswhichwillelucidatedefinedcharacteristicsofShantyTowncommunities.A2013ShantyTownReportnotedthattherewere1024households3intheShantyTownsofAbaco.Thesehouseholdsaredispersedoversix(6)siteswithintwoconstituencydistrictsofAbaco–NorthAbacoandSouthAbaco.Thegoalwillbetoassesseveryhousehold/dwelling.However,aresponserateof85%wouldbedeemedacceptable.

2Forthisexercisehouseholdisdefinedasanyandallunitswithanentrance,eventhoseunitsareattachedunderasingleroofstructure.3TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalHealthShantyTownReport(2013)reports730houseswithintheNewProvidence-basedshantytowns.Apopulationgrowthof20%overtheinterveningyearsisassumedbringingthetargetsamplesizefor2018to803houses.ForAbaco,usingthesameassumptionofgrowth,andaccountingfortherecentfires,thetargetnumberofhouseholdswouldbe1,126.



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DISTRICT ShantyTownCommunity HouseholdCount(2013)NorthAbaco SandsBanks

FarmRoadL&H(TreasureCay)LeisureLeeCommunity

SouthAbaco TheMuddThePeaElbowCay(HopeTown)

SURVEYLOGISTICSThepooloffieldenumeratorsweredrawnfromtheDepartmentsofEnvironmentalHealth,SocialServicesandPublicHealthalongwiththearmedforces–giventheirfamiliarityandpriorworkinthesecommunities.Toavoidintimidation,fieldenumeratorswillbeattiredinplainclothingandbeaccompaniedbyaninterpreter.FieldenumeratorswillalsobeprovidedanI.D.badgeasameansofbuildingtrustamonghouseholdrespondents.Enumeratorsandinterpreterswillreceiveaone-daytrainingalongwithorientationandsensitizationtoboththetool(questionnaire)andthecommunity.Enumeratorsandinterpreterswillbepre-assignedtodistrictsasperImage1.

Image1:ReportingLInesandDistributionofEnumerators

SATFSecretariat

MinisterofLabour

Supervisor(NW)

Team5

Team6

Team7

Team8

Supervisor(SW)

Team1

Team2

Team3

Team4

Supervisor(East)

Team9

Team10



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AnecdotallyithasbeenconveyedthattheresidentsofShantyTowncommunitiesarelesslikelytobeinthecommunitiesduringmorninghours.Thesurveylogisticsconsidertheserealities.

• Assessmentadministrationfrequency:Weekendsonly(SaturdaysandSundays)• Totaldaysinthefield:30thJuneto4thSeptember,2018• Assessmenthours:Saturdays(10am–7pm);Sundays(2pmto7pm)and

Weekdays(T&Th5pmto8pm)preferred• Timeneededtoadministereachassessment:40minutes



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ABACOFINDINGS:ANIN-DEPTHSHANTYTOWNPROFILETheassessmentidentified915dwellingstructures/buildings,almostdoublethoseidentifiedinNewProvidence,buta10.6%reductionfromthe2013Report.Theachievedhouseholdresponseratewas85%(84.9%),with138householdsnotparticipatingintheassessment4.

TheMuddisthemostdenselypopulatedShantyTowninAbacofollowedbythePeaandFarmRoadwithpercentagedistributionsof51.4%,19%and15.2%respectively.TheMuddandThePeaaregeographicallysituatedinSouthAbaco,theeconomichuboftheisland.

ShantyTownCommunitiesNorthAbaco

SouthAbaco

SandBanks 79 FarmRoad 139 L&H(TreasureCay) 16 TheMudd 470ThePea 174ElbowCay 37

4Non-participationcaneitherberesultofanarticulatedrefusalorthehouseholdbeingvacantornoonebeinghomeatthetimeoftheassessment’sadministration.

NorthAbaco,234,26%

SouthAbaco,681,74%

AbacoShantyTownStructuresbyElectoralCons?uencies

AGE&SEXOFHOUSEHOLDRESPONDENTThoughtheassessmentsoughttocaptureinformationfromtheheadofhousehold,theconveniencesamplingmethodologyallowedforanyresponsibleadulttobeinterviewed.Ofallrespondents,malesoutnumberedfemalesalmost2:1.Thisfindingmightreflectcertainsub-cultureidiosyncrasiesaswellascertaineconomicandemploymentrealitieswithinShantyTowns.Ofallrespondents,59.7%wereunder50yearsofage,withanaverageageof47.Theagerangespannedfrom18yearsto87years(seeChart1).

