est. 2007

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Clarke’s Road Watercourse Issue – The Plight of a Blackman

For over a decade the pleas of a Black Barbadian have gone unheeded by successive Black governments. Whether it is the gang at the Ministry of Drainage, led by the beleaguered Denis Lowe, or the Chief Technical Officer Frank Thornhill at the MTW, a ministry led by the BMW driving Minister Michael Lashley, Alden Blackman…

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Clarke's Road 3
Clarke’s Road 3

For over a decade the pleas of a Black Barbadian have gone unheeded by successive Black governments. Whether it is the gang at the Ministry of Drainage, led by the beleaguered Denis Lowe, or the Chief Technical Officer Frank Thornhill at the MTW, a ministry led by the BMW driving Minister Michael Lashley, Alden Blackman the affected Black Barbadian resident of Clarke’s Road, Derricks, St. James continues to be ignored by a Black government.

To concisely summarize the issue:

  • It concerns the  illegal construction – in a watercourse – by Pat Brayshaw a White immigrant whose property adjoins that of Mr. Blackman. She commissioned the construction of a wall of boulders and backfilled to create a yard and garden. The construction has created a Carew type danger my causing water to be diverted to Mr. Blackman’s property.
  • On the 10 August 2015 a Mr. Burke visited Blackman at Clarke’s Road to advise CTO of MTW Mr. Thornhill sent him to find out “what is my problem with the watercourse”.  Mr. Burke further informed me that MTW workers stopped the asphalt paving at the end of my neighbour’s gate because she informed them that it is a private road. The MTW team returned however to tar and stone the rest of the road located in the middle and along the watercourse to satisfy the request of former member of parliament for St. James Central George Hutson.
  • The attached letter, page 2 addressed to Blackman from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Drainage has advised that the CTO of MTW has the authority to carry out any remedial work necessary to address the problem in Clarke’s Road, therefore, if the problem remains, the questions must be asked – Why the CTO of MTW continues to show no concern about Mr. Blackman’s plight to this day? Has the CTO or any official of MTW given Pat Brayshaw permission to dump boulders to construct a wall in the watercourse without first evaluating the site? If no permission was given why has the CTO of MTW allowed the constructed boulders wall to remain in the watercourse without remedial work after hearing a complaint from Mr. Blackman about the damage done to his property? Does the CTO of MTW know who at MTW authorized the paving of the private road?

The following links capture all the details concerning the matter of ‘Alden Blackman Vs Pat Brayshaw and the Government of Barbados’. Where is the justice?

40 responses to “Clarke’s Road Watercourse Issue – The Plight of a Blackman”

  1. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    The CTO of MTW Mr.Thornhill and a Mr Tudor knew about this watercourse for years , every time I pleaded, they promised to do something about it , but I never thought the something would be to make it worse,

  2. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    Mr.Yearwood, the then acting director of The Drainage Unit in 2004 also made promises to have the boulders removed,but then he resorted to blaming the lack of equipment at Drainage , for his inability to have the boulders removed, Mr. Yearwood blaming the lack of equipment was so embedded in his mind that when the BWA had the boulders removed for the pipe laying in St James, a Mr. Blades told me he required Mr.Yearwood request of not to replace the boulders in the watercourse but Mr. Yearwood refused the offer of the BWA to correct the obstructed watercourse , Mr. Arthur of Arthurs Construction then told me he have to put back the boulders ,

  3. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    What is wrong with these people. It’s sickening what they do and accept a salary every month….psychos.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    If the government was an organization and Blackman a customer how would this complaint be treated?

  5. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    In 2004- Mr. Inniss of Drainage unit ,visited the watercourse , look at the boulders wall obstruction, and agreed with me, that it is a dangerous situation that will cause flooding he did not make any promises, but his action was seen weeks later when he took the opportunity to find work for his friend who dug a well that was not needed, in the wrong position, at a cost to tax-payers, some persons benefited from my plight, who? ask Mr. Inniss why he Chose not to seek to have the boulders removed, but to dug a well that he claim was supposed to be 40ft, but was only 21ft when he measured it in the present of a Mr.Fortune and I, after I question why the well was dug there, Mr. Inniss say I can’t tell him where to put a well, I agreed with him, but my question is ,who give him the authority, to have his friend dug wells, at tax-payers cost, that ere not needed

  6. MR.C Avatar
    MR.C

    Slowly but surely Barbadians are loosing not only the land to STRANGERS, but also the REPRESENTATION that they entrusted to those who they elected to REPRESENT them. I feel it’s going to become even WORSE… STRANGERS at this point seem to be much more important. And NOT the people who’s blood sweat and tears are in the soil of Barbados..

