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Alternate Views – Corruption at Worthing Beach

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Submitted by Kemar J.D Stuart

$84.6M Spent on new hurricane resilient outfalls- Corruption at Worthing Beach

In the Press conference by PM Mottley she indicated to the country that the outfall at the south coast sewage plant had been ruptured due to the passage of Hurricane Beryl. Today Worthing beach is now closed because of this alleged disruption. This has the stench of government corruption in trying to find reasons to borrow more money, a bid to take advantage of the climate change narrative leading to more borrowed money, to further justify the action of signing onto the IMF Resilience and Sustainability Trust again to borrow more money. To garner support for the Bridgetown Initiative and to prove Barbados’ climate change activism while an environmental hazard is going on at Worthing Beach.

In an article posted in the nation newspaper on July 9th 2024, Minister of Environment & Blue economy sent out a warning to sea bathers not to use this beach because of the disruption of the sewage outfall which is pumping sewage out into the seas at Worthing Barbados. Director of Projects at Caribbean Development Bank(CDB) Daniel Best indicated that during investigations that an emergency outfall was temporarily constructed in 2018 and firmly indicated that the emergency outfall was only a short-term solution because of its vulnerability to strong waves and storm winds. (Source CDB website)  

The new outfall is set to be located further offshore than the emergency outfall and one of the main features of the new outfall is the burial of the outfall to provide hurricane and storm resilience.

This rupture of the sewage outfall is strange and must be tested on a principle of truth, transparency and accountability as In June 2018 when on tour of the south coast sewage plant Mia Mottley indicated that her Foreign Minister was asked to approach the government of Canada for technical assistance in which the government of Barbados would have paid for. The technical assistance involved the building of two outfalls: one 8 inch main at Graeme Hall Swamp and another 16- inch main from the sewage plant. The $86M BDS outfalls were commissioned under a sub-committee headed by former Minister of [Energy and Water Resources] Wilfred Abrahams

On December 12th 2019, The Board of  Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank approved a loan of $US 29.8 Million dollars to finance construction of a brand new outfall for the south coast sewage sewage system. The government of Barbados also financed US12.5 Million or $30 Million BDS to bring a total of US$42.3 Million or BDS $84.6M to build a new permanent marine outfall. [CBD website)

EXPERT ADVICE 

In November 2019, Residents in Worthing were invited to a town hall meeting hosted by the Barbados Water Authority in association with Baird & Associates at the Hawthorn Memorial Church.

Dave Anglin, Consultant of Baird & Associates informed the audience of the need to place the permanent outfall at Worthing moving away from the temporary outfall at Needham’s Point Outfall.

In an article written in Barbados Today on April 4th 2019 Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams revealed to Barbados TODAY that Cabinet had given its approval for the permanent outfall to be designed by Canadian marine and coastal engineering consultancy firm Baird Associates. The outfall was installed by Ward Drilling Inc, with sub-contractor Marenco Marine Ltd.

He said once everything goes according to plan the new outfall would be in place by October of next year 2020 .

In November 2019 Dr. John Mwansa as Senior Technical Advisor to BWA, while speaking at this town hall meeting at Hawthorne Church said to the audience and it carried in Barbados Today  that the permanent outfall has been chosen because it is the least disruptive.

To further quote Dr Mwansa  “We are expecting that it will be provide the solution that is needed for a more permanent solution because it will be strong enough to withstand hurricanes which the temporary outfall is not designed to do.”  So these new constructed sewage outfalls according to expert John Mwansa are built to withstand hurricanes.

Dr. Mwansa explained that from the beach, the pipe is designed to go out 800 metres and will come out below the ground and onto the sea bed. After that an additional 250 meters of diffuser line will be added. In total the length of the outfall will be one kilometre.

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41 responses to “Alternate Views – Corruption at Worthing Beach”

  1. David Avatar
    David

  2. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    boss lady speaks.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2024/07/23/stark-assessment-rethink-building-projects-in-climate-crisis-says-pm/

  3. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    I wondered when this supposedly buried line issue would raise its head

  4. John Avatar
    John

    I hear the plan is to treat the sewage and pump it up to St. Philip for the farmers to use.

    Many Bajans I have heard referring to the water as “jobby” water.

