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A Land Use Policy:The Harlequin Squeeze

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We loyal sons and daughters all

Do hereby make it known

These fields and hills beyond recall

Are now our very own

We write our names on history’s page

With expectations great,

Strict guardians of our heritage

Firm craftsmen of our fate

National Anthem of Barbados (chorus)

The failure of Almond Beach Village has fuelled feeling in some quarters that Neal & Massey is shedding assets to rebalance the acquisition of BS&T a few years ago. This has caused tongues to wag about whether Barbados has a viable land use policy. It is no secret our land space is known to be approximately 166sq miles. The absence of a robust land use policy should make this a concern for all Bajans at home and abroad.

Regrettably, it is inevitable that an issue as important as a land use policy will easily become politicised. Any attempt to direct common sense (not to be confused with nationalistic fervour or jingoism) thought at this matter is too often swamped by the prospect of those who see access to foreign direct investment as the overriding consideration. Those of us who preach caution are labelled anti foreign investment. How myopic! Greedy and lazy politicians are prepared to sell our navel string and we remain silent.

Here is an example of an investor (Harlequin) who has been attracting bad media across the world. Here is an investor who has targeted Barbados and the Caribbean for investment. What due diligence did local authorities engage in before approval? Yes we should welcome foreign direct investment but it should be done between the boundary of a robust due diligence framework.

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  1. David Avatar
    David

    fyi

     
    Director of failed firms questioned by investors over missing £1.2million
    11:37am Monday 7th March 2011 in News By Jon Austin
    INVESTORS who ploughed £1.2million into two businesses which later went into liquidation turned out at a meeting to quiz its sole director over the companies’ downfall.
    Liquidator Begbies Traynor held two separate creditors’ meetings for clients of Forestry for Life and associated company the Investor Club, based in Dunton Road, Laindon.
    Forestry for Life offered rainforest carbon credits.
    These were traded like shares, with guaranteed 12 per cent interest for three years on minimum £25,000 stakes.
    The Investor Club was set up to promote “diverse and alternative”
    investment opportunities.
    Both companies are now in liquidation.
     

  2. Crime Monitor Avatar
    Crime Monitor

    David, is it still illegal for Barbadians, who are residing in Barbados, to hold US$ accounts in the USA or was this legalized?

  3. David Avatar
    David

    @Crime Monitor

    Not sure but the common sense answer must be yes if you operate on the basis that Barbadians are not suppose to use foreign currency as legal tender locally. To invest overseas (open accounts) you would therefore have to buy forex from the bank by obtaining approvals. Not sure in the case of a Barbadian acquiring forex outside of Barbados and depositing in a foreign account how that is vied.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    Here are a couple of relevant links:

    http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/9631574.The___180m_holiday_homes_gamble/?ref=fbsend&fb_source=message

    http://businessbarbados.com/investor-guide/foreign-investment-controls/

  5. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    What is a robust land use policy in the context of Barbados? We too love trotting out sound bites!!

  6. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    Knew that would get you.

    What it is not is selling our land to any Tom, Dick and Harry.

  7. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Barbados land use policy was SELL de coast to foriners and de rest to Cow.

  8. David Avatar
    David

    @hants

    Don’t forget CLICO!

  9. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Some politician said last week we must move away from an agrarian land use policy.
    Who was it?

  10. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    LOL
    Is this the Four Seasons story too…or just similar?

    Bush Tea Really enjoyed that You-tube clip. Hard to believe that well off people could be so gullible and stupid….. Or is it greedy…?

    Reminds Bushie of Allan Stanford during his glory days…. With the local press, cricket hyarchy and high society ‘smelling up behind him’ as Mrs. Bush used to say…. “Sir!!” indeed!!!

    It really is amazing that we in Barbados have so much faith and confidence in people whose background we know nothing about… And so little in those among us who we have known from birth….

    One wonders if O$A has had a rethink of his policy of inclusion which extended to ‘including’ outsiders who he thinks had something material to offer…..?
    ….or whether he now realizes that one thing that CANNOT be depended on from such “INCLUDED” is loyalty?

