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!!
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