  5. David Avatar
    David

    Do we have environmentalist or groups interested in pursuing an agenda to protect our environment? It seems incongruous that PM Mottley is vocal on the matter of climate change but in the group it is a go as you please.

  6. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Like the National Energy policy, the South Coast sewerage mess is a colossal joke that would be REAL funny, …if it was not so ridiculously EXPENSIVE, and if we were not all paying for it via a ‘sewerage tax’ in our submissive brass bowls.

    What a place!
    Some people obviously have the ‘anti-micas’ touch….
    Everything that a certain set of ‘ministers’ have been involved with, have ended in EXPENSIVE failures, and yet they get moved on to new areas to infect….

    The ‘new energy plan’ seems to be to invest billions of dollars in batteries – which only last a few years before needing to be scrapped. The electric company will obviously make THEIR cut, while BBs will be repaying the piper the cost of scrapping BILLIONS of dollars every few years…
    The new sewerage plan is to ‘build a tertiary plant’ – to be run by the same INCOMPETENTS who failed to manage a BASIC PRIMARY plant….
    But this ‘new plant’ will cost half BILLION dollars, so wunna done know that there are GREAT INCENTIVES to pursue this path – while talking shiite about ‘pumping the jobby water to st Philip and st George’.

    A fool and his money are soon parted, but a brass bowl has been parted from hi money LONG AGO, and is now BORROWING money, from which to be parted….

    What a curse!!

    ….and we talk about Trump…!!??!!

  7. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    What are our options? The ‘incompetent’ political directorate is in charge for the foreseeable future.

  8. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Doesn’t it fall back to the adage a people will get the government it deserves?

    We rant so authoritatively about American politics but at home one of the major political parties has shown a lack of capacity to resolve internal conflict. The other one shows no visible sign of succession planning.

  9. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    “Do we have environmentalist or groups interested in pursuing an agenda to protect our environment?” (David)
    We have had to ask you on a number of occasions if you are trying to be like David Ellis , putting positions and then glibly saying that he playing devil’s advocate.
    There are many environmental groups and concerned citizens who have been warning us about the deterioration of our environment for several years.
    The problem is that their efforts have either been thwarted by political one upmanship and the determined goal of us to destroy our environment.
    @Bush Tea is absolutely correct when he sometimes says : “what a place”. Imagine that after being warned by engineers and architects for donkey years that we needed to enforce proper building standards , we are now hearing the PM talk about what has been advocated for at least four decades.
    The PM has successfully convinced us that she is a first timer in Parliament or only became familiar with its existence in 2018 ! One would scarcely find such a case of political amnesia any where in the Western hemisphere.
    With apologies to @ Bush Tea : oh , what a place.

  10. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    Besides Kammie Holder and his NGO who these people who have been so strident about matters pertaining to the environment? Have they organized marches, flooded social and other media etc? They need to do better.

    Why has government been allowed to ignore enforcement of penalties for illegal dumping for example? Advocacy is not about an occasional interview.

  11. The OG Avatar
    The OG

    “but at home one of the major political parties has shown a lack of capacity to resolve internal conflict”

    We cannot work the failed and useless DLP into every conversation. The DLP cannot be just a whipping boy in the conversation. Here we are discussing outright obvious and outright corruption and someone conveniently drags the DLP carcass into the conversation. Don’t you get it “the lost decade is over”; the people spoke twice and took the DLP completely off of the playground. WE are six years past the lost decade; just move on. Ameliorating the incompetence and corruption of the current administration by including the DLP must stop.

    It would be silly of us to believe that the bungles, failures and financial errors of this administration are just simple mistakes. It is outright corruption saddled with incompetence.

    It take a wicked kind of cleverness to make nice sounding proposals and then rip-off the country. This is a situation where they whisper sweet nothings in our ears and the rape the country. Fool us once, shame on us, but to both fool us and rape us again and again is just sheer wickedness. Will we wait until we have reached the very bottom or the scratch grain is all gone before we see the light. Surely, the rough and barbaric acts cannot be eased with vaseline. Every thing that they have touched have turned to shit;

    Mia’s touch is not Midas touch.

    The estimates of the cost of various projects are usually inflated, but even with this inflated cost nothing gets done. Why? The scammers tries to take the legitimate cost as well as the free money; they steal everything. Nothing will be done properly. You cannot steal the money and spend it on real product at the same time. The country will be littered with failed and incomplete projects.