    I remember an old saying. “MONEY WALKS, AND BULL SHIT TALKS.” That seem to be The Government Policies.

  7. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    ATTENTION TROLLING MINISTERS AND THEIR “CONSULTANTS”

    “construction of a wall of boulders and backfilled to create a yard and garden. The construction has created a Carew type danger by causing water to be diverted to Mr. Blackman’s property.”

    JUST AS THERE IS DROUGHT THERE WILL BE FLOODING.

  8. TheGazer Avatar
    TheGazer

    It seems as if the sun does not rise and set in Barbados

  9. David Avatar
    David

    What did the late Barrow say? One Bajans will wake up and what?

  10. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @David,

    The immediate problem is making sure that Mr. Blackman doesn’t end up like the late Carew.

    There is also the fact that it appears that a Government agency is responsible for some of the actions that appear to contravene Town Planning regulations.

    Please note I wrote ” appear to ” so nubody can’t sue me.

  11. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Hants….do you remember the Cowan/cahill government contract, that is the norm, they never take the people on the island lives, welfare or wellbeing into consideration. All their contracts are inconsiderate toward the people, each and everyone of them..

    This man can only expose them into remembering that he is a son of the soil and deserves better treatment. Why do they always have to be embarrassed into doing the right thing for their people….they act like they are carrying a continuous curse.

  12. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Now perhaps we can empathise with the school girl who refused to pick up a bit of garbage when asked to do so.We need to cultivate a bit of guts. For too long we Barbadians have taken things lying down without such as a murmur. We are kicked in the arse from dusk till dawn, and we crawl away with our tails between our legs. We need to stand up, open our mouths and make a fuss ,and maybe take a leaf out of Minister Ronald Jones’ book.
    We are treated this way, because those in charge ,including the politicians, are well aware that the most we will ever do, is mutter under our breath.

  13. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    Last year , I went to the Drainage Unit and had conversation with the then Director of Drainage a Mr. Rowe who promised to take a look at the watercourse ,after weeks of no show , I email him, he reply saying he is trying to setup a site meeting with the CTO of MTW and the Town Planning officer for the St. James area, but, his effort was aborted by the sudden transfer to the Coastal Zone Unit ,this posting on BU this morning, and before lunch time I was informed by an officer from Drainage that Mr. Thornhill has the recommendation from the Drainage Unit as to the remedial work to be done in the watercourse for a long time now and they don’t know what he waiting for, perhaps Mr. Thornhill has to ask the person in MTW who authorize the paving of the private botch road that was created from the boulders wall and backfilled yard/garden in the watercourse, the Drainage Unit now has a new handpick unqualified Director

  14. David Avatar
    David

    Here is a picture of the well sent by Blackman.

    https://barbadosunderground.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/clarkesroad_well.jpg

  15. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    It is Alden Blackman pleading today, who it was yesterday and who it will be tomorrow, the fact is , Mr. Frank Thornhill the CTO of MTW and other Officers who have the authority to relief a certain class of our people from plight (like the situation in Clarkes Road) have the considered opinion that our complaining is no threat to then or their action as to how they treat the black working class people in this country,

  16. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    @ David
    Thanks David , as can be seen the flood water bypass that well, flooded and dug up my back yard, flooded garage , surrounded my house and down Clarkes Road , that is the well Mr. Inniss from Drainage Unit got authorization, (from who ? ask him), to have his friend dug,, every piece of material from the digging was carted away by skip, at a cost to taxpayers , If,the stipulated law was applied, the white land owner would have to removed the boulders wall obstruction at her cost , Mr. Inniss overlook the real problem and created a way for his friend to get money from the taxpayers, but leave me in danger

  17. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Digging a well in a water course 40 feet above sea level makes no sense to me.

    Neither does putting boulders in said water course.

  18. Alvin Cummins Avatar
    Alvin Cummins

    @David,
    “…In 2004- Mr. Inniss of Drainage unit ,…Did the Drainage Unit exist at this time?
    @Alden Blackman,
    SUE.!!!