Chart1:AgeDistributionofRespondents

LEGALSTATUSOFHOUSEHOLDRESPONDENTApproximately2%(1.9%or15)ofhouseholdrespondentschosenottoanswerthequestiononlegalstatus.IntheNewProvidenceassessment,aminority(6%)ofrespondentswereundocumented.Thiscontrastswiththe20%ofthehouseholdsrespondentsinAbaco’sShantyTownswhoreportedbeingundocumented.Legalstatusfor

theremainingpopulationisillustratedinChart2.Noteworthy,41.1%ofthosereportedworkpermitsasthelegalgroundsforbeinginTheBahamas.

Chart2:LegalStatusofRespondents,alsoatAnnexI

ShantyTowncommunitiesinSouthAbacohadthegreatestshare,69.9%,ofrespondentswhoareself-reportedlyundocumented.Withtheexceptionof‘workpermit’status,nostatisticallysignificantvariationsmanifestedwhenanalyzinglegalstatusbysex.Threehundredandnineteen(319)householdrespondentsholdaworkpermit,73%ofwhomaremales.

OWNERSHIPSTATUSOFDWELLINGInterestingly,anoverwhelmingmajority(76.8%,597)ofhouseholdrespondentsreportedoccupancyviaownershipofthedwellingwhichcontrastswithoccupancyviarentalarrangements(19.9%,155).Theremaininghouseholds(2.8%,22)eitherresponded‘other’orgavenoresponse.Theunderstandingof‘ownership’totherespondentwasnotdeeplyexplored.Meaning,theassessmentdidnotdeterminewhethertherespondentbelievedhe/sheowned

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

17-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ NotStated

Num

bero

fHou

seho

ldIn

terviewees

AgeDistribu8onofHouseholdIntervieweeswithinAbaconianShantyTowns

126,16%

130,17%

319,41%

28,4%

153,20%

15,2%

LegalStatusofHouseholdRespondents,Abaco

CiDzen

PermanentResident

WorkPermit

SpousalPermit

Undocumented

Notstated



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thelandand/orthestructurebeingoccupied.

OTHERHOUSEHOLDOCCUPANTSAsstatedearlier,777householdrespondentswereinterviewed.Theassessmentobtainedinformationaboutotheroccupantslivinginthehousehold.Collectively,1,260malesand1,004femalesoccupantslivedinhouseholdswiththehouseholdrespondents.TheadditivepopulationforAbaco’sShantyTowntherefore,takingintoaccountboththerespondentsandoccupants,is115%morethanthatofNewProvidence-basedShantyTowns(3,041versus1,410).SeeTable1.

Table1:ShantyTownPopulationInEachCommunity

Toapproximateatotalpopulation,factoringthose138identifieddwellings/householdsthatdidnotparticipateintheassessment,thestatisticallycalculatedmeanhouseholdsizeof3.91wasused.Thisapproachresultsinacalculatednon-respondentpopulationof540.AbestestimatethenofthetotalShantyTownpopulationforAbacostandsat3,581.

OccupantsThatAreMinorsGraph1reflectsdataforthoseoccupantsthatare18yearsoldorless.Almostallfemaleswithinthisagerangeareattendingschool.Thisiscontrastedwithonly74%ofmalesinthisagerangeattendingschools.Onaverage,schoolattendanceamongminorsinAbaconian

ShantyTownsishigher(86.5%)thanforNewProvidence-basedShantyTownminors(61.5%).

Graphic1:MinorBetween0to18Years

WORKANDWEEKLYINCOMESeventy-threepercent(72.8%)ofhouseholdrespondentsareemployed.Chart3detailsfurthertheemploymentprofilewithinAbaco’sShantyTowns.

Chart3:EmploymentStatus

Ofthosewhohadnotengagedinanyworkforthepastsix(6)months(unemployed),half(50%)wereseekingwork.

AllMales AllFemalesSandBanks 70 103 78 251FarmRoad 132 210 182 524L&H 14 24 12 50TheMudd 398 639 521 1558ThePea 142 249 187 578ElbowCay 21 35 24 80

Total 777 1260 1004 3041

OtherOccupantsShantyTowns Respondents

MALES 441 326FEMALES 309 306

132

434

2034102

Self-employed

Workfore

mployer

Une

mployed

Notstated

EmploymentStatusofHouseholdRespondents,Abaco

Status DesirousofSeekingWork

0–18yrs Inschool



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Theunemploymentrate5amonghouseholdrespondentsis15.3%.Lookingatunemploymentthroughthespotlightoflegalstatusrevealsthatundocumentedrespondentscomprisethelargestshareoftheunemployed(Chart4).