    The lost decade is done and gone. Focus on the lost billions of the past six years.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    The blogmaster can discuss what he pleases. You are free to do so also. How can those who we elect to govern e constantly given a free pass? Both political parties have allowed the sewage system to decline and as a result it has the potential to compromise the national economy.

    Steuspe

  13. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “…..Have they organized marches, flooded social and other media etc? They need to do better….”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    What are you saying Boss?
    Anytime that it becomes the RESPONSIBILITY of citizens to REBEL against their elected government via civil disobedience, it means that the time has come for COMPLETE REVOLUTION.
    Even the opposition forces are ideally meant to be a part of the collective march towards PROGRESS, far less Mr Ordinary BB.

    The Press, professional associations, NGOs and ESPECIALLY churches and religious ORGANIZATIONS however, have a RESPONSIBILITY to continuously assess government’s performance, and to offer HONEST PUBLIC assessments that should be used as REFERENCE POINTS by everyone….government AND public.

    It is when such professional, representative advice is deliberately dismissed by the elected, that public protest – LEADING TO THEIR OUSTER (if needed via the guillotine as proposed by Pacha) becomes necessary.

    for example…
    Why does the Press not SIMPLY repeat the PROMISES and COMMITMENTS made by these jokers a few years ago and compare with RESULTS? it is all on You tube…

    Why are there no CONSTANT repeats of the WARNINGS from the churches, professional organizations, BARP etc – and comparisons with what the politicians ACTUALLY did? is this not a PRESS role?

    Seems to Bushie that the persons you need to blame are not to be defined as ‘the public’, but SPECIFIC organizations such as the church, architects, engineers, doctors, and BARP….. AND THE PRESS. (BU is an outlier….)
    …and in the cases where these DID make their voices heard, the damn PRESS should be cussed for failing to highlight these concerns, and instead pushing the lotta SHIITE that the useless ministers have to say as GOSPEL- when they are forced to find some shiite to say at the various functions they like to attend….

    Should there NOT be a value to spending so much to educate these ‘professionals?

  14. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Do not disagree with you in principle but the citizenry is the check of last remedy. We have discussed in this space many times how the estates of the realm should work.

  15. Redguard Avatar
    Redguard

    The Press, Unions, Churches, BARP, BAPE, BAMP etc either corrupted, co-opted, acquiesced, don’t care (take your pick)

  16. David Avatar
    David

    On the matter of tertiary waste treatment, we have to be careful to avoid conflating the need to have that level of waste treatment with what appears to be systematic incompetence.

    You agree we need to have tertiary treatment? Then the key question is how do we cure the incompetence we rail daily about in this space.

  17. Terence M Blackett Avatar
    Terence M Blackett

    THE ONGOING BAJAN SITCOM – A DYSTOPIAN REALITY SHOW STARRING THE MOTTLEY CREW HOST OF CHARACTERS WHERE THERE ARE NO “GOOD GUYS” v “BAD GUYS” – SIMPLY 2 CHEEKS ON THE SAME FLATULENCE ARSE SPEWING A TOXIC LOAD OF DISGUSTINGLY SMELLY CRAP

    I was in BIM before the “PLANDEMIC” (2018 & 19) – the “CRAP” was literally on the streets @Worthings – having to roll up the car windows to avoid the effluent…

    By 2019, the “MESS” supposed to have been stymied – with the “BOTTOM HOLE PLUGGED”!!!

    Now, voila – Act II, Scene II, para. ZILCH*…

    I would generally hit the beach around 4:30 – 5AM & Worthings is one of my FAV* beaches (other than for “BANDY SHITTING IN THE WATER”) in the morning!!!

    The holidays are “COMING” & it would be a cryin’ shame to have to divert to Grenada for some much needed seawater & some good ‘ole fashion “ORGANIC, SUN-COOKED, FRUIT & 2 VEG”!!!

    Let the “SHITHEADS” fix the CRAP* – your tourists will give you a bad rap!!!

    WHAT A NATION OF TOOTHLESS LIONS LED BY DONKEYS WHO STILL BELIEVE THE MYTHOLOGICAL SPIDER’S YARN SPUN BY THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR OWN COMFORT LEVELS!!!