  11. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    The land use policy of a Nation like Barbados should be based on the need to house and feed its people.
    This has to be balanced with the gift of being an Island blessed with beaches.

    Now that we have sold the beach lands for their best purpose and taken huge acreages to build Golf courses and luxury houses for the Rich what next?

  12. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    Can any engineer comment on the work being done at the property next to KFC on the south coast? I notice that the name of the developer is also Harlequin.

  13. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @ David
    The sale of land or non-sale is NOT a land USE policy!! That is land ownership.

  14. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    Here is a clarification for you: land use and land ownership can be used interchangeably – now get pass it!

    @Hants

    The NE corridor is still to be fought over. Which government will preside over its decimation?

  15. bushtea Avatar
    bushtea

    @ David – forgive enuff
    “…there are none so blind…”

    What “OWNERSHIP what??! who “owns” land?
    Land is a national birthright that is held in trust for future Barbadians. Wise, thoughtful and caring trustees would not only pass this legacy on to their children and grand children, but would ensure that it was passed on in an enhanced state….

    How on earth can people argue that it is acceptable for current trustees to SELL the birthright of their own children to strangers…? …so that they can enjoy the “pot of soup” represented by foreign cars and oil…?

    It is analogous to one of Enuff’s children exercising their ‘RIGHT’ to sell off their room in the family house, to raise money to attend reggae on the Hill…

    stupsseee – this is so basic….!!

  16. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @Bush Tea
    Or my backyard! Why did it have to be a reggae show ticket? Are you saying that people sell their land only to finance the trivial? Managing 166 sq miles of land space with a multiplicity of competing uses is far from basic.

    @ David
    Lease? Promote only local property development? I must say DThompson’s policy insisting on local involvement with foreign investors was commendable but still did not address USE.

  17. John Avatar
    John

    Hants | April 28, 2012 at 1:42 PM |
    The land use policy of a Nation like Barbados should be based on the need to house and feed its people.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    There must also be the employment consideration.

    BT

    If you were to really dig dispassionately into what happened that changed the perfectly good land use policy Barbados developed you would end up at post independence politicians and their lackeys looking to make a dollar.

    They don’t give a damn about the future well being of this country, just what they can get in the five years they hope to have.

    To expect current politicians to come up with a land use policy that works is ridiculous. None has the slightest idea of how to employ large tracts of land productively for the long term benefit of our country.

    That knowledge resides in a fast disappearing segment of the population, the old time planter and labour class that once employed a land use policy developed over years for the productive use of land.

    All politicians can do is encourage the growing of more and more bush …. and they ain’t even got a clue how to brew bush tea.

  18. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    We keep saying it: both the DLP and BLP must be kicked out of the parliament of this country in 6 years time.

    One of the outrageous things that both DLP and BLP Governments have been doing is allowing our Barbadian land space rights to be sold by Barbadian people and businesses to foreign people and businesses, and by foreign people and businesses to other foreign people and businesses.

    None of our land space rights should have been allowed to be owned by any foreign people or businesses. None whatsoever!!

    If anything foreign people and enterprises should have been only allowed to lease such rights for relatively short term of years for every lease, but with no possibility of subleasing such rights.

    Also no foreign businesses should have been to operate in Barbados without entering into partnerships with other Barbadian people or enterprises.

    A future PDC Government shall make sure that the requisIte laws and policies pertaining to such philosophies are enacted in this country.

    For their deliberate failure to put such laws and policies in place to safe guard the land patrimony of this country, and to make sure that every household in Barbados has its own land space rights, these two jackass factions must be kicked very hard and hard as hell out of the parliament of this country in 6 years time.

    PDC

  19. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    “Relatively short terms of years”

    PDC

  20. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @ PDC
    And what does leasing and local investor involvement accomplish besides preventing foreign ownership? How does it engender a ‘robust’ land use policy?

