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Another Window to the Sea at Accra Approved to Disappear

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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

 

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

  1. SirSimpleSimonPresidentForLife Avatar
    SirSimpleSimonPresidentForLife

    @NorthernObserver July 18, 2019 1:42 PM. “Approx opposite Jordan’s near Italian restaurant, there is a large parking area on the beach side, also entrance to a small church (forget the name).”

    Jesus the Good Shepherd

    or

    Good Shepherd.

  2. Dullard Avatar
    Dullard

    Should we not try to improve the quality of our services and infrastructure first, with the hope of encouraging and maintaining a sustainable growth rate over a period?

    @John A why don’t you stop asking sensible questions?

    Now if you can use a simple back of the envelope calc using a couple bits of info to show the folly of “The Corridor”, what are the technocrats and consultants doing?

  3. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Dullard

    @ Hal

    In economics there is a fine distinction between risks and uncertainties. Statistical probability attempts to calculate risks in an acceptable manner. Probability cannot calculate uncertainty. One can only prepare for it.

    This is not the place to discuss technical matters like these. But a review of Fisher and Maynard Keynes literature on Risks and Uncertainty may be instructive and useful.

  4. John A Avatar
    John A

    @Dullard

    I wish I knew what the goal is that’s the truth. To me it seems like we are all over the place, as opposed to being focused on a sustainable and realistic growth plan.

  5. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David BU

    This is a very useful and rigorous moot. I hope the meeting tonight on this issue benefits from the inputs of the BU Household .

    I read the news papers. Good work.

  6. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ Dullard

    Then you have the minister of tourism telling the small hotels they need to get a plan together to compete with the new hotels.

    So are you saying that instead of the 20% plus growth in arrivals that would be required to fill these new hotels, the plan is to simply take market share from the smaller locally owned hotels?

    I having a hard time understanding the logic behind all of this corridor talk that’s the truth.

  7. curley16 Avatar
    curley16

    @Vincent Codrington July 18,2019 7.32 pm
    May be in the discipline of economics , but in a mathematical sense ,in the discipline of insurance ,actuarial principles the use of the law of probability and statistics, is used to great effect to give predictable results with some degree of accuracy and certainty more so than deductive/priori reasoning. I seek correction if I am wrong,well-knowing I am your junior.

  8. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Vincent,

    I am on your side on this issue. Economics went wrong in the 1930s when it became obsessed with mathematical formulae, giving birth to something called econometrics. Now we have so-called behavioural economics, whatever that is.
    There is a reason why there is no Nobel Prize for mathematics. As @Curley 16 has mentioned, the actuarial sciences are based on probability, but often they get it wrong because projections, risk assessments, estimations are not based on scientific certainty, but chance.

  9. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/240810/police-icbl-team-fight-crime-city

    How does this even make sense to a commissioner of police.

    ICBL is tied up in BRIBING government ministers and who know who else,, they already paid a fine in US, pled guilty and have more accusations awaiting them..why is the commissioner accepting CCTV cameras from them, how will the police arrest and charge any of them now…for crimes against the taxpayers and country.

    BTW the money from treasury and NIS pension that government ministers continue to steal by the hundreds of millions from the majority population to give away to the Cows, Bizzy, Bjerkham, Maloney, et al…could have outfitted the whole island with CCTV cameras, i doubt it would have cost much more than a million…,even with them tuefing some.

    but yall lowlife governments prefer tief the money from the people then put on a very public show of accepting gifts from criminals……and cannot even see the ugly optics…

  10. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    What an appalling use of language to describe what should be our jewel in the crown: our coastal area.
    Mia used the term a hotel corridor to describe her dream for a new Barbados.
    A corridor is normally a space that is dark, narrow, cold, unloved and an area solely used for going to a to b, minus any thrills.
    This is why I used the term philistine to describe her.
    @ John A, I realise that Richard Branson’s Necker Island is exclusive. But why should we dum down our tourist industry for the normal riff raft tourists who visit Barbados. We are too obsessed with numbers. We would try to cater for the higher end tourist who has money to dispose off.