  19. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Sue whom Alvin. Mr. Blackman does not live in Canada or the US where he has rights and can trust the court system not to violate those rights. He lives in Barbados where his rights are being violated and the court system cannot yet be trusted to do the right thing…he is writing to ministers and they ignore him…..so who will listen.

  20. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    Please note , I am using my name here on BU, therefore, the names of the persons who are party to the unjust action that put my household in danger ,will be spell in my postings because the taxpayers of Barbados paid for a supposed 40 feet deep well, the well was 21 feet beep in 2005, what it measured now and to what sense it made, in the watercourse , please ask Mr. Inniss, he is still at the Drainage Unit, as to the why the well was dug, the then person in charge of drainage a Mr. Yearwood told me he don’t know why, he said Mr. Inniss had the well dug when he was on vacation and Mr. Inniss was in charge of the Drainage Unit , the well digger told me these words, ” Mr. Inniss is my friend he look out for me ” so yes Hants it do make sense, but to who

  21. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    @ Alvin Cummins

    It is very cold in Canada, so your head is hibernating in your ass, the Drainage Unit was a division of MTW, the Drainage Unit was taken out in 2008, you should ask David Thompson since you mind is as dead as he is

  22. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ Alden Blackman ,

    There was no logical reason to alter the existing water course in the first place.

    Water courses should not be changed unless it is part of a flooding alleviation program.

    Keep using BU to let people know what has been done to you.

  23. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    @ Hants

    This watercourse in Clarke’s road was working very good, I came to this lot in 1979 and started living here from 1982 , my back yard to the east was a lot with a house on it and was never flooded the water flowed in course, but that was change when the foreign land owner Pat Brayshaw started construction , the first thing to go was the watercourse ridges to allowed the equipment to pass , after constructing the house, she proceeded to build back the ridge on her south side of the watercourse but instead of started where the ridge was she decided and reclaim the 4-5 feet that from part “to middle” of the watercourse drop boulders 5-6 feet high and backfilled to make a yard /garden , that when I started complaining to Town Planning, Drainage, MTW

  24. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    I received 2 calls this morning,1persons think I am trying to blacken people names, titles name, the other said, look Blackie, I read all of your story on BU and come to the conclusion that you will have to be the Rt. Hon. F. J.Stuart to get Frank Thornhill or any officer of MTW to do any remedial work in that watercourse now after what was done to satisfy the request of Hon George. Hutson , he like many think that George Hutson has very little sense, but Frank Thornhill, having reach to be CTO, should know better than to allowed the yard/ garden to remain, but to help turned it into a road has gone way pass the action of right minded man

  25. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ Mr. Blackman,

    Keep sending updates to BU. You have to be persistent.

    There is a saying “don’t get mad get even”.

  26. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    @ David/ BU

    BU delivers,Today I notice an increase in vehicles passing along the road in the watercourse and looking, but with my thought to the task I was doing , I was slow in realizing that these people were looking at the watercourse, I miss conversation with some, but the people I talk with ,read BU, saw that picture Clarke’s Road 3 and deliberately came to see if it is really a road in the watercourse ,so today I got a job as tour guide in my back yard, after explaining how the road was created, the persons that commented said that George Hutson can be forgiven because he display very little sense, but not the actions of the CTO of MTW Mr. Frank Thornhill, they also wanted to know what the present MP is doing

  27. David Avatar
    David

    @Blackman

    Good to hear, keep your chin up. What the government, ministers and public servants alike must appreciate is the system must be about pursuing justice for all.

  28. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    This information with dates , is for the person that requested it, be send to BU

    After the boulders wall backfilled yard/garden was built in the watercourse I complained to Drainage unit and a Mr. Dawe came on the 20 January.2003 to have a look, I Complained to he CTO of MTW , Mr. Thornhill, 23 April 2004, a Mr. Inniss from Drainage visited the watercourse on the 8 October 2004, i had a meeting at Drainage office with Mr. Dawe and Mr. Yearwood who was in charge of Drainage at the time on the 7 February 2005, Mr. Symmonds the then MP for St. James Central, visited the watercourse the 25 October 2005,after the BWA made the watercourse worse ,the Nation News Paper highlight the danger the watercourse pose, on the 3 October 2006, I pleaded continued over years on BU the Nation news , Barbados Today, the last time I had a chance to speck/plea to Mr. Thornhill was on the 4 August 2015

