Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Banner promoting anonymous crime reporting with a phone and contact number 1 800 TIPS (8477), featuring the Crime Stoppers logo and a QR code for submitting tips.

Another Window to the Sea at Accra Approved to Disappear

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

A losing battle is being waged by a few Barbadian citizens who want to see a characteristic that defines Barbados protected. To the blogmaster it does not matter if the government is BLP or DLP – in cahoots with the economic class – limited windows to the sea are rapidly being slammed shut!

One of the few windows to the sea on a congested South Coast about to be closed is the open area opposite Blue Horizon at Accra. You will recall the property was sold by the last government for a dime to Mark Maloney, Phillip Tempro et al. The late Reverend Andrew Hatch must be writhing and sweating in his grave God rest his soul.

A town hall is scheduled to be held at the Accra Hotel conference room @6:30PM tomorrow 18 July 2019, a mandatory requirement of the planning process. It is unlikely the meeting will change the plan but there is the Cahill experience to inspire dissenting voices.

Sign the Petition!

Keep The Sea Window At Accra/Rockley Open

Concerned Citizens of Barbados started this petition to Prime Minister’s Office – Planning Unit (Barbados) and

Whereas, the residents of Blue Waters, Cot Road in Rockley and the wider Rockley district and adjoining Worthing and Hastings areas along the South Coast, have no issue with the concept of redevelopment and have no desire to stop this project as a whole, we however have some legitimate issues that concern its impact on our nearby homes, the surrounding infrastructure and the use of the existing beach access, car park, window-to-the-sea and the general environment.  Therefore we want these concerns considered with regard to T&CP Application Ref: 0267/02/2019 B;

So please sign and share the below petition if you share these concerns and believe that …

1.       The traditional Window-To-The-Sea opposite Blue Horizon at Accra should be left open as a legacy.  It is one of the last remaining vistas to the sea on that coast and the south coast of Barbados.

2.       Locals and visitors alike have been using that parcel of land for parking and access unobstructed and continuously for decades, and now have a legal prescriptive right to do so.

3.       The proposed 10 storey height of the hotel is out of character with the surrounding area, and will create shading and ventilation issues for the surrounding residential area.  There is also the major concern on setting such a precedent for the South Coast, especially established residential areas nearby.

4.       Given the above points and potential threat to existing road and sewerage infrastructure a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be done for the Blue Horizon/Blue Tourism Inc project, as presently proposed.

Dated:  July 15, 2019

https://www.change.org/p/prime-minister-s-office-planning-unit-barbados-keep-the-sea-window-at-accra-rockley-beach-open?recruiter=21389388&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_abi&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=6f0b81c0-0bdf-0130-6c25-00221968d0e0&share_bandit_exp=abi-16710281-en-GB&share_bandit_var=v0&utm_content=fht-16710281-en-gb%3Av6

 

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

236 responses to “Another Window to the Sea at Accra Approved to Disappear”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    @Citizen Peter

    The culture of Barbados is a factor if you want to compare. The point was made above that we are a passive people, a DNA thing as we say in the parlance.

  2. peterlawrencethompson Avatar
    peterlawrencethompson

    Dullard July 17, 2019 12:44 PM
    “… govt is clearly incapable of running the country for the benefit of the majority of its citizens…”
    ++++++++++++++++++
    This is a design flaw in all capitalist economies… not at all limited to Barbados. The inhibiting factor is not incompetence, rather it is evil intent. It is then up to a minority of activist citizens to exert influence in the direction of public benefit that will counterbalance the power of capital to corrupt decision makers or decision making processes.

    Note that in this particular case at Blue Horizon Hotel the developers have only been forced into some sort of public discussion by activist voices using social media. They thought they already had a done deal by pretending to hold the statutorily required public forum with no attendance beyond their friends and family because they refused to advertise it properly.