  11. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    We are suppose to ignore ICBL track record. This is what you call the theatre of the absurd. I guess it takes a thief to catch a thief.

  12. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    That is why they will never launch an investigation into any bribery/corruption no matter who complains…their hand to mouth practice of publicly accepting gifts and bribes from KNOWN crooks AFTER they helped government ministers rob the treasury and pension fund ….is notorious.

    This one is beyond ugly and not one lawyer in parliament or bar association will say one word about conflict of interest, if am not mistaken the commish himself is a lawyer….steupppss…as most usually are..and should know better…and even if he isn’t he should still know better..

  13. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Can’t launch a criminal investigation, but could accept gifts from the same questionable insurance company,..

    Wrap your heads around that.

  14. Dex Avatar
    Dex

    During a speech in Carlisle car park just over a month ago to celebrate the BLP’s first year in office, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that $3 billion would be spent in a Carlisle Bay project over the next seven years.

    She said it would result in hotels being constructed between Hastings, Christ Church and Batts Rock, St Michael.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    That right there should be called out as a criminal act!!

    Anyone who claims to love Barbados cannot approve of building hotels along the coastline of Carlise Bay.. it will destroy the beauty of that beachfront..

    This is even more crazy than the proposed development at Accra and that is bad enough.

  15. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David
    The proposed beach facility at Accra does not align with the characteristics of what is termed a concrete jungle. It is actually the antithesis. Paved car parks, however, form part of the concrete jungle definition. I repeat, if I am reading the plans correctly, the proposal would enhance the area, without having any great impact on public beach access or amenity. I would be delighted to see the car parking reduced and mostly disabled spaces and bicycle parking provided. The hotel should utilise a hire car/taxi club, where a limited number of cars are available for hire for guests. By removing the large number of car parking spaces, they can then add more rooms–maybe some low-rise villa type accommodation–remove the wall and activate those frontages. Sue me!🤣

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    Conceptually what you wrote reads great however it collided with a zero tolerance by the blogmaster to construction of any kind on the coastline.

  17. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    You got patience like Jobe

  18. Dex Avatar
    Dex

    Sand and sea that’s what Barbados is known for internationally. It is small island, with limited coastline, why defaced the very same asset that is you main attraction.. It simply makes no sense.

    There is no point in singing “da beach is mine”… because it not yours.. it belongs to the real estate developers.

    I’ve written to the previous government and to this current government on several occasions challenging the decision to build Hyatt in the proposed location. No response. Not even an acknowledgement. I’ve written to VOB, Brass Tacks again no response.

    Talked to many Bajans about it, but they feel helpless and disenfranchised.. sad situation.

    Stop Hyatt, stop all the concrete structures planned for Carlise Bay. Consider the massive social and environmental impact. Tidy up the area and let everyone enjoy it.

  19. John A Avatar
    John A

    They can’t even get a decent occupancy rate year round with the current hotel stock, so who they plan to put in these new rooms?

    This is a country hard up for hard currency willing to sell what little family silver is left to the highest bidder. Anything to keep the IMF happy on the reserve side.

    I really expected better from this group that’s the truth.

  20. Dex Avatar
    Dex

    I apologise for the type errors.. sending from my phone while travelling.

  21. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ John A

    Bajans often misconstrue paper qualifications for business intelligence. We need a leisure e sector, apart from sun, sea and sand. A few years ago a lot of Bajans rushed to Surrey University to do MAs in Tourism Studies. Where are these people?

  22. John A Avatar
    John A

    Why don’t they go and do something with the old Four Season project after all they bought that too in ” the dead of night?”

  23. John A Avatar
    John A

    @Hal

    You know what I will say to that “book smart vs street smart.”

    I passed there last week and realised that many of the island tour buses now stop there as well for people to get off and take pictures etc. Even with only 2 or 3 buses there the carpark was under pressure.