  29. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    It make no sense for me to give information on the letters to Ministers in government, Leader of the opposition, MP for St James Central, because they can’t do what have to be done with the watercourse the prevention of floods Act Cap 225 give the CTO of MTW who happen to be, Mr. Frank Thornhill,the authority to do any remedial work in that watercourse yet it remain a danger, to me , Mr. Thornhill should remember, that after my pleading to him every month from 23 April 2004 to 8 October 2004, when a Mr. Inniss from Drainage acknowledge that the boulders wall construction is the problem, but, the positioning of a well, farther up the watercourse, clearly showed , that Mr. Inniss decided, or was ordered, to overlook the boulders wall construction, as CTO of MTW Mr. Thornhilln is totall responsible, for the delay in rectifying the watercourse. Over the years he has repeatedly deceived me by telling me the watercourse will be fix, the extent of his unfair delay action, has cause not only the flood water to damage my home, but me to realized and must ask, can Mr. Thormhill be a man without reason ?

  30. ac Avatar
    ac

    How long has this problem been on going? refresh my memory

  31. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    @ AC

    your sarcasm is noted, but my politeness, compel me to explain for you and direct you . This problem, was created in 2003 by a callous foreign white land owner, who, it seems, somehow managed to garnered the approval of the CTO of MTW Mr. Frank Thornhill at every turned in the making , he or some other officer at MTW compounded the problem in 2012 by paving a botch private road in the middle of a watercourse that redirected and worsen the flood water to a Black-man house, in this 50 years of Independence

  32. David Avatar
    David

    @Blackman

    Stay the course. You are the one feeling the pinch.

  33. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    @ David/BU

    Thanks David
    The deliberate delay action of the CTO Mr. Frank Thornhill and other officials at MTW, clearly showed they have an aversion, like some top people in Barbados, to the poor black working class people , even though they come from the same class, given the chance, they will make they own suffered, just look at the way the people in White Hill St, Andrew were treated , I shall persist , my persistence may, or may not, get the correction done in the watercourse ,but, my persistence can be used as justification

  34. ac Avatar
    ac

    i am not being sarcastic but i note your persistence for resolution,,however i also note that your claims of a catastrophic happening cause by heavy down pours would have cause serious damage to properties or households living within the same area
    i also note that within a thirteen year time span in relevancy to your problem barbados has on many occasions been deluge with heavy rains and heavy floodings through out the island .i also take note that as according to your scenario of probabilities heavy rain can cause serious flooding in the watercourse,,,,,,,,,however there has been no substantial proof of flooding in the areas surrounding the watercourse sufficient to be recognized as catastrophic
    How can that be given your analysis of such an occurrence happening namely due to boulders or inefficeint planning or workmanship by the authorities

    HI PDYR did u get lost on your way to Radio shack in america

  35. David Avatar
    David

    @Blackman

    Please ignore those who would trivialize your plight. Ignore and try to focus on staying the course.

  36. TheGazer Avatar
    TheGazer

    Sometime one may hear a caller being accused of doing ‘shtick’ on talk-radio. The caller takes a stance or uses phrases that irritate and generate a lot of discussion. Their purpose is to contribute to the discussion not in a meaningful way but in a negative way or to derail the discussion.

    ac… you are not part of the solution and your shtick is unwanted.

  37. David Avatar
    David

    @TheGazer

    ac’s problem is that she wants to be noticed.

  38. ac Avatar
    ac

    FY I ac have no ocassion of wanting to be noticed or otherwise .ac is pefectly secured in my persona ask nothing of no one man boy woman or child
    ..u get it.
    However you problem being is that you belive that any differing opinion that is.in any way remotely alligned with present govt is meaningless and unwarranted.That is your problem .Your pretense for asking for differing opinion is nothing more tgan a brasbowl full of hypocrisy.

    @Gazer i have given a summary of the issue up to present . not a conclusion yet i am accused of being a “schick” whatever that means. If so then the accusers are gladiators with a specific intent or target in mind

  39. ac Avatar
    ac

    So what is the latest on the boulder controversy.?

  40. Alden Blackman Avatar
    Alden Blackman

    @ AC

    Ask the Minister Mr. Lashley , PS Mr. Alleyne, CTO Mr. Thornhill why the MTW continued to ignored the Black Blackmans family by allowed the callous impeding in a watercourse by a private road that was allowed to be built by a foreign white land owner ,with the assistants of MTW paving ,

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