  21. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    What is the relatively large tract of land in the Pine i.e the area west of the MTW sports ground, being used for? or land north of C’mere school, or the land in the Belle or in the Scotland District. It would seem that if we want land to be used “productively” we need more foreigners not less. (ok I’m being slightly sarcastic but only slightly..)

    Recently a group of undergraduate students from a USA university came to B’dos and helped in the refurbishment of playground facilities at a government owned CH CH primary school. Meanwhile, UWI undergraduate were “doing de dog” at the annual UWI carnival. We should remember the parable of the talents.

  22. The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall Avatar
    The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall

    @Ping Pong: “Can any engineer comment on the work being done at the property next to KFC on the south coast? I notice that the name of the developer is also Harlequin.

    I”m not an engineer. But any Bajan who walks along the Board Walk or drives along the south coast high-way can tell you…

    This structure has been reduced down to its core, and is currently being held up because of stanchions.

    The property is boarded up, with signs showing Harlequin’s presence, stating the property will be reopening 2012.

    Meanwhile, there is a very expensive pile driver on the site which doesn’t appear to have moved in more than two weeks.

    Hmmmm….

  23. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    The People’s Democratic Congress | April 28, 2012 at 4:38 PM | We keep saying it: both the DLP and BLP must be kicked out of the parliament of this country in 6 years time
    //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    WHAT will happen when we do this ??
    Give us the 411

  24. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    @ “The entity etc …”

    – I’m not an engineer either but the structure next to KFC in its present state does not look safe to me nor does it look suitable to be used as part of a refurbished building. The reinforcing steel has been left exposed for a long time and corrosion would have started which I’m told will weaken the structure. The structure is also an eyesore but the precedent for that has been set by such derelict buildings as the old eye hospital, the old general hospital/ Ministry of Health compound or Marshall Hall and many other Government owned properties.

    Is Harlequin the same company behind the project at Merricks in St.Philip? The Central Bank expects this project to contribute significant to B’dos economic prospects see http://businessbarbados.com/business-economic-reports/review-barbados-economy-2012q1/

  25. David Avatar
    David

  26. The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall Avatar
    The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall

    @Ping Pong: “I’m not an engineer either but the structure next to KFC in its present state does not look safe to me nor does it look suitable to be used as part of a refurbished building.

    I agree. If Barbados was to experience another earthquake, or a tsunami, that structure may collapse.

    But because the last two Barbados Prime Minsters have not approved any coastal developments, the developers are using loopholes.

    @Ping Pong: “The Central Bank expects this project to contribute significant to B’dos economic prospects…

    Do they actually expect this?

    Or are they telling us to expect it?

    Different things….

  27. David Avatar
    David

    check this link out:

    http://www.harlequinhotelsandresorts.com/hotels/

    It appears this property is under the wing of the Harlequin under discussion.

  28. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ enuff
    why a reggae ticket…?

    Because that is almost exactly the type of use to which we have put the monies derived from the sale of our birthright land.

    we used it to pay for ‘first world status’ – what ever that means…. it boils down to enjoying a nostalgic feeling for a short period while a set of uneducated morons laugh all the way to the bank…

    YOU tell Bushie what is worth the sale of our children’s future roots..
    …the car in every garage?
    …the graduate in every home (and we cant find a dozen leaders or businessmen?
    …a cell phone in every pocket – to enrich another Irishman?
    … or is it so your political bosses can play their five year game…?

    Bushie would dead with laugh if you come home from East Coast Road and find your youngest daughter just sold your kitchen to an Englishman….

  29. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    So B’dos is betting its economic well being on the actions of a known conman?!! Oh well if Antigua re:Stanford could do it why not us?

  30. The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall Avatar
    The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall

    @Ping Pong: “So B’dos is betting its economic well being on the actions of a known conman?!! Oh well if Antigua re:Stanford could do it why not us?

    Because it doesn’t “scale”. Read: It will work for a little while, but not for long.

    The “smart money” is interested in long term viability.

    Even here in little Bim….

  31. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ John
    “That knowledge resides in a fast disappearing segment of the population, the old time planter and labour class that once employed a land use policy developed over years for the productive use of land.”
    *******
    Now John, you know full well that Bushie will have issues with that statement….
    What knowledge what…?

    You can’t be referring to the old time plantation Planter who employed the the policy of exploitation of his slaves (labour class) to enrich himself and his family to the deliberate exclusion of the hardworking slaves….are you?

    …and you can’t be referring to their descendents either – like the ones who sold out Plantations, BS&T, and recently BL+P to foreigners after decades of exploiting locals to build up the reserves and fat – so that they can attract big offers for themselves and their families….

    …so pray tell us who these fast disappearing segment are….

    What we really need in Barbados is a genuine EDUCATION philosophy which seeks to understand WHO we are; WHAT our purpose is; and HOW we can live successful and fulfilling lives here… and the ‘first world’ countries can’t teach us that…. they need it too….

    …else we will continue to be made the fool of….

  32. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @Bushie wrote ” What we really need in Barbados is a genuine EDUCATION philosophy which seeks to understand WHO we are”

    Too late Bushie. That should have been done 50 years ago.

  33. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @ Bushie
    What is your solution?

  34. The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall Avatar
    The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall

    @Hants: “Too late Bushie. That should have been done 50 years ago.

    Yes, it should have been done 50 years ago.

    But is wasn’t.

    And it is rarely too late.

    Why not try to do it now?

  35. The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall Avatar
    The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall

    @Enuff: “@Buchie: “What is your solution?

    One might reasonably ask what is your solution.

  36. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Enuff
    What is Bushie’s solution?
    *********
    (…more precisely, what is Bushie’s solution for Barbados… Since Bushie has had a personal solution for a few decades now….)

    Well it depends on what the specific problem is… You may recall that when BBE himself was personified on earth, when ‘the problem’ was identified as a lack of wine – he provided that…
    …when it was blindness or sickness or even death, he removed that…

    But he was at pains to point out that the REAL human problem was a fundamental need “to be born again…”

    …so Enuff, if you want workable governance with FOI and full transparency- then Bushie has already outlined the solution in the COOP model.

    …if you want to be rich and comfortable then you need to learn to be productive and selfless (like a true bushman)

    BUT…
    ….if you want to be truly successful, then you need to come to understand the true purpose of your existence and to redirect your efforts to passing THAT examination – rather than blindly following the herd up to Farley Hill (so to speak…)

  37. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Entity formerly called CH
    Congrats on your choice of gravatar, the solution to which requires the arbitrary definition of an imaginary number to represent something which otherwise defies logical explanation…
    What is wrong with you? Did you not hear Enuff’s solution?

    …..install a hive in parliament…. 🙂

  38. ac Avatar
    ac

    so what if we come to find out that the real purpose of existence surpasses our expectations of yourselves and which is only limited by the things which we do for others and expect of ourselves and can be easily summed up in treating others the way we would want to be treated ourselves.

  39. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @ Bushie
    FOI and full transparency will not produce a ‘robust land use policy’.

  40. The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall Avatar
    The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsall

    @Enuff: “FOI and full transparency will not produce a ‘robust land use policy’.

    Wouldn’t hurt though. Would it?

  41. ac Avatar
    ac

    so what would a robust land use policy entail. and would it put any real meaningful policies in place ensuring that the natives be given first preference to buying land and if so how would that be implemented in a democractic and captalist society.

  42. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Cuddear Enuff, a “robust land use policy” is merely a symptom of our state of nationhood…..

    IS THAT ALL YOU WANT?

    …let bushie break this down for you.

    Do you and your family go about using your available resources to sustain your family expectations? Or do you all sit around watching movies and playing dominoes, and depending on welfare?

    Would you consider selling parts of your home to rich neighbors -( like Bushie) to raise money?
    How about the room next to the oldest daughter…? Even piece of the backyard would interest Bushie…. It would provide someplace to dump some junk which is cluttering up the Bushman’s palace…

    OR do you and family Sit down and plan to improve and even expand the home and make it comfortable to your family – WHILE welcoming to guests?

    Even if things got tight, would you not collectively tighten belts and share resources RATHER than have strangers like Bushie walking bout in your house like he own it…?

    Translate that analogy to what John’s friends and “master planters” have done to the rest of their Bajan family -when they sold out our BS&T to trickydadians, and BL+P to Canadians, who are now striding all over our home telling us what we must and must not do….

    THERE CAN BE NO GREATER LACK OF PRIDE FOR A FAMILY THAN TO FIND ITSELF IS SUCH A STATE….the parents must be ashamed…

  43. John Avatar
    John

    Bush Tea | April 28, 2012 at 6:55 PM |

    Now John, you know full well that Bushie will have issues with that statement….
    What knowledge what…?
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    You got head problems!!

    Pawpaw leaves I am told are good … or was that soursop leaves.

    Try both.

    Go check the share registers before you make claims off the top of your head that may not historically accurate.

    Prove what you allege.

    Educate yourself before you go telling others to get an education philosophy.

    … and after you educate yourself, then educate us with facts.

  44. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    You are so typical John….
    What check what share registers what??!!

    You think Bushie foolish…?
    We need to check the BOARDROOMS….. Or more correctly, up Cattlewash and Bath…

    If you check the shareholders you will only see what we are now seeing at CLICO and ALMOND…. Lots of different people’s money, hopes and aspirations under the control of a few selfish ‘parent types’ who operate on selfish, hidden agendas….

    And Bushie’s education is beyond question- even beyond your comprehension…

    …you better go to sleep and don’t get Bushie started….

  45. John Avatar
    John

    This education thing is tough, I know.

    Lemme help you.

    http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2007/07/02/sir-allan-fields-great-businessman-or-traitor-to-barbados-or-both/

  46. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Bushie you still fail to see the tension and contradiction that exist between promoting everyone owning piece of the rock and a sound land use policy.
    Agree with you ref BS&T etc somewhat, but maybe we focused too much on owning piece of the rock and in doing so indebted ourselves to the same banks rather than being part owners.

    Here is my first tenet of a land use policy:
    Dynamic, not arbitrary or subject to politics, but evidence-based

  47. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ John
    If you are going to accuse Bushie of needing ‘education’ and then proceed to quote BFP as a reference we are done for the night…. Their agenda fits well with yours…

    @ Enuff
    The ultimate way in which everyone can own a piece of the rock would be for NO ONE to ‘own’ any of it. Why should it not be held in a collective trust for that family of mankind called ‘Bajans’?

    We don’t “own” a thing, we merely utilize the place during our short sourjourn here.
    Bajans could exercise a lease arrangement which can provide for transfers between Bajans, by will or sale of the lease.

    It would be like two of your children exchanging rooms in your family home….. Which is a whole lot different to a stranger moving in.

    Not that outsiders won’t be welcomed. Both as visitors and as additions to the family by marriage, adoption, or deep friendship… But not “se vende”
    Some things are sacred.

  48. John Avatar
    John

    Bush Tea | April 28, 2012 at 11:15 PM |
    @ John
    If you are going to accuse Bushie of needing ‘education’ and then proceed to quote BFP as a reference we are done for the night…. Their agenda fits well with yours…
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Excuses, excuses,… you letting yourself down too bad.

    …… just go read the excerpts from Ronnie Hughes’ work on the history of BS&T if you feel you are not able to handle the article by BFP.

    Pay particular attention to the need of BS&T in 1931 for capital … when it was still private …. and the takeover bid in 1969.

    You will realise that the historical facts render your allegations completely ridiculous.

    I can copy and paste them here but the blog and its posts are worth the read …. all at the time when BS&T was in the process of being taken over!!

    I note that was in 2007, well before elections were even announced.

  49. John Avatar
    John

    … and BT

    You will find the family construct difficult for alot of Bajans.

    The society has “evolved” to the point where family no longer matters to many.

  50. John Avatar
    John

    … and there BT is where you will find the genesis of the problems we face today.

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