    I don’t think alot of these educated ones understand that tourism is not just about rooms and concrete, but about services and environment. The tourist need infrastructure so that they can hire cars, tour the island, enjoy scenic spots and mingle with the locals. Or is our idea of tourism the Domincan Republic one with 10 foot wire fences and armed guards?

    We need to decide what product we are offering and then build an infrastructure around it. This approach of grab at a foreign dollar at all cost, regardless to how it affects the locals is asking for trouble down the road.

    You know how many times going through the country I have stopped to help lost tourist trying to read a map? Even the basics like road signage we haven’t addressed and yet we ready to pour more concrete.

  24. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    “Talked to many Bajans about it, but they feel helpless and disenfranchised.. sad situation.”

    That is what motivated some of us to come out no holds barred on these 2 useless govetnments ..that sheer look of helplessness you get on the faces of the vulnerable population because they just dont know what to do about the level of corruption and criminality coming from the parliament and minority community…they truly are helpless.

  25. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ John A

    On May 24, 2018, I wanted the grossly incompetent Stuart government removed. On May 25, when heard that the Mottley government had removed him, I was elated. But, by May 25, 2019, I was convinced that we are now faced with what will (or could turn out to be) an even more incompetent government; certainly it will be more damaging to the long-term future of the nation. That is what is really sad. Ro say I am disappointed is an under-statement.
    No vison, no ideas, an arrogance based on entitlement, and rule by a small clique that looks very much like a Mafia. It will end in tears.

  26. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David
    A zero tolerance rooted in what? Nothing but a preference! That is not robust reasoning, objectivity please. Counsel rests.

  27. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    As a people we are expected to configure our environment as an extension of who we are to be comfortable in our skin. And for our children. The intangibles that define barbadianna.

  28. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    “Counsel rests.”

    Lol..glad to see ya aint a lawyer or pretending to be one….fraud..

  29. John A Avatar
    John A

    @Hal

    My thoughts mirror yours sir. I too had hopes of true change but have long given up on that happening. Clearly it’s the same players calling the shots and this party like the other one, holding out their hand for any investment scrap at all cost, regardless to how it impacts on the same people who voted them in 30 to 0.

    I going now borrow your phrase and say ” Barbados is a failed state.”

  30. Dex Avatar
    Dex

    @ John A

    They can’t even get a decent occupancy rate year round with the current hotel stock, so who they plan to put in these new rooms?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    I was waiting to board a flight at GAIA… Struck up a conversation with an individual, he was on his way back to the London, having just made an investment in high end real estate on the west coast of Barbados. We had a very interesting conversation, as we both shared an interest in real estate investment.

    I recently found a TED Talk given by Ali Mufuruki , which reminded me of that conversation.. There is a part in the talk where Ali describes how John Williamson, a Canadian geologist visits a Tanzanian village, he noticed that the villagers were playing traditional African board games with large uncut diamonds (they simply did not know the value of what they had in their hands). John immediately arranged a meeting with the village chief and offered to buy the land where the diamonds were found.

    He gave the chief a few gifts and trinkets for the land, and provided the villagers with some wells for fresh water. He made sure that any villagers caught in possession of diamonds would be punished. He proceeded to build enormous wealth, by extracting diamonds from the mine.. that was in 1940, the diamond mine(s) are still producing diamonds to this day. The locals are still working in the mines.

    The parallels.. Barbados’s diamonds.. beachfront real estate, value not appreciated by locals or village leaders (politicians), investors profiteering from all inclusive beachfront hotels.. STOP defacing the beachfront with hotels and luxury apartments, and giving away your inheritance.

    I rest herby my case..

  31. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ Enuff July 19, 2019 7:42 AM
    “The proposed beach facility at Accra does not align with the characteristics of what is termed a concrete jungle. It is actually the antithesis. Paved car parks, however, form part of the concrete jungle definition. I repeat, if I am reading the plans correctly, the proposal would enhance the area, without having any great impact on public beach access or amenity. I would be delighted to see the car parking reduced and mostly disabled spaces and bicycle parking provided. The hotel should utilise a hire car/taxi club, where a limited number of cars are available for hire for guests. By removing the large number of car parking spaces, they can then add more rooms–maybe some low-rise villa type accommodation–remove the wall and activate those frontages. Sue me!”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Why can’t you proffer similar advice to the T&C planning officials and the principals behind this project in respect of the other hotel-type projects already in their overcrowded investment portfolio?