    #WhatACuntry
    #WhatAMESS*
    #WhatMadness

  18. John Avatar
    John

    David
    July 24, 2024 at 10:09 am
    Rate This

    You agree we need to have tertiary treatment?

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

    Not if it is to supply farmers in St. Philip with water.

    There is plenty untapped water underground on site at River.

    No need to dig up Barbados.

    Now if it were to be used to bring back the nearby land in Christ Church into agriculture, now you might be talking sense!!

    Did you know drip irrigation of cane is normal in some countries?

  19. John Avatar
    John

  20. John Avatar
    John

    Now do you see why my family fought?

  21. David Avatar
    David

    Does tertiary waste treatment have to do solely with water and irrigation?

  22. John Avatar
    John

    No, but try persuading Bajans to drink water derived from sewage, aka jobby water!!

    The amusing thing is they are already doing so.

    All the water coming from the so called desal plant is tertiary treated sewage and as the continued building of housing for God only knows what reason proceeds, more and more ground water sources will have to be abandoned or tertiary treated.

    Go look at a Google Earth image of Barbados or the nighttime image of Barbados by the KLM pilot.

    https://barbados.loopnews.com/content/top-4-klm-pilot-stuns-ig-audience-lit-aerial-shot-barbados

  23. Terence M Blackett Avatar
    Terence M Blackett

    WHY THE WHITE EVIL POWER STRUCTURE EMBEDDED BY THE PLANTOCRACY SYSTEM OF ENFORCED CAPITALISM HAS ONLY WORKED FOR A DAMNABLE FEW AND HAS UNDERMINED VAST SWATHES OF THE BLACK POPULACE

    According to Émile Durkheim’s sociological theories, a “HEALTHY SOCIETY” requires a sense of “COLLECTIVE SOLIDARITY” & “SHARED VALUES”!!!

    BUT WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT KINDA’ SOCIETY REALLY LOOK LIKE FOR I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT???

    The Durkheimian “SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM” – as represented in his works & that of “KARL MARX” – suggests that capitalism’s emphasis on “PRIVATE PROPERTY” & “PROFIT-DRIVEN PRODUCTION” clearly undermines these societal principles as have been seen since the “FIRST INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION” & we’re now in the “4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION” & “BLACK FOLKS”, by & large are still predominately – “THE WAGE EARNERS” (NOT OWNING ANY OF THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION)!!!

    “ALIENATION”, “INEQUALITY” & “LACK OF COLLECTIVE PURPOSE” highlights the inherent contradictions between capitalism’s economic principles espoused by Durkheimian & Marxist sociological ideals – leaving many academic proponents in the quagmire of “DISBELIEF”, proving that these epistemological penchants are simply cisterns of “HOG PISS”!!!

    Much of the entrenched learning within the psyche of “BLACK FOLKS” has been “METAMORPHIZED” from the “DIABOLICAL FRAGMENTATION” of the most “RABID EVIL” ever done on the face of the earth, since its creation, that has resulted in the complete “OVERTHROW” of “DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS” within the heart of Black people – relegating “ALL” successive generations to what we have become today!!!

    Allow me 2 “ELABORATE”:

    Within the philosophical epistemology of “WHITE EUROPEAN MERCHANTS OF GUILE & PROPAGANDA” – forged by “BLOODLETTING”, “SHACKLES & CHAINS” & the “BRANDING OF HUMAN CATTLE” was this “IDEA” of the “PLANTATION SYSTEM” (#Plantocracy), “HATCHED” in the far-flung reaches of the so-called “BRITISH WEST INDIES” & the “UNITED STATES” – commercially designed to “EXPLOIT”, “EXPROPRIATE”, “EMBEZZLE” & “EVICT” by any means necessary, the “HARD LABOR” of a large Black majority population by a smaller, white ruling class (OF YESTER-YEAR, AS IT IS TODAY)!!!

    This mind-bending fragmentation was achieved through various mechanisms such as the “ENSLAVEMENT & FORCED LABOR” of millions of “BLACK AFRIKANS” who were forcibly brought to the Americas as “SLAVES”, “RIPPED & TORN” from the “WOMBS” of their families & cultures. Some were beguiled & coerced into treatises of “IMAGINARY GLORY ABROAD” – to find themselves “SADDLED & BURDENED” by hard labor on large plantations, often working under brutal conditions!!!