  3. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @PLT

    Britain is a genuine, if fractured, democracy. Note Brexit. Let me say again: The President of Barbados has convinced herself that she is the cleverest person in the land; she does not see herself as first among equals, but as an elective dictator with a Cabinet of vassals, not a single one of whom has the confidence to question her decisions. Further, she hates details.
    Look at policy failures so far: bus fares, reviewed after a few days; Haiti visas, reviewed after a few weeks; land tax, reviewed after a few days; the compulsory purchase of Ms Ram’s land to hand over to Hyatt (wat lawyers call eminent domain), no public discussion; an attorney general who admits publicly that he was told that some public servants receive bribes, no action; a well-known business accused of drug smuggling has the case against him dropped, not a word in parliament, no public statement; and the municipal vandalism of hotel building.
    There won’t be a single word said in parliament about any of this. Our government – all products of Barrow’s free education – has total contempt for the ordinary people. Unless you have an MA in some nonsense called political sociology from London School of Economics, you are nothing.
    The 30/0 majority, which encouraged her to change the constitution – later changed suspiciously to 29/1 – has confirmed that self-belief in her entitlement. She now sees herself as a player on the world stage, she has grown beyond Barbados and CARICOM.
    For those optimistically waiting for the next general election to remove her it may be too late. In another four years Barbados will be unrecognisable.
    Who is going to hold her feet to the fire? BU keyboard warriors? The Nation? CBC?
    Barbados is a failed state. It will end in tears.

  4. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Charles Skeete. at! 11:14 AM

    You certainly are speaking for yourself, not the majority of Barbadians.
    More Barbadians who go to the beach spend more time watching the sea than swimming in it. More bus excursions go to the beach than anywhere else and the excursioners do not take their bathing suits with them. In my youth my bedroom had a window to the Atlantic and that was therapeutic to me.

    The sight of the sea is mind de-stressing for many of my generation.

  5. John A Avatar
    John A

    Let me say I too am opposed to the building of anything on that piece of beach front land opposite blue horizon.

    Has anyone ever passed there in the winter season or kadooment period and noticed it is entirely used by tourist and locals alike for parking? What ever skullduggery went on with these famous developers who seemed to of been linked at the hip to the last MOF, does not mean this government must honour it, so I have the solution madam PM.

    The same way wunna was going forcible acquire miss Ram land in bay street by a government dept for these same bunch for the Hyatt plan, then use the same law and guidelines to now acquire this piece of land for the “facilitation of tourism development on the South coast.” After all you can’t just build hotels and don’t give them somewhere to park their hired cars at the most famously beach on the South coAst. ?

    Plus we can’t have one law for the haves and another for the have nots can we? So the same way you taking up miss Ram land for them, well take up their land for US. after all it takes 2 hands to clap don’t it?

    So the same way I signed the petition for the land tax revision this one got my approval too!

  6. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    HAL
    YOUR ARE RIGHT —Barbados is a failed state. It will end in tears.

    RE She (I.E MIA MAO MUGABE MUTTLEY THE PRIMEWICKER )now sees herself as a player on the world stage, she has grown beyond Barbados and CARICOM.

    THE CLEAR DIAGNOSIS HERE IS …..DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR!

    MANY IN BARBADOS MAY SAFELY THUS BE DIAGNOSED

  7. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Georgie Porgie

    You certainly hit the nail on the head with that view at low tide from St Lawrence Gap to the church. One of my all time favorites.
    I suggest you enjoy it now because the “ hotel corridor” will take care of that !
    Don’t worry the windows will be taken away the people will no longer see or have access to the beach. Meanwhile the hoteliers will quietly construct their private beaches at the back of the hotels. And PRESTO they have the private beaches we -just won’t see them.
    A playground for de tourist.

  8. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Vincent

    There is (or was) a TV channel, no sound, all it does is show waves washing in to the shore. When I worked nights, I went to bed at about 4am and before doing so would switch on the TV and just watch the waves. Then off to bed.

  9. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ William

    The people will still have access to the sea, but they will have to pay.

  10. John A Avatar
    John A

    Any of you all realise how much beach front land this famous group quietly bought with the help of the last government and what they paid for it?

    Do a little checking at the land tax department or registry and see the value of these “declared” conveyances. You all really don’t have a clue what went on in the last 3 years of the dems reign!

  11. Dullard Avatar
    Dullard

    This is a design flaw in all capitalist economies… not at all limited to Barbados. The inhibiting factor is not incompetence, rather it is evil intent. It is then up to a minority of activist citizens to exert influence in the direction of public benefit that will counterbalance the power of capital to corrupt decision makers or decision making processes.

    I agree with you that capitalism tends towards concentrations of wealth and ever greater disparities.

    It is then up to a minority of activist citizens to exert influence
    But how much influence can a minority of activists exert in Barbados? This is where the competence of govt has to be questioned. Why does the govt see the need to allow this project to go ahead? In the absence of the govt acting as the counterweight to capitalist forces, how much can a minority of activists achieve.