Chart4:LinkingUnemploymenttoLegalStatus

Ofnote,allhouseholdrespondentswhowerenotcurrentlyemployed,butwhosoughtwork,hadreceivedajobofferwithinthefour(4)weeksprecedingtheassessment.Indicationwasalsomadeofwhetherornototherhouseholdoccupants,otherthanthemselves,wereemployed.Asanaggregate,45.3%ofShantyTownhouseholdsonlyhaveonepersoninthehouseholdcurrentlyworking(Chart5).

5Theunemploymentrateisthequotientofthenumberofunemployedpersons(peoplelookingforwork)dividedbythelabourforce(peoplelookingandpeopleworking.

Chart5:OtherOccupantsWhoWork

Takingintoaccountbothformalandinformalemploymentandallworkingoccupants,61.7%ofhouseholdsreporttotalweeklyincomeofunder$400.ForNew-Providence-basedShantyTownsthiswas75.6%.HouseholdWeeklyIncome

NumberofHouseholds

Under$400 480$401-$600 177$601-$800 69$801-$1,000 19$1001-$1,200 9Greaterthan$1,201 9Notstated 10

UTILITIESWiththeexceptionofcableservices,thevastmajorityhouseholdsinAbaco’sShantyTownshavebasicutilizes–electricity,indoorinrunningwater,andflushedtoilets(seeTable2).

Table2:UtilitiesComparison

Ci#zen12%

PermanentResident18%

WorkPermit13%

SpousalPermit15%

Undocumented30%

NotStated12%

UnemplymentCorrelatedwithLegalStatus

352

269

94

3011 6 2 2 8

NoOneElse

Works

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NotStated

Num

berofHou

seho

lds

NumberofAddiConalPersonsEmployedintheHousehold

OtherHouseholdOccupantsWhoWork,Abaco

UTILITIES ABACOS.T.HOUSEHOLDS

COMPAREDTON.P.

(PercentagePointDifference)

Runningwater

67.6%(525) -28.4

Flushedtoilet

80.2%(626) +67.2

Cableservices

6.6%(51) -36.4

Electricity 78.6%(611) +31.6



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SimilartoShantyTownsstructuresinNewProvidence,generatorsaretheprimarysource(74%)ofelectricalsupplyforstructuresinAbaco(Chart6).Only11.6%ofthesestructuresreportreceivingtheirelectricalsupplyfromBPL/BEC.ThelegalityoftheBPL/BECconnectionwasnotexplored.

Chart6:ElectricalSourceforHouseholdsWith

Electricity

LENGTHOFSTAYINASHANTYTOWNFifty-two(52.3%)percentofrespondentshavelivedinaShantyTownforatleastoneyear.Eight(8%)haveresidedinaShantyTownforlessthanonemonth.

DISABILITYPROFILETheassessmentrevealedthat46persons(5.9%)livinginAbaco-based

ShantyTowncommunitieshaveadisability.Thisincludesboththehouseholdrespondentandotheroccupants.Thedisabilitiesareasfollows:

• Limb-relateddisability–twenty-six(26)persons

• Sight-relateddisability–four(4)persons

• Hearing-relateddisability–two(2)persons

• Speech-relateddisability–one(1)person

• Mental/cognitive-relateddisability–thirteen(13)persons

11.6

74

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2

-20

-10

0

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30

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60

70

80

90 ElectricalSouresByPercentage

BPL/BEC DropCord

Unknown



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ANNEXI:LEGALSTATUSGRAPH



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ANNEXII:AssessmentTool

SHANTYTOWNASSESSMENTFORM,2018

IDENTIFYINGNUMBER

POPULATEDBYOBSERVATION02-Elizabeth11-GardenHills20-Carmichael21-GoldenIsles

a2 NameofShantyTown 01.MontgomeryAvenue02.AllenDrive03.CowpenDrive04.FaithAvenueNorth05.GoldenIslesRoad06.LazarettoRoad07.HamsterRoad08.CowpenRoad09.BacardiRoadNorth10.BacardiRoadSouth11.Cool-AirSubdivision(LumumbaLane)

a3 DescriptionofDwelling Colour(predominant)__________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________a4 Housingmaterial 1.Concrete