    This “DIVISION & ISOLATION” meant that Black enslaved peoples were separated from one another, often by gender, age, & skill level, to “PREVENT COLLECTIVE RESISTANCE” & to “MAINTAIN CONTROL”. This isolation also hindered the development of a “UNIFIED BLACK IDENTITY & COMMUNITY” – something that is NOT* seen amongst “ORIENTALS” (#Chinese #Japanese #Koreans et al) & amongst #Indian #Sikhs #Pakis #Askenazis et al!!!

    No amount of “FLUFFY SOCIOLOGY” can deny the creation & existence of the “CREATION OF RACIAL HIERARCHY”, where the plantation system enforced this totem pole of a “RACIAL SCALE”, with whites at the top & Black folks at the bottom. This hierarchy was reinforced through “LAWS”, “SOCIAL NORMS”, “VIOLENCE” & the “PERPETUATION” of the notion of “WHITE SUPREMACIST SUPERIORITY” & “BLACK INERT INFERIORITY”!!!

    “LAND DISTRIBUTION” & “OWNERSHIP” (what today has become “GENTRIFICATION”) sees the majority of land owned by wealthy “ALBINO-CENTRIC PALESKIN” planters (THEN), while enslaved and “supposedly” freed Black people were restricted to small (LOT) plots or no land at all. This limited access to resources & economic opportunities further entrenched Black fragmentation (WITH CONDITIONS IN 2024, LOOKING PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS BACK THEN)!!!

    “FAMILY SEPARATION” & “DISRUPTION” is still felt in 2024 – a genealogical spinning top spun from the “Transatlantic Slave Trade” & the “Internal Slave Trade” in the Americas which led to the forced separation of indigenous “AFRIKAN” families, destroying traditional social structures & cultural practices. This “POST TRAUMATIC SLAVERY DISORDER DISRUPTION” contributed to the fragmentation of Black communities & the “BLACK IDENTITY” of our people!!!

    These mechanics, implemented & maintained through “CENTURIES OF COLONIALISM & SLAVERY”, resulted in the fragmentation of Black people along lines of “GEOGRAPHY”, “SOCIAL CLASS” & “FAMILY TIES” & such a “DAMNABLE LEGACY” of this kinda’ fragmentation continues to shape the experiences & opportunities of Black communities today!!!

    There’s no one better to elucidate on why we are here in 2024 than Dr Umar Johnson whose clear grasp of the poLIEtical sociology throws light on what is the darkest chapter in human history…

    NOT 4 THE FAINT OF HEART

  24. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    This one got me throwing my hands in the air in despair. One overwhelming, stinking mess!

  25. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Watched the above Dr. Kumar video and several others during the course of today.

    Love his message.

    In MY opinion, a lot better than Candace Owens.

  26. John Avatar
    John

    A $300 million mess.

    More imaginary climate change crap to get $$$$$$$ to fund more corruption.

    We don’t need the water for the farmers in St. Philip!!!!

    It is there already, even an extraction well exists, go look at the Senn Report from 1946.

  27. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    The Coast Guard and all those involved , must be praised for the incredible job they have done in reclaiming the fishing boats from the ocean.
    We would have imagined that such an operation would have taken much longer.
    Congrats to all.
    The PM also demonstrated on the hand leadership in quickly establishing face to face contact with the boat owners and fisher folk.

  28. John Avatar
    John

    Is there an EIA?

    Were there Town Hall Meetings?

    https://www.businessbarbados.com/post/us-300-million-in-guarantees-approved-for-climate-and-fiscal-resilience-in-barbados

  29. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    Unfortunate, withproactive leadership the mass destruction may have been reduced. This is the type of leadership we want to congratulate.

  30. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    We truly understand your position but we believe very strongly in giving praise where it is due .
    We are seeing some regional ideas coming through but we need to stop concentrating our efforts and intellect on some globalist agenda and pay attention to our immediate backyard . As @ Donna says we can do better.
    Without stepping out of our lane, I suggest that you publish a letter written by Professor Mickey Waldron in today’s Nation.
    The struggle continues.

