After finding crack pipes and drug needles strewn around their neighbourhood, Union Street residents are calling on the owner of an abandoned house to fix up the property and help clear the area of drug dealing.

A business owner in the area, who did not wish to be named, told The Royal Gazette that the property, which has been abandoned since the 1980s, is frequented by drug dealers who threaten other residents and trespass on their property.

He said businesses in the area were suffering and other properties had been devalued as a result.

Residents are also concerned about safety risks posed to children and seniors citizens - several of whom live alone in the area.

“People don't want to come in the area - they're threatened. We've called the Police time and time again. The Police come and bust the house - you can see them taking a bag of drug out but they never order the people to leave,” the business owner said.

“Government has said owners will be made accountable for abandoned homes but they haven't taken action on this.”

The business owner said he contacted area MP Ashfield DeVent about the property and Senator Raymond Tannock, who's business office is across the street from the property. Although both promised to do something about the property, nothing appears to be happening.

FOCUS - a drug-treatment programme run by Government MP and former Health Minister Nelson Bascome, is also a few doors down from the abandoned property, treating between 30-50 clients a day for cocaine and heroin addiction.

The Royal Gazette understands that the property is owned by Winston Rawlins, the brother of UBP Chairman Gwyneth Rawlins. Residents are questioning why it isn't fixed up and rented as apartment units.

People struggling with addictions on their way to drug treatment at FOCUS also see the property as a sign of temptation, the business owner claimed.

“People are not staying clean because of this house. I've seen needles crack pipes, all kinds of things,” he said.

“We're planning for a drug free block party at the moment but this type of behaviour can't be tolerated - children are coming through here on their way home from school. Can you imagine what would happen if they picked up one of these needles?”

He said the neighbourhood residents have considered cleaning up the house independently, but felt threatened by the people living in the house.

The house has a history - in the 1980s The Royal Gazette ran a series of articles about squatters who lived on the property.

At the time Mr. Rawlins said he had plans to use the building for residential or commercial purposes.

Ruby Caines lived on part of the property in the early 1980s and reported illegal activities such as prostitution and drug dealing to the Police.

In December 1984 she wrote a sign placed on her door reading: “This is the residence of Ruby Caines - please do not kick it or try to get in.”

Another business owner said an elderly lady in the area was threatened by the addicts who have cut a path across her property and broken in from the back entrance.

“When she reported them to Police they hacked her peach tree down and threatened her,” added the business owner.

Businesses who operate at night are also concerned about the safety of keeping their shops open and the safety of night staff.

“I've grown up in this area so I feel safe but one of the girls who used to work for me at night are not from the area and are anxious at times about getting home safely,” she said.

The Royal Gazette visited the area and found signs of squatters at the house - windows have been boarded up, graffiti decorates the walls and laundry lines are strung up outside the property.

Mr. Bascome said the abandoned property does have a positive spin-off.

“Everyone knows what goes on there,” he said. “This is a high risk street but the positive spin off is that people know we have a service and that when they hit rock bottom they can come through our doors for help.”

Mr. Bascome said the house should be cleaned up to deter drug users but he said FOCUS could find good use for the property and use it as an extension of community support programmes.

“We'd like to turn it three hundred and sixty degrees around to enhance the area,” said Mr. Bascome.

Senator Raymond Tannock told The Royal Gazette that he was concerned and will be looking into options which can be used to get the owner to fix up the property.

Owner of the property Winston Rawlins did not return calls seeking comment. Police Media Relations did not return calls.