    The govt simply has to do better. What is govt policy on building on beaches? On windows to the sea? I can go on.

    Barbados is a failed state.

  12. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    William Skinner July 17, 2019 1:18 PM

    @ Georgie Porgie

    You certainly hit the nail on the head with that view at low tide from St Lawrence Gap to the church. One of my all time favorites.
    I suggest you enjoy it now because the “ hotel corridor” will take care of that !

    OH I ENJOYED IT FOR MANY A YEAR AS A SCHOOL BOY AT ST LAWRENCE, AND A CHOIR BOY AND CHURCH ATTENDER AT THE CHURCH. THAT WHOLE STRETCH OF WORTHING BEACH WAS ONE OF MY CHILDHOOD PLAYGROUNDS

    Don’t worry the windows will be taken away the people will no longer see or have access to the beach. Meanwhile the hoteliers will quietly construct their private beaches at the back of the hotels. And PRESTO they have the private beaches we -just won’t see them.
    A playground for de tourist.

    DONT THINK SO SIR
    WITH THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY AND THE FILTHINESS, THE TOURISTS WILL SOON STOP COMING

    @John A July 17, 2019 1:24 PM
    GREED AND AVARICE AND ENVY ARE DESTROYING BARBADOS, INTER ALIA

  13. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    Have a drive to any open window during the lunch time period in Barbados and you will discover how locals enjoy taking their lunches to escape for a bit. You will never have 100% agreement/buyin about anything where human beings are concerned.

  14. John A Avatar
    John A

    @David

    This is easy to settle you know. If The government is there to serve the people and the right of the people is paramount, then all the PM got to do is go back to the conveyance where it says ” declared purchase value” and pay them accordingly for the parcel of beach land.

    I mean surely the conveyance should accurately show what the state received for the land shouldn’t it? I mean what possible reason would their be for them objecting for payment based on this legal and sacred document?

    What other possible costs could they have “encured” other than those stated in the conveyance?

    I tell you all already stop looking at what is on the surface and seek what is at the bottom. Let us start asking some questions here seeing that the can of worms get open.lol

  15. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    One can suspects that this deal is a continuation of ROSS given the principals and backroom handshakes. Will we ever know?

  16. robert lucas Avatar
    robert lucas

    About five years ago on the BBC, there was a special program on beach erosion in Barbados caused by the erection of hotels on the shoreline.The producer of the program was of the mind that if the building of hotels on the beach continued ,the result would be serious beach erosion. He suggested that hotels be sited away from the beach. He visited across the island and even interviewed “Nazi” the fish-pot fisherman at the Esplanade ,who explained that there was a dearth in pot fish as a result of the erosion.There was also another program dealing with golf courses. At that time building golf courses was seen as the answer to Barbados’s problems by a certain person (COW). I have always maintained that what is good financially for that gentleman, is not necessarily good for Barbados. According to the BBC’s program, the amount of water needed to sustain a small golf course was equivalent to what a small city would use yearly. In a country that is a supposedly water deficit one, the proliferation of golf courses was a mental mirage in minds of the authorities.

  17. John A Avatar
    John A

    @David.

    You remember the noise over the sale of this property to these fellows under Sinkler? If you recall the question was asked how come a higher offer was not accepted even though it was tabled by others.

    You see when the talk about selling blue horizon arose 2 years back, everyone thought the sale and development was limited to the land side property.

  18. peterlawrencethompson Avatar
    peterlawrencethompson

    @Dullard July 17, 2019 1:25 PM
    “… how much influence can a minority of activists exert in Barbados? This is where the competence of govt has to be questioned.”
    +++++++++++++++
    Questioning the competence of the government might be among the tactics that the minority of public spirited activists use to exert influence… 😉

  19. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    Actually the Ross issue at Coverley save us tax payers tail big time. You recall under the agreement government had to take up the unsold properties after a certain amount of years. So being able to push Ross in there saved us from that bullet, plus we picked up a few dollars a long the way.

    Had they of not gone in a few years we would of been looking for millions to pay the developer for all the unsold properties, to then add to the fleet of non producing real estate the state already has.

    This Blue Horizon issue needs to now be exposed for what it was. Let government now come forward and state what they received under the Conveyance of Sale and hence if it is the wish of the people, use that as the basis for repurchasing the beach front land.

