Anyone visiting relatives and or friends in Boaz Island and/or Ireland Island will quickly see that this is a community in decline. Boarded-up windows and doors are visible everywhere. Trees are growing out of the walls and what were once patios. Behind the decaying façades, vacant units lie wasted, unable to shelter our families in need.How have these once-vibrant communities been allowed to get into the state they are in? To me the answer is clear. Three things are lacking:1. Leadership2. Accountability3. VisionIn the areas beyond Watford Bridge, Wedco has been derelict in its responsibility. It is not fulfilling its mandate, which is “to manage and develop all designated land in the scheduled area with a view to the progressive improvement of the social and economic conditions”.Boaz IslandWhen the Canadian forces vacated this area and its buildings, Wedco had a social and moral responsibility to offer for sale housing that was sound and without impediments. This was not the case. Owners and tenants speak of deficiencies with the water tanks and sewage systems. The Boaz Island Village Condominium Association inherited a defective housing development that is now suffering further decline. Owners and tenants are paying maintenance fees, but see little work being done in return. The association needs and deserves greater assistance from WedcoA criminal/gang element has infiltrated this area, and now recruits young residents to bolster their numbers.Ireland IslandThe Wedco real estate at Albert and Victoria Row, Princess Louise and Prince Alfred Terrace fulfills a need to provide accommodation to families who need modestly-priced housing. These families say Wedco has violated the terms of their lease agreements. Wedco collects rents and maintenance fees efficiently, but is not efficient in maintaining these units in the condition required by the lease agreements.WEDCO’s 100 new homes plan will –adversely affect the West EndWedco plans to build 100 new homes in the area and is looking for financing. Additionally, it needs to find funding to meet an obligation to repay the $5-million debt owed to the Canadian government. Wedco has stated that its intention is to raise funds by selling the remaining Boaz Island condos and renovate for sale the units at Princess Louise Terrace and offer these for sale.But instead of maintaining and improving its units at Boaz Island, Wedco has allowed them to fall into disrepair. As a result, there has been a decline in the equity that owners and tenants have managed to build up in their homes.We can expect a further reduction in the value as a declining real estate market and an oversupply of Government-built homes forces Wedco to drop the prices of the 50 units it plans to sell. The same factors will make it difficult to find customers for the 58 new units Wedco planned to rent.There will, of course, be a knock-on effect in the rest of the West End. Landlords with vacant apartments will have an even harder time finding new tenants, and people looking to find buyers will find it even more difficult to sell their properties.Tenants at Princess Louise Terrace and in Victoria and Albert Row expect to see their rents to rise substantially, and are concerned that they may not, in the end, be able to afford these “affordable units”, as Wedco calls them.Rents are now between $600 and $1250 per months. Wedco has established prices for one, two and three-bedroom houses of between $1,600 and $2,100 a month. These prices will create hardships and may lead to many of them being displaced.Hope for a reinvigorated communityIn my vision for Sandys North, I see a well-maintained area where equity in one’s home is increased, but more importantly, the quality of life is improved. I see a community where there are common areas for neighbours to congregate and relax in a pleasant, safe environment.With a goal, a plan and engaged neighbours, we can revitalise this community and make it better than it ever was.Wedco needs to enlist the services of someone who can put into action a plan that will focus on revitalising our neighbourhood. A professional neighbourhood planner, someone with the qualities and training to lead community residents and promote a focus on collective action, aimed at relationship building, problem solving and the desire to build a stronger community.We may either train someone on the Wedco management team, or we may need to hire someone with the requisite training and experience.Instead of 100 new prefab units, Habitat For Humanity should be re-engaged. I would like them to once again look at the viability of renovating Albert and Victoria Row. The renovated units should be offered for sale to the existing tenants on a rent-to-buy basis over a period of 25 or 30 years.We need to provide Bermudian job opportunities in the Dockyard by encouraging businesses to relocate there. Attractive leasing options should be given to encourage local and international Business to refurbish the many vacant buildings adding to the community and providing needed jobs.Instead of flooding the market with Wedco condos, the 30 units at Boaz Island should be offered on a rent-to-buy basis together with the units at Princess Louise Terrace.Those that are not sold should be offered at reduced rental rates to police officers and other professionals willing to get involved in building this neighbourhood. I envisage incentives being available to encourage people to participate in community-building programmes and self-renewing efforts.We could have a vibrant area where the Boaz Island community centre is better utilised and Messina House hosts weekend retreats where we run educational socio/cultural programmes that will be of interest and benefit to all or our residents. I see the ferry stop at Messina House re-established to make it easier for residents to commute into Hamilton, with additional parking to supplement the shortage at Watford Bridge.That’s the way I see it.Ray Charlton, is the One Bermuda Alliance –Candidate in Constituency 36