  31. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    The comment wasn’t to knock praise from t is to focus on learnings. To praise the recovery of boats is no different to praising the government for buying new busses and garbage trucks.

  32. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Yes, we can do better, regardless of global conditions. Are they going to stop us from being more efficient? Did they stop Singapore? Efficiency alone could save us billions!

    While we await the big revolution, there are actions we can take to improve our current lot.

  33. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    We didn’t realize that purchasing buses and garbage trucks resulted from a devastating act of nature.
    We always thought the shortage and subsequent purchase was the result of bad man made management over the years.
    In times of national disasters patriotic citizens put their personal views aside and look at the common good and what they can do.
    However, as you often say these days: you have your views and others have theirs.
    We are Barbadians and it’s the only country that we can call our own.
    Whenever it is visited by natural disasters, we become unapologetic patriots.
    Peace.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    The challenge with the boats resulted in bad management. Underestimating the surf and packing the boats like sardines in a confined space.

  35. John Avatar
    John

    Here’s what a boatbuilder has to say!!!

    BOAT CODE’
    SHIPWRIGHT URGES STRICTER STANDARDS IN WAKE OF BERYL’S DAMAGE
    By Sheria Brathwaite
    A leading boatbuilder has called on the government to use the current downtime in the fishing industry to establish a boat building code and implement an inspection programme, following widespread damage to vessels during Hurricane Beryl.
    Clinton Boy Boy Wiltshire, a veteran shipwright, told Barbados TODAY that 65 per cent of the fleet at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex was “not made up to standard”, which he believes was a key factor in the extensive damage caused by storm surges on July 1. The government estimates that as much as 70 per cent of the fishing boats berthed at Bridgetown to ride out the hurricane were damaged or destroyed.
    “We have to put a system in place where we stop building ‘sandwich boats’”, Wiltshire said. “They are made with Nida- Core or a clay sheet. When a boat is made of half of an inch, solid fibreglass it is stronger and can resist anything compared to an eighth of an inch or a quarter of an inch of fibreglass on the inside, just a quarter on the outside, a foam sheet or plastic called Nida-Core in the centre.”
    He added: “On impact, it cannot bear nothing over 40 pounds. Forty pounds and up will bore a hole in it because it can only bear three or four pounds per square inch. A lot of these boats are sandwich boats, almost 65 per cent are sandwich boats.”
    Wiltshire criticised some tradesmen for “cutting back on material to save money for themselves”, stating they “just give you something that looks good”. He urged the implementation of a building standard: “That is why we need a building standard, not now, ever since.”
    The shipwright also called for regular inspections, suggesting: “Every year Fisheries [Division] should also look at these boats and carry out inspections and now that they are hauled up, fisheries can come and check them. Just before everybody gets back the boats to sea they should be inspected. Nobody should be able to build whatever they want to or just patch over the parts that are damaged and don’t do it right”.
    Blue Economy Minister Adrian Forde announced on Monday that 220 of the 312-strong fleet were damaged or destroyed from Hurricane Beryl’s passage. The government has set up two temporary boatyards – one behind Kensington Mall along Fontabelle and another near the BICO cold storage facility on the Harbour Road – to facilitate repairs.
    Boat owners are struggling with the financial impact of the damage.
    Charles Inniss, awaiting an assessment of his boat, said: “There is something in the pipeline to help us. We were told that (the government) would help us with 25 per cent of the cost of repairs but when will that happen? I don’t know.”
    Emerald Holder, who owns three boats, faces repair costs of nearly $100 000.
    “The loss for me is tremendous and it has me hitting on the bottom line that I have”, he told Barbados TODAY. “I have workmen to pay, I have staff who are not working and I am helping them to meet their family needs but I am also trying tohelp myself.”
    Keith Jones, whose small wooden boat requires repairs estimated at $10 000, said he was “not in a rush” to resume operations due to predictions of an active hurricane season.
    The impact on the local fish supply is already being felt.
    While frozen fish remains available, boat owners report that consumers are “reeling” from the shortage of fresh fish. sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

  36. John Avatar
    John

    “… 65 per cent of the fleet at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex was “not made up to standard””

    “Blue Economy Minister Adrian Forde announced on Monday that 220 of the 312-strong fleet were damaged or