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Commercial zone turned into squatter settlement
After 2010 Mahdia fire…
By Keeran Singh
A section of Mahdia’s commercial zone which was destroyed by a massive fire in July 2010 has now become a squatter settlement. The Regional Democratic Council hopes to reverse this situation soon to allow for the construction of legitimate stalls.
This is according to Mark Crawford, Region Eight Chairman, during an interview with this publication. He related that after the fire, officials from the Housing Ministry regularized the area, creating a neat layout for the erection of 28 stalls.
Since then only Roger Hinds, a popular businessman in Mahdia has rebuilt his entity. Meanwhile, the Mahdia Arcade Committee is currently sourcing materials to reconstruct the other stalls.
The fire truck purchased by Mahdia businessman, Roger Hinds
This has left the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) with a large task of removing those squatters who have built shacks along the layout created by the Housing Ministry. Crawford stressed that that area was earmarked for economic activities and the RDC would soon be serving notices to those inhabitants to evacuate.
In addition, their poor living conditions have serious public health implications since the squatters are discarding their refuse indiscriminately and it is unclear if they have toilet facilities.
In terms of the community’s ability to cope with another fire of that magnitude, the Regional Chairman stated that Mahdia is still at risk. He stated that businessman Roger Hinds has purchased a fire truck, but there are many businesses that store fuel that should also come onboard to provide additional resources.
According to Hinds, many businesses acquire wealth in Mahdia either in the “gold bush” or on the landing but that wealth leaves Mahdia. He added that businesses need to give back to the community which provides them with prosperity.
Hinds noted that Mahdia’s population is growing with the creation of more businesses and houses and the his fire truck, which holds 900 gallons of water would not be sufficient to avert another massive fire.
He suggested that other businesses could pool resources to purchase two more fire trucks.
The shacks encumbering the Arcade area
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