Blue Hills residents turned out in numbers to express their concerns over issues direct them. At the top of the agenda was the escalation of crime in their community, the lack of activities for the youth, by the lack of acThey are calling on the police to do more and also on the Government to pay more attention to the youths of that community. The general cleanliness of Blue Hills or the lack thereof was a hot topic and before the meeting was over an agreement was reach on how to deal with the garbage situation and also a decision made on the BLUETIFICATION of Blue Hills beach front.
They also want the government to stop the issuing of work permits, and also demanded that labor department step up on the enforcement of the labor laws. So that the youths of Blue Hills community would have a chance of gainful employment.
The illegal shantytown development in the Blue Hills area is a major concern for all the residents presented at the meeting.they are calling on planning to do their job and demolish those illegal developments, there are sufficient teeth in planning regulations to demolish those illegal structures. The million dollars question is why is it not happening, is it because all or the majority of planning employees are not from this country? Or is it because these illegal structures are not in Grace bay, or is it because they might be receiving bribes.? Whatever is the reason or reasons the residents Blue Hills is demanding answers and action from planning department and the Attorney General Chambers.
The residents of Blue Hills also vent their frustrations over the lack of police visibility in the community, some accused the police of being apart of the problem in their community, they want to give information and tips to the police but are afraid because they don’t trust the police. The police was also accused of refusing to pull a boat to safety which had an engine problem. The reasoning is that they don’t tow boats.
Also discussed at the meeting was the memo on the land situation that came from Mr. Charles, many of the residents have a piece of lease land but is finding it very hard to meet the lease payments because they are unemployed and was unemployed for a while now, but was struggling to meet the payments. They are pleading with the government for more time to get the financing for the free hold title or bring the payments up to date, they believe that thirty days (30) was insufficient for crown land holders to comply.
There was discussion on the sale of goods with out a business license and where there are business licenses, persons are selling out of their homes, the residents of Blue Hills don’t like the cultural shift that is causing social problems in their community, and is calling on government officials to step up and do their job.