2.Block/Stone3.Wood4.Stucco5.Aluminium6.Combination(Specify:________________)7.Other

HEADOFHOUSEHOLDQUESTIONS1 Name(Last,First)

2 Whatisyoursex? 1.Female2.Male

3 Whatisyourage?

Location(byconstituency)a1



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4 Whatisyourlegalstatus? 1.Citizen2.Permanentresident3.Workpermit4.Spousalpermit5.Undocumented

5 Whatisyourmaritalstatus? 1.Single2.Married3.Divorced4.Widow/Widower5.Separated

6 Didyoudoanyworkforpayornotforpayinthelastsixmonths?

1.Yes,forSelf2.Yes,forEmployer SKIP TO Q9)3.No

7 Willyoubeseekingormakingyourselfavailableforworkinanestabliishmentorinyourownbusineswithinthenext6months?

1.Yes2.No

8 Ifyouwereofferedajobduringthepast4weekswouldyouhavebeenavailableandabletowork?

1.Yes2.No

9 Howlonghaveyoulivedinashantytown? 1.Lessthanonemonth2.Onemonthbutlessthan3months3.Threemonthsbutlessthan6month4.Sixmonthsbutlessthan12months5.Twelvemonthsormore

10 Typeoftenure? 1.Own2.Rent3.Other

11 Isthererunningwaterinsideyourdwelling?

1.Yes2.No

12 Doesyourdwellinghaveindoorflushedtoilet?

1.Yes2.No

13 Doesyourdwellinghaveelectricity? 1.Yes2.No

14 Whatisyoursourceofelectricity? 1.BPL/BEC2.Generator3.Dropcordconnection4.Unknown

15 Doesyourdwellinghavecable? 1.Yes2.No



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4 Whatisyourlegalstatus? 1.Citizen2.Permanentresident3.Workpermit4.Spousalpermit5.Undocumented

5 Whatisyourmaritalstatus? 1.Single2.Married3.Divorced4.Widow/Widower5.Separated

6 Didyoudoanyworkforpayornotforpayinthelastsixmonths?

1.Yes,forSelf2.Yes,forEmployer SKIP TO Q9)3.No

7 Willyoubeseekingormakingyourselfavailableforworkinanestabliishmentorinyourownbusineswithinthenext6months?

1.Yes2.No

8 Ifyouwereofferedajobduringthepast4weekswouldyouhavebeenavailableandabletowork?

1.Yes2.No

9 Howlonghaveyoulivedinashantytown? 1.Lessthanonemonth2.Onemonthbutlessthan3months3.Threemonthsbutlessthan6month4.Sixmonthsbutlessthan12months5.Twelvemonthsormore

10 Typeoftenure? 1.Own2.Rent3.Other

11 Isthererunningwaterinsideyourdwelling?

1.Yes2.No

12 Doesyourdwellinghaveindoorflushedtoilet?

1.Yes2.No

13 Doesyourdwellinghaveelectricity? 1.Yes2.No

14 Whatisyoursourceofelectricity? 1.BPL/BEC2.Generator3.Dropcordconnection4.Unknown

15 Doesyourdwellinghavecable? 1.Yes2.No



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16 Areyoudisabled? 1.Yes2.No (If'NO'SkipQ.19)

17 Isyourdisability? 1.Physical2.Mental If'Mental'SkiptoQ.19)3.Both

18 Whatisthenatureofyourphysicaldisability?

1.Limb2.Sight3.Hearing4.Speech

19 Totalnumberofmalesinhousehold?

20 Totalnumberofmalesinhouseholdbetweentheages0to18years?

Ofthosemales,howmanyattendschool?[Schoolbeingpublic,privateorhomeschooled.]

21 Totalnumberoffemalesinhousehold?

22 Totalnumberoffemalesinhouseholdbetweentheages0to18years?

Ofthosefemales,howmanyattendschool?[Schoolbeingpublic,privateorhomeschooled.]

23 Howmanypeopleinthehouseholdworkbesideyou?

24 Totalmoney/incomeofallpersonsfromallsourcesinthelastweek?[Formalandinformalincome.Salaries,tipscommission,moniesfromfriends,relatives,partnersetc.]

1.Under$4002.$401-$6003.$601-$8004.$801-$10005.$1001-$12006.Greaterthan$1200

GENERALINFORMATION25 Isanyoneelseinthedwellingdisabled? 1.Yes

2.No



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Abaco Shanty Town Report (Preliminary-Revised) · The results of the Abaco-based shanty towns...

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