    If you use the value in the conveyance to buy you don’t feel it should be used now to sell?

  20. David Avatar
    David

    The comment about room promises was more about continuing relationships with certain individuals.

  21. John A Avatar
    John A

    I mean if the developers had “hidden expenses” in the purchase that they forgot to take into account when signing the conveyance, they got my sympathy but the state should act on what is documented in the legal bill of sale value wise.

    If we had an opposition this wound be a major case of public awakening here! Of course the so called one we got is useless so we will do our part here.

  22. John A Avatar
    John A

    Ah you now staring to see through the smoke and mirrors

  23. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    The statement William and Pacha use as a “duopoly” is clearly evident here. Those of us who voted for true change, clearly only got a name change but the same “principles of business” remain unchanged it appears.

  24. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    Prefer the term political class.

  25. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David.

    Well said, it is interesting how the outcast can become the chosen ones at the drop of an X isn’t it?

    Lord I would never of made a good politician.

  26. peterlawrencethompson Avatar
    peterlawrencethompson

    3,000 signatures on the petition.

  27. John A Avatar
    John A

    @PLT

    As a Barbadian I would like to thank you for taking the time to lodge your complaint formally with the authorities on this matter. Let us hope that the comments on this blog let them know that as a people, development must not come at any cost and that Barbadians will be around long after the tourist have returned.

    It’s funny how things happen, but recently I drove down the South coast and through Bridgetown then onto the Spring Garden and couldn’t help but notice that every opening to a beach was filled with people. Further than remove parking and beach access from the people, we should be looking to add to it.

    By the way seeing we are so desperate to dislodge bajans now, are we to assume the Beaches deal in St Peter is now no more? Also what is happening with Silver Sands Hotel and that sprawling piece of beach front?

    Information bout this place hard to come by I tell you. Unless it’s about cropover that on every radio station.

  28. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    “Actually the Ross issue at Coverley save us tax payers tail big time. You recall under the agreement government had to take up the unsold properties after a certain amount of years. So being able to push Ross in there saved us from that bullet, plus we picked up a few dollars a long the way.”

    Hence the reason the scam was inserted into the contract in the first place so either OR…any corrupt government would honor it..one way or the next..

    take note that they ALWAYS operate that way to keep the majority population…broke and in poverty…direct or borderline..

  29. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    “About five years ago on the BBC, there was a special program on beach erosion in Barbados caused by the erection of hotels on the shoreline.The producer of the program was of the mind that if the building of hotels on the beach continued ,the result would be serious beach erosion. He suggested that hotels be sited away from the beach.”

    One only has to visit the Air Space Museum in Queens NY to be EDUCATED about what tourism, hotel building and tourists do to vulnerable marine life…one pacific island was so destroyed by these blights…that they had to stop tourism completely for the island to recover…it took years..

  30. John A Avatar
    John A

    @Wura

    I starting to believe you might be right especially after the measures in the last budget!

    Where all the talk about accountability and transparency gone?

    Any how it is pointless us fretting our soul on such issues it appears.

  31. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    We need not fret much longer, Mia is not on the world stage right now, but under it..

    time is longer than twine.

  32. Wily Coyote Avatar
    Wily Coyote

    @David July 17, 2019 1:08 PM

    “DNA thing as we say in the parlance.”

    You mean all that MASA rule from colonial days still exists in Black Bajans DNA, woo loss much more effective than anyone thought. Please keep this info under wraps as there are organizations(CIA, MI5, Mosad etc.that will bring this info into play.

  33. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    More nonsense from the BU intelligentsia!! Stupse!!

  34. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    It already happened, you just did not notice..but ya can guarantee the above mentioned agencies know also,.these stupid negros, so uppity and vain glorious in the parliament themselves don’t know, but although there are a lot of full blooded African descended on the island …most are anywhere between 20% or less and 45% European in bloodlines, that applies to the whole Caribbean…..why you think some of those assholes get on so…they just don’t know that they don’t know..

    those like myself who are aware and carry the oldest European bloodlines with mostly African bloodlines, already know this.

  35. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    Wuh i thought you had died…or got lost in Morocco…lol, lol, murdahhhh!!!

  36. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    The coral reef gets damaged beyond repair thanks to the blight of tourism and i can’t remember the exact number of years, but it was a very long time, longer than the island can afford to go without cash flow..

    so let’s watch these one-eyed kings continue smartly..