    Are these the same ‘investor’ principals behind the Four Seasons and Hyatt?

    Is so, what’s holding up the show in applying such aesthetically pleasing features to the Four Seasons and the other projects already in the pipeline?

    Why the current focus on the Accra area?

    When are they going to ‘acquire’ the Harlequin dump next to the KFC and put it in their portfolio of hotel development?

    We thought you, Enuff, were a bit sharper than the ‘dull red’ colour you are currently parading on BU.

    For never once in your disappointingly trite analyses have you broached the rather serious matter of financing of these grandiose projects.

    Why don’t you sit back and ask yourself where is the money coming from to construct these pipedreams?

    Is the money coming from genuine foreign investors or would the money be coming from the same source as that commandeered to finance the Grotto housing project?

    If the financial backers are ‘local’ where is the forex coming from to support such huge expenditures with their large ‘imports’ component in an environment where foreign creditors have effectively blacklisted Barbados?

  32. Dex Avatar
    Dex

    …Ooops, Should have been, I hereby rest my case..

  33. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Hal
    @ John A

    The government obviously has no real tourism plans outside of building hotels . The major benefit will be construction jobs. Increased rooms without increased occupancy and spending is basically useless. There will be very limited improvement in foreign exchange earnings and sustainable employment in the industry. The end result would be empty rooms and the parasitic hoteliers demanding more incentives.
    Having said that let me hasten to say that while we we have some talking about the destruction of the welfare state; they remain tongueless when looking at the lethargy of the so called private private sector as our saviours. The simple truth is that after sixty years and billions of dollars in their pockets, the private sector has not demonstrated any real effort to develop the industry. They are now engaging in international branding partnerships where they will be guranteed some scraps while the foreign change earned escapes the treasury.
    The back pedaling on Hyatt and Mark Maloney is instructive. It is a clear example of how the Duopoly works. There is none so blind as they who don’t want to see.

    The Duopoly Rules

  34. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ Dex

    Yes your example has brought it home to our reality. The real issue here is that the few dwindling pieces of family silver left, must be protected for future Barbadians to enjoy as well. For tourist to feel welcome and not like intruders the bajan must also retain some of what is his.

    This government said it would address the wrongs of the last one, well it now has an opportunity to do so. Let us now see if it was all talk to win a vote or if in fact they will honour the wishes of the people. This issue should therefore be raising serious concerns for all Bajans as they apply it to the bigger picture of governance. However in true Bajan fashion many will adopt the attitude of ” dat in my problem I don’t bathe dey.”

  35. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ William

    What you say is true but why do you think that is?

    You remember a few years ago when Butch Stewart wanted to buy only the hotel in St Lucia from the then owner what they said? They told him if you want the st lucia property you have to buy Paradise also. So he bought both to get at 1.

    Remember the reasons he gave for not wanting to proceed with Paradise at the time? He said based on the cost of refurbishment and operating cost in Barbados at the time he did not see it as a viable investment.

    Let us now move forward to what we had to offer Stewart to open a Sandals here in Barbados recently. Can you remember the kind of concessions we had to offer him to open?

    So when we say that the private hotel owners are not coming forward we have to also say that if the return on investment isn’t there why should they expand further. We have an expensive and overtaxed environment to work in, but at the same time we have to compete with our neighbouring islands who can operate at a lower rate of expenses. The problem lies in my view more in the fact that the risk to reward ration is not favourable to hotel plants currently for locals who did not receive a long list of concessions at inception. To now come and say ” you all can apply for them now” is of little comfort as they have already put their plant in place years ago.

    Why do you think these developers only interesting in building them and not running them?

