According to a report in today’s Nation newspaper Sir Charles Williams has flatly denied that his Ape’s Hill Project has been adversely affecting the water supply of residents in the area. He is reported to have explained that Ape’s Hill has built a dam to trap water to be used to service the golf course. We hope that authorities of the Barbados Water Authority will come to the public and give an official position.
Why do these government departments hide from the public? Don’t they appreciate that they can remove a lot of the tension between the various actors with timely interventions? There is something to be said for a well functioning corporate communications department. If what Sir Charles is reported to have said is true we offer our congratulations. But we are forced to ask the question, is the damming of water for the Ape’s Hill Project not a Town Planning requirement? We suspect that it is a requirement, and if that is the case, the Nation report should have made that point clear in the report.
Sir Charles is quoted “We have never carried out any work for water accumulation in any gullies in Apes Hill. We are extremely proud of our efforts to improve the water situation in Barbados.” Here is another angle which the Nation reporter did not take the opportunity to clarify. The unbridled development which has been allowed by the Town Planning Department, and which Sir Charles and other real estate developers on the West Coast have taken full advantage, has affected the ecological balance on that side of the island. BU family members have been emailing us that residents in the Hillaby, Turner’s Hall and surrounding areas are on a daily basis being terrorized by monkeys!
The rummaging of the gullies and forested areas by Sir Charles and his cohorts have disturbed the natural habitat of the two legged primate. BU has no problem with development, all we are asking on behalf of the PEOPLE in the area is that some responsibility be taken by Sir Charles and Town Planning for the ecological fallout currently taking place. Why should residents have to live in fear of the monkeys who now enter their properties as if they belong? Why should the farmers in the area now have to deal with the escalating problem caused by monkeys assaulting their crops? What is the purpose of an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and was one done for this project? If and EIS was done did it address the issue of the monkeys being driven in the the villages of Hillaby, Turner’s Hall and the other villages which border Ape’s Hill?
Finally, it is said that PEOPLE get what they deserve. What about the political leadership of St. Andrew? What is the position of the Member of Parliament George Payne on this matter? For many years while his government occupied government he made a decision to remain silent on the issues in parliament. If we were to check Hansard how are his statements recorded on this matter? Is the Parliament not the place to discuss the PEOPLE’s business?
The PEOPLE will always get what they deserve.
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