est. 2007

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Sewage on the South Coast and TIDES

There was a very lively town hall meeting held yesterday to further ventilate on the vexing issue concerning the deterioration of the environment on the South Coast of Barbados to follow the well attended BLP political meeting held on Sunday night. Successive governments have invested heavily in education and health, the unfortunate and protracted situation…

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John Boyce, Minister of Health
Dr. David Estwick, vying for the DLP presidency
Denis Lowe, Minister of the Drainage
There was a very lively town hall meeting held yesterday to further ventilate on the vexing issue concerning the deterioration of the environment on the South Coast of Barbados to follow the well attended BLP political meeting held on Sunday night. Successive governments have invested heavily in education and health, the unfortunate and protracted situation playing out on the South Coast begs the BU question if the heavy investment has provided an adequate ROI.
The following comment was posted by John, a prolific commenter on the issue.

– Barbados Underground

John commented on Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary Assessment Report and the South Coast Sewage Plant Connection

So, here’s my thinking at the moment.

There is a standard 3 foot increase in underground water level due solely to tidal fluctuations.

The rain falls … 6 inches plus.

The sluice gate is nailed shut for whatever reason.

It’s operation is the responsibility of the owners of Graeme Hall Plantation … GOB.

The 3 foot fluctuation now occurs on top of 5 feet due to the inability of the water to drain through the sluice gate.

So underground water levels can vary from 5 feet above a zero datum to 8 feet above that datum.

Before, the most it would increase to was 3 feet above the zero datum and that was due to due to an act of God.

Water now “springs” from unlikely places due to an act of man.

Manholes, backyards wherever it is forced by the sea it comes up.

The sewage issues, both from the plant and the development in the watershed make a bad situation worse.

Is Government liable for its handling of the sluice gate?

There is the 1945 conveyance which specifies how the owner of Graeme Hall Plantation is to operate the sluice gate.

Here is what has happened with Mrs. Burke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNWA4_mPdcs&feature=youtu.be

She knows instinctively at 84 that the operation sluice gate has been mishandled and is one of the causes of her problems.

Her residence looks like it is closest to the zero datum

…. and then there are businesses

http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/91384/guests-bolt

It is possible that like Mrs. Burke, this business is also a victim of the handling of the sluice gate?

If it is where I think it is I believe it is a victim too.

Clearly it is suffering loss and it is easily quantifiable.

Does the decision regarding liability of the GOB to the GHNS only apply in the case of the BIT or does it have implications for locals seeking redress for loss through the courts here?

Would the GOB be strictly liable to those suffering loss under the laws of Barbados?

Probably phrased it all wrong as I am not a lawyer but just applying logic which might not be legal!!

… maybe that’s why spring tides are so called!!

260 responses to “Sewage on the South Coast and TIDES”

  1. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    “Nobody in there (their) right mind would have gone beyond logic and rationale to build a sewer plant on swamp land. Nobody….”

    That may be true.

    However, it is ludicrous for you to suggest that a minister, who may be a lawyer for example, from any administration would wake up one morning and decide to authorize the building of a project (that is outside the realm of his/her profession), without at first consulting someone who has expertise in the given field.

    Since you have knowledge of EVERY POSSIBLE THING, you should be aware that a consultant is usually hired to liaise with clients to plan and design construction projects.

    Therefore, “nobody in their right mind would have gone beyond logic and rationale to build a sewer plant on swamp land,” unless they accepted the professional advice and recommendations of the consultant to the South Coast Sewage Projects.

    And would that consultant be Richard Sealy?

  2. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    It is interesting to note that financing for the South Coast sewage System (Project # BA0036) was provided by the Inter-American Development Bank and the contract signature date was March 8, 1993.

    Before you continue to spew your usual “rhetorical party political diatribe,” you should avail yourself of the requirements to receive funding from the IADB.

  3. ac Avatar
    ac

    Sir i read all the requirements which must include environmental reports beore approval
    However the reports and findings are done solely by those firms approved by the govt and not by the financier

  4. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    ac December 23, 2016 at 6:31 AM #

    “However the reports and findings are done solely by those firms approved by the govt and not by the financier…”

    Yard-fowls are a special or unique breed of “Gallus Gallus Domesticus.”

    Where in any of my contributions did I mention “the reports and findings are done solely” “by the financier?”

    But you, however, are not that clever and have brought yourself around to essentially admitting what you were actually trying to avoid.

    Based on your above comments and constant criticisms of the sewage plant, you are suggesting government should have rejected the consultants’ recommendations to build the plant in its current location, because such advice was inappropriate.

    Therefore, BOTH the consultants (including Sealy, if he was one) and government should SHARE blame for the sewage “fiasco.”

  5. David Avatar
    David

    The BLACKman got his matter highlighted in the Nation Newspaper?

    They say perseverance seldom fails.

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/91687/matters-maria-flood-warning >

  6. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    The Drainage Division and MTW can restore the gully to its former state.

    This is not a million dollar problem.

  7. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ ac December 22, 2016 at 9:49 PM
    “The idea is not the problem but on a broader side the execution of the idea and what measures were taken that does not present conflicts to the betterment of society.
    So far there is exhibit A which shows there is evidence to prove there was a high disregards for enviromental concern during the initial planning…’’

    So why don’t you take a strong dose of your own medicine and advise the boss man- who himself is in need of a good dose of decision-making Viagra)- not to approve the erection of Hyatt’s Priapistic monstrosity in such an environmentally sensitive and potentially a culturally debasing location?

    When Bridgetown loses its designation as a World Heritage site whom would you be blaming?

    Mia and the BLP for causing the problem with the Bridgetown sewage system or for not objecting to the Hyatt or for not collecting the tonnes of garbage and filth ‘beautifying’ the ole fair city?

    Wouldn’t the erection of the tower for voyeurs give the guests a bird-eye’s view of the open daily toing and naked nightly froing of the denizens and clients of that red-light ghetto?

    Is that what would be on the visitors’ list of attractions; a towering spectacular called “a taste of Amsterdam by night Bajan Style”?

  8. ac Avatar
    ac

    Artax you are intrepreting my words to fit your political agenda.No point in trying
    The long and short of the story being that if Sealy was brought in as a consultant his area of expertise would only allow his opinion to deal with that area
    So for u to imply that the consultants in question if having given any opinion on the project signfy an overall expert opinion of the project is disingenuous

  9. ac Avatar
    ac

    Miller what is your problem why u keep mumbling and grumbling about projects that have not even hit the ground while the Sewer project initiated by your past blp govt has become an economic night mare and an eviromental disaster all at taxpayers expense
    Why dony u put pen to paper and emit your foul mouth gases on that issues

  10. David Avatar
    David

    Looks like they are operating the sluice gat, finally!

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/91728/sluice-gate-reopened

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