  36. Dex Avatar
    Dex

    @John A
    “For tourist to feel welcome and not like intruders the bajan must also retain some of what is his.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++

    No, I strongly believe, The Bajan must RETAIN ALL OF WHAT IS HIS.

    Yes, welcome tourists, but you don’t have to give up your best beaches and prime real estate permanently to foreign visitors/investors!!! They certainly do not return that favour when you visit their country.. no way.

    They will respect you, if they see you taking pride and ownership in your natural precious inheritance.. preserve the beaches, they should be a national treasure.

    Build your homes and hotels on the other side of the road. NOT on my beach.

    Be proud Bajans. The land is ours and our children’s. Change that plantation mindset.

  37. Dullard Avatar
    Dullard

    @ Hal and Vincent

    You don’t know what you are talking about.

    Forget about the generic use of the word uncertain because any given forward looking statement is uncertain. Any future scenario is uncertain. We are talking about, given a set of data, making sensible sets of probabilistic statements with accompanying estimates of the variability of these estimates.

    This is all basic stats.

    Econometrics is basically stats applied to econimic questions. It’s a serious discipline.

  38. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ John A

    My substantive argument is that the local private sector by refusing to be more dynamic and forward thinking are the real culprits here. They are parasitic in that they had the industry to develop for sixty years. That is why all the criticisms of Sandals and company got no support from me.
    We keep talking as if only the Black politicians are to blame for everything. Yes they are more than complicit but please show where the traditional essentially white corporate elite has demonstrated any real interest in the development of this country since independence.
    Look how they ruined agriculture. Look at the sell out of BST.
    This is the blatant fear or hypocrisy of those on this blog who never want to deal with this truth.
    Rather deal with the disparities in our socio economic complex, they are shouting about dismantling some imagined welfare state and throwing all the poor Black people in the dump while others live lavishly.

  39. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ Dex

    Yes if we were starting from scratch I would agree, but too much of our assets have already been sold off. That is why those that are enjoyed by locals must now be protected. That carpark has been there from the time I remember it.

    The last government had they been open with us, should of pointed out that the few dollars they got for Blue Horizon also included the beach front lot.

    I wonder why this slipped them?

  40. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    Remember…the blue horizon property was VALUED at around 11 million dollars…

    the dude from Bougainvillea offered to pay the MARKET VALUE of the property….yep…the whole 11 million dollars

    DLP CROOOKS said hell no…and sold it to crooked Maloney, Tempro, Bjerkham for 5 MILLION DOLLARS…

    me thinks someone pocketed bribes suh..

  41. Dex Avatar
    Dex

    By the way, my comment about the plantation mindset was just an expression of my disappointment and frustration with the political class.. and their apparent subservience to anyone who offers a few crumbs or kick backs in return for investment.. the comment was not directed at anyone in this thread.. respect.

  42. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    Oh…BTW…ah heard Apes Hill is once again up and running..

    president Enuff can give you details…

  43. John A Avatar
    John A

    Plus don’t forget the $5M Included the beach front land too

  44. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    Thanks for throwing that drum of gasoline on this fire…

  45. Dame Bajans Avatar
    Dame Bajans

    Anyone noticed that the graphic for the beach club apparently shows only one tint of skin?

  46. John A Avatar
    John A

    Lol sorry about that!

  47. John A Avatar
    John A

    But look at the bright side we could now compulsory acquire it for a mere $2M bds and put the whole matter to rest.

  48. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    “John A July 19, 2019 12:08 PM

    Lol sorry about that!”

    No need to be sorry, it was needed..

    information i did not have and am sure 999.999 % of the population did not have it either.

  49. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    99.999 %..but yall know what i mean.

  50. charles Skeete Avatar
    charles Skeete

    “You certainly are speaking for yourself, not the majority of Barbadians.”

    Vincent i can say beyond a shadow of doubt that i am speaking for the majority of Barbadians. Let we take a poll starting with you.When is the last time you left the comfort of your mansion and drove down to Bath watch the sea for relaxation.

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

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