  37. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    You agree with crowding out one of the few remaining windows to the sea on the south coast?

  38. Redman Avatar
    Redman

    Hubris run amok with the present Govt.
    “Air miles Mia “& her Govt by consultants (local & overseas) are in bed with the “billion dollar man” of “Red Bag ” fame.
    Guess we now know what was in that famous “Red Bag”;
    Tax amnesty & colonial titles for friends & family,
    Consultancy picks for retired folks & sweetheart deals for the “billion dollar man” & associates.
    Hey the song remains the same.
    The “Tiefing Class” can just raise taxes to facilitate the lifestyle that they are accustomed to.

  39. David Avatar
    David

    The blogmaster is unable to confirm that 10 storeys are planned for Abbeville/Bert’s bar – Apparently Melnyk old it to two local business men? Understand this is at the near Town Hall meeting stage but the decisonmakers are waiting on the Blue Horizon transaction to see how it unfolds. If anybody can enlighten please post details or alternatively email the blogmaster at barbadosunderground@gmail.com.

  40. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Enuff

    How so? There was a wide range of views, no?

  41. David Avatar
    David

  42. David Avatar
    David

    @Peter

    Updated the image in your comment posted to Facebook.

  43. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    “Another Window to the Sea at Accra Approved to Disappear” Quite an emotive headline by the blogmaster. Over the last 30 years the south and west coastline have been systemically desecrated. What we have witnessed over this period has been the most grotesque examples of what is possible when a government fails to understand the significance of the built-environment. And when a government lacks the knowledge of what it means to develop a sustainable urban environment that caters to beauty (aesthetics) and functionality whilst remaining homogeneous or truthful to the Caribbean region.

    It is disingenuous for the author of this post to use words such as “one of the last windows” on the south side of the coast. Lest we forget and I will remind you once again that the reduction in the number of sea windows has been in play for over thirty years. Why the sudden haste to produce a petition form? A certain minority that resides in Barbados will now be affected and quite rightly they are railing against the injustice of this proposed development. If these people were truly patriotic they would have made a stand from thirty years ago.

    It is futile to raise petitions and to protest over this potential development. What is the point of protesting over a cake when nine tenths of it has already been consumed. By the way the east coast will go the same way as the west and south coast.

    Barbadians generally are a selfish breed they are not patriotic. They look out for themselves and seem unable to see the bigger picture.

  44. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    Barbadians are a selfish breed
    I concur
    One reason why the country is in such disarray

  45. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David
    What is the purpose of a “window to the sea”?

  46. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    How does one benefit from the ‘feel’ of living on an island if we close the windows to the sea? By building on the seaside for economic gain what is the environmental trade off? We can do all rhe EIAs we will never know. Finally if as a people we don’t feel comfortable with it the political directorate needs to take it onboard.

  47. BajanFeeParty Avatar
    BajanFeeParty

    YOU ALL and you know who ALL is, Support this Crook, Liar, and Scumbags and did not heed My warning of voting crooks on office like the Crime Minister and her crooks that rob Violet Beckles now they step up their game and coming for the Whole Nation, Suffer for being Stupid, MY words Still standing, tell all other BLP side kick parties so take a seat on the Floor they still talking crap like your BBLP ,, there is only one Opposition Party In Barbados for the People side and the Rule of Law, Bajan Free Party, and you all just getting a small dose of Violet Beckles Pains with crook lawyers in Office of Government, keep watching time to learn Idiots ,,Never Backing down to crimes , We have a Big Black Bag of Evidence BBBE for the DOJ!

  48. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    @ David,

    Are you sure that is the image for the proposed hotel? Take a look at Richard Branson’s Necker Island for some real inspiration. You boys in Barbados have me stumped.

    https://www.virginlimitededition.com/en/necker-island

  49. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ TLSN

    You can’t compare Necker island with Bim which is a mass market.

    Last prices I saw Necker was $42000 USD a night to rent the island or $27000 USD a week just for one villa.

    You talking specialty high end boutique location with mass market or Suzuki with Bugatti.

  50. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    The benefit of the Windows of the Sea so that bajans can drive by in their cars and navel gaze at who is horning who on the beach
    I remember as a child many of those windows of the sea were used as hot spots to carry on extramarital affairs during the night.

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading