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RIDGE, Christ Church: 179 Acres to be Reclassified to Plant Concrete

rigg-town-hall-noticeIt seems like yesterday BU was at the vanguard of highlighting the indifference shown by the then Barbados Labour Party government to how agricultural land was being reclassified and subdivide to plant concrete. Eight years later under a Democratic Labour Party government nothing has changed.

The featured notice was published in the Nation newspaper on the 21 October 2016. A review of the notification shows it to be inadequate. While the notice advises the date of of the Town Hall there is no mention of the specifics of the subdivision.

BU was able to secure  a few pages from the EIA volume 2 –it relates to the development of 104 acres volume 2 we understand is 75 acres – to change its use to residential and commercial. That is a total of 179 acres. Barbadians have remained very passive on most issues – except Cahill –  which translates to this project moving forward.

These fields and hills -what are they becoming!

119 responses to “RIDGE, Christ Church: 179 Acres to be Reclassified to Plant Concrete”

  1. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    @ John
    Perhaps that new line to St Phillip is intended to be eventually linked to the ministerial wells at Groves, near Stirling.

  2. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-us-presidential-election-campaign-latest-cancel-the-election-ohio-speech-hillary-a7384116.html

    I did not know where to put this link, anywhere else would have been sacrilege.

    MoneyB if there was any doubt before, all doubt has now been removed about this idiot, useless waste of space.

  3. Frustrated Businessman aka 'Nation of Laws' my ass. Avatar
    Frustrated Businessman aka ‘Nation of Laws’ my ass.

    David October 27, 2016 at 4:45 PM #
    @Frustrated

    You have not introduced the economic dimension to the debate. If we take your position to a logical conclusion than most agricultural land will be reclassified at some point to commercial or residential. Where do we go from here?

    Pardon me but I believe I have. My point was entirely economic. Humans in the free market will not pursue unprofitable trade.

    BAMC is mandated by taxpayers to grow sugar cane at any cost. Their production cost right now is about twice that of private farmers due to the usual civil service/ statutory corporation inefficiencies/teefin’. If private farmers were paid BAMC’s cost you couldn’t buy a square inch of agriculture land in BDS.

    The rental rate for agriculture land was established by BAMC 25 years ago at $180 per acre (varying slightly based on location) and that rate has not moved in 25 years. Anyone who wants to prove their worth in agriculture (and everyone else wrong) has an idle land bank available for rent all over BDS at that rate of approximately 8,000 acres.

    Further, agriculture land is currently worth about $1 per square foot in lots of 50 acres or more. If the owner gets wind you want to subdivide it you might have to pay $2. After change-of-use has been granted, the development cost is around $14 to $16, maybe a little higher if lots are small and road network dense. The developer makes $2 and the bank makes $3 on the carrying costs while the Chief Town Planner sits on his thumbs waiting on a bribe for three to five years.

    Because the previous owners could not get change-of-use permission for the most fertile land in BDS, CLICO bought over 2,000 acres of St. John estates at less than $0.25 per square foot including houses, yards and equipment, based entirely on speculation that the new PM and Minister of Planning who was also the MP for St. John and lawyer for CLICO CEO was going to turn that agriculture liability into residential development windfall. Speculation my ass, more teefin’.

    To put it simply again, there will be no economic recovery under Fumble’s Fools.

    Until farmers are paid a subsidised cost price for cane at the weighbridge (farmers currently don’t know what they will be paid when cane is delivered nor are they paid until over six months later) there will be nothing but agriculture decline. What is worse, once this land is gone it cannot ever be replaced.

  4. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Two issues jump out at me: the large allocation to commercial activity and the lack of robustness of the EIA. If that is what passes for an EIA…may the Gods help us! Imagine the change of use, hence development, of such a large parcel of land and no mention of its impact on even a mongoose? Any mitigation measures to encourage butterflies, bees, birds? Naffin!
    Then again I don’t blame the applicants. In the absence of a structured framework with targets/standards what is the EIA measured against?
    Are we building another Coverley here? 5 acre commercial lot?

  5. David Avatar
    David

    @Frustrated

    Sorry about that the ‘not’ should read now.

  6. Frustrated Businessman aka 'Nation of Laws' my ass. Avatar
    Frustrated Businessman aka ‘Nation of Laws’ my ass.

    David October 28, 2016 at 8:02 AM #
    @Frustrated

    Sorry about that the ‘not’ should read now.

    Accepted.

    Until less than 100 years ago, the vast majority of the resources and efforts of the vast majority of humans on this planet were spent on food and shelter, Maslow’s first level.

    In the coming generations that will again be the case, food and water will become more valuable than cars and celphones.

    BDS has reasonably good soil and a tradition of fantastic land husbandry that has made the most from limited resources to build this nation.

    The added tragedy of the politically-motivated and executed, systematic destruction of agriculture is the loss of more than just land resources, it is the loss of skills that cannot be retrained when the last generation (currently all over 50 years old and mostly 60 and 70) are gone.

    If anyone in the next gov’t is reading, please write this down: all that is required to increase our food security and return land husbandry is a sugar cane subsidy paid at the scale and the removal of laws restricting citizens from sugar trade. The Free Market will take care of the rest.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    Our real estate is a special resource given that we are a 2×3 island. How we utilize/allocate such a precious resource must be informed by a vision and strategy.

  8. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Page 13 BarbadosToday.bb 240 acres for sale with TCP approval for Hotel and Golf development in ST.PETER.

    At least a Golf course can become agricultural land if required.

  9. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    179 + 240

    419 ACRES to be “removed” from agriculture.

  10. David Avatar
    David

    @Hants

    Why are our decision makers not understanding the folly of reclassifying land from agriculture to residential/commercial?

    We are 21 miles by 14 wide for crissakes!

  11. Frustrated Businessman aka 'Nation of Laws' my ass. Avatar
    Frustrated Businessman aka ‘Nation of Laws’ my ass.

    David October 28, 2016 at 8:33 AM #
    Our real estate is a special resource given that we are a 2×3 island. How we utilize/allocate such a precious resource must be informed by a vision and strategy.

    You are wrong, and you missed my point.

    Some half-wit, mis-informed, corrupt, civil service bureaucrat/lackie cannot force a Bajan farmer to farm his land at a loss like in communist Russia.

    The incentive has to be financial. If farming was making money there would be no applications for change of use.

    Further, if the demand for agricultural land existed, all it would do is drive up the price of land for any purpose, regardless of use classification.

    The state cannot direct or determine commerce, it can only facilitate commerce and reap the rewards in the form of taxes.

    This is the fundamental mistake Fumble’s Fools have made and the biggest reason there will be no economic recovery until they are gone.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @Frustrated

    On some aspects of the argument we are saying the same thing. Countries where there is a vision and national strategy a decision maybe taken to subsidize agriculture as an example. As a country we must chart a path to determine good outcomes.

  13. John Avatar
    John

    Colonel Buggy October 27, 2016 at 8:21 PM #
    @ John
    Perhaps that new line to St Phillip is intended to be eventually linked to the ministerial wells at Groves, near Stirling.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    You mean the ones dug in the sheet water zone from which Hampton extracts its water?

    Same difference!!!!

    The sheet water area under the Belle like the one under Hampton don’t miraculously enlarge because another well is sunk!!!!

    All it means is that Hampton output will go down!!!

  14. John Avatar
    John

    No matter how large the pipeline laid, it still can’t deliver what is not physically there and available to deliver!!

  15. John Avatar
    John

    I agree a better pipeline with fewer leaks wastes less water and can deliver more than a leaky pipeline.

    But given the issues in St. Joseph, why on earth would efforts not be afoot to address them instead of creating other problems!!

  16. John Avatar
    John

    Bottom line, the water for any new development HAS to come by diverting it away from existing ones!!

  17. Nostradamus Avatar
    Nostradamus

    @ Frustrated Businessman aka ‘Nation of Laws’ my ass. October 28, 2016 at 8:30 AM #
    “…… the removal of laws restricting citizens from sugar trade”

    Can you elaborate and specify the law that restricts citizens from the sugar trade? Exactly what is the restriction?

  18. Nostradamus Avatar
    Nostradamus

    Vincent Haynes October 27, 2016 at 1:18 PM #
    “Why do we not have a land use policy for this country….identify land that will be used only for residential,agriculture and commercial purposesfor the next 30-50 years.
    Why are we allowing land to be taken out of agriculture on a wily nily basis?”

    Yes we do have a land use policy and it is contained in the Physical Development Plan (PDP) amended 2003. It clearly sets out the classification of lands and the process to be used in the event that significant changes are to be made.

  19. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    Nostradamus October 28, 2016 at 12:26 PM #

    Good to know….I recall in the late nineties it was being discussed and a draft was circulated,one issue was the time before change could be made…..I never knew it was gazetted……are these developments conforming to the process required for change of use?

  20. Nostradamus Avatar
    Nostradamus

    Vincent you can download a copy of the PDP Amended 2003 from the link below.

    http://www.graemehall.com/press/resource-plan-2003.htm

    As I posted above a change of use of this magnitude, larger than 10 hectares / 24.7 Hectares, requires not only an EIA bit an amendment to the PDP.

    See Section 3.13.1 of the PDP. “ Under exceptional circumstances, non-agricultural development may be considered on agricultural land (SUBECT TO AN EIA AND AMENDMENT TO THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDED 2003 IN INSTANCES WHERE THE LAND IS GREATER THAN 10 HECTARES/24.7 acres) but only if the proposal provides significant economic, social and environmental benefits……..”

  21. exclaimer Avatar
    exclaimer

    David, the selling off of agricultural land is an inevitable process. The end game is clear: our government has effectively dropped any pretence that its chief role is to govern Barbados for the good of their predominantly Negro population.

    The selling off of agricultural land will limit the supply of home grown produce. This will lead to an increasing reliance on imported food. I have just spent 3 weeks plus on the island and I can assure you that food prices are astronomically expensive.

    The supply of potable water has now become a luxury. Whilst the domestic job market has become dominated by foreign players.

    The signs from our goverment are evident. We may have to accept that we have become surplus to requirements on the rock that our ancestors shed their blood.

    It has been designated that Barbados will become a high priced and a high valued country. The impoverished will not be catered for in the new Barbados. I know that such a thought is unpalatable but the evidence is out there.

  22. David Avatar
    David

    @Exclaimer

    Much of the land being reclassified has been fallow. It is not the utility of the land but the inability of the players of today to create economic value besides planting concrete.

  23. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    But isn’t it funny, Ha! Ha!, that now agriculture in Barbados is dead and gone,thanks to the politicians,developers and crop thieves, that the University of the West Indies is now introducing a NVQ course in agriculture.Good luck with Operation Lazarus.
    Almost as laughable as building a new multi million dollar sugar factory.

  24. Violet C Beckles Avatar
    Violet C Beckles

    John and Georgie Porgie@@

    both of you maybe be right about what you see posted on sites, But most of that is ‘WHITE VIEWS UP UNTIL 1913, AS PUT OUT BY THE Barbados Library and the National Trust, You all will learn “WHITE” ways of control in writing false and lack of true history,
    From where we stand, there is not much info in books after the 1920 to 1990-2016, They must be waiting for us all to die to re write another 100 years of lies,
    We have and can see the lies printed in books and net, Sir Beckles is a crooks and the other Sirs in law and History about Barbados,
    There can be nothing worse than the Bajan People being lied to by those who are deem to know the truth and tell it ,
    There will be a lot to answer for as Mr Williams at the Archives,Mr Forde at Land TAX ,Mark Cummins Town and Country and jackass PM one day will be removed from office and will live of that part of land, Internal Investment in fraud, We hope without
    “CLEAR TITLE ” WE one day will be able to catch all the crooks in one company in their Fraud and PONZI deals, Outside Banks know how to watch all of you and Butch, Cow and Ham and the likes,
    We hold deeds that speak of the heading in this Post, We are the True owner of most of the Plantations Lands of Barbados after the 1920, Land records and history,
    We are still looking to see as we watch this played out as we again await a PROBATE this Estate from 2012, The owners are not dead and have not sold any Plantations so there is no need for new deeds,
    The words, the size, the cost paid, the names of the buyers and sellers and where they lived when the sales went down, That have not been disputed by Any Minister in the crooks ass DBLP government,
    We have more records than we give to Station Sgt Mark White of the Not so Royal Barbados Police , Withholding the truth and to be a minister in a CHURCH must be a 501C3 government own Faith for tax purposes ,
    We so called black Bajan own land after white slavery and still owns it today, Build well for all will be claimed, No Taxes owed when fraud movement of land tax number were switched with full intent of Fraud for Black Ministers and White Crooks ,
    World Events will show up in Barbados ,
    Who ever is paying you both and others to confuse those who feel this could never happen in Barbados , guest what it happen and is still happening , All things being done in Barbados is part of the cover up of the fraud, The fraud got out of hand and moves faster now than a speeding train from Japan ,

  25. Violet C Beckles Avatar
    Violet C Beckles

    blocking my word again

  26. Violet C Beckles Avatar
    Violet C Beckles

    Hants October 28, 2016 at 10:22 AM #

    179 + 240

    419 ACRES to be “removed” from agriculture.
    @@@

    Would you not like to see the Clear title history of the Plantations Named?
    Any how they got into the hands of the DBLP?
    How much was paid at that time?

    Or all that is needed to be done is by verbal words and news leaks?

  27. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    And today we read in the Saturday Sun ,Bizzy trying to pressurised the Government into changing 4 acres of his land in St Thomas from Agriculture , to allow him to farm solar cells. But, he added, it will still remain in agriculture as he will be using sheep on the site to mow the grass.
    No doubt Bizzy will have his way, and its all to do with the Sheep. The Sheep in Palmetto Market.

  28. exclaimer Avatar
    exclaimer

    No surprise there Colonel Buggy. We in Barbados have always been followers; we lack the creativity so often found in other nations.

    Take a look at the link below

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/29/tesla-boss-elon-musk-unveils-solar-roof-tiles

  29. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2016/10/29/pitcher-still-wants-dead-money-from-redjet/was this not the Ian Burns and Bizzy scams to get regional governments to fund Redjet
    .
    …..why is Barbados government ministers even speaking to 4 Seasons Bizzy….after all of that.

  30. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    Colonel Buggy October 29, 2016 at 12:08 PM #

    In the same article Bizzy made the point that the project will be financed by borrowing from an overseas bank as he has no problems getting loans overseas………is this in contrast to our governments inability to secure any more beneficial loans overseas……possibly they could get Bizzy to borrow for them.

  31. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    What is Bizzy offering to secure the loan overseas?

  32. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    David October 29, 2016 at 1:35 PM #

    Good question……..would suggest assets overseas….its only a 3M loan.

  33. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    David October 29, 2016 at 1:35 PM #
    @Vincent

    What is Bizzy offering to secure the loan overseas
    ………………………………………………………………………………..
    Income from rental to Government ,offices in Skymall
    Income from rental to Government, offices in the old Julie N building , Bridge Street.
    Income from rental /supply of water to BWA from Desalination Plants.
    Income from mainly government sponsored solid waste business, including ,garbage collection. Plus others
    Any overseas Bank, will be favourable towards the likes of Bizzy, COW, Maloney, et al , when the name Barbados is proffered. To them Barbados is more than adequate collateral .
    I am surprised that Bizzy is not financing this project from the pay cheques he receives from the Barbados Government monthly.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    @Colonel

    If he is borrowing overseas he must be offering some security lodged overseas.

  35. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    @Bajans. Some Government Housing Projects

    Lancaster , St James
    http://i.imgur.com/8kazp8X.jpg?1

    Church Village St Phillip
    http://i.imgur.com/MoLioah.jpg

  36. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    @ David
    Is is alleged that this guy has shares in Pricesmart and CostUless ? Perhaps those earnings stays in the good ole US of A.

  37. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    David October 29, 2016 at 5:23 PM #
    If he is borrowing overseas he must be offering some security lodged oversea
    …………………………………………………………………………………………..
    Perhaps the loan is from the Republic Bank of T&T.

  38. Violet C Beckles Avatar
    Violet C Beckles

    http://howafrica.com/zimbabwean-president-robert-mugabe-orders-arrest-of-corrupt-ministers/
    Barbados ministers are next

  39. John Avatar
    John

    The water routinely goes off at the Frere Pilgrim development!!!

    If you don’t have a tank and pump system ….. tough!!

    The highest elevation there is 340 to 360 feet above sea level

    Fort George reservoir is at 398 feet.

    Not much so a difference.

    I suspect the problem is that the lower elevations Fort George supplies attract the water and get supplied easier than the higher elevations.

    I recall one of the requirements for the Fort George development way back when was that houses needed to install their own pressure tanks.

    So Ridge will gave the same problem as well, irrespective of whether a brand new pipeline has been installed or not.

    … and the density of housing proposed at Ridge is many many more times higher than Frere Pilgrim.

    If the pipeline also supplies St. Philip then clearly the only way we are going is downhill.

    Saw an interesting article about importing river water from Suriname to address the problem.

    Guess they will send it through the “desal” plant as the plant can’t handle salt water from the sea.

    The issue of sovereignty will arise as it did in the case of Singapore but these monkeys here don’t have a clue about such issues, … just try and patch … never say the truth about the problem facing our country!!!!

    Fort George gets its water from principally from Belle and Newmarket pumping stations which means they have been maxed out already.

  40. David Avatar
    David

    The matter of importing water was clarified. They are testing a process to efficiently transport river water to Barbados. The water will not ‘land’ in Barbados.

  41. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    David October 31, 2016 at 11:22 AM #

    You only test if you intend to “land” at some stage in the future.

    I am concerned about the bacteria that will travel in it and how it will enter our system.

  42. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    Had a quick read of your article, will see if a member of the household can put a blog up on it next rotation.

  43. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    David October 31, 2016 at 11:22 AM #
    The water will not ‘land’ in Barbados
    ……………………………………………………………….
    In a similar fashion to the tractor some years ago that was destined for the Ministry of Agriculture, but found its way to Honduras. But nevertheless, we the taxpayers still had to pay for it.

  44. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    A few months ago some test holes were seen being dug in a 2- crop years, abandoned cane field between Balls Plantation and Henry Ford (Newton) Roundabout.
    Today we see the land being cleared , prior to some construction.
    And we are still jabbing on about a new sugar factory and food security?
    Fool me once! Fool me twice! fool me forever, we like it so.

  45. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Bizzy could should build greenhouses and put the solar panels on the roofs. He could also build chicken, and sheep pens and put solar panels on the roof.

    That would create a multi purpose “farm”.

  46. John Avatar
    John

    Singapore produces about the same volume of water as Barbados in a year yet its population is 4 million and the plan is to increase it to 6 million.

    Hope I got those statistics right, I am depending on memory.

    It is fascinating to read how Singapore overcame its water scarcity and what it is doing now to ensure no other country can compromise its water.

    Here is an example of forward thinking people who understand the problem they face and seek to solve it.

    https://www.pub.gov.sg/watersupply/singaporewaterstory

  47. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Colonel Buggy / John …anybody…
    Please help a lost Bushman…

    What the hell is that monstrosity being built on the Garrison savannah….
    DEM could be serious?

    Bushie thought all along that it was a temporary piece o shit the men building for the parade…..
    What the hell….

    HELP MUH….!!!

  48. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    John

    At the time of Singapore’s independence from Malaysia in 1965, Lee Kwan Yew so understood the importance of water that he had his wife Kwa Geok Choo (who was a brilliant attorney) draft the clauses in the Separation Agreement for the guarantee of water between the Malaysian state of Johor and Singapore. This guarantee was done via an amendment to the Federal Constitution of Malaysia. So from the very beginning, Singapore got its priorities right.

    Lee said he was determined to make Singapore useful to the world. I find the following quote about succession planning most instructive:

    “In a different world we need to find a niche for ourselves, little corners where in spite of our small size we can perform a role which will be useful to the world. To do that, you will need people at the top, decision-makers who have got foresight, good minds, who are open to ideas, who can seize opportunities like we did… My job really was to find my successors. I found them, they are there; their job is to find their successors. So there must be this continuous renewal of talented, dedicated, honest, able people who will do things not for themselves but for their people and for their country. If they can do that, they will carry on for another one generation and so it goes on. The moment that breaks, it’s gone.”

    Bush Tea

    even the open spaces where the people can relax, exercise and meditate are to be blighted by this lot as they “seek to write their names on history’s page”.

  49. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    @Bushie. looking at it a few hours ago while exercising (on both legs) on the Garrison , my take is that it is a brilliant idea for the sales personal , in the open market ,by the other monument on Bush Hill.
    http://i.imgur.com/i1ZDk3x.jpg?1

  50. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Amazingly idiotic.
    Hopefully there is a logical explanation to be had….

    This erection can only attract a name such as “Fruendel’s Folly”.
    A monument to idiocy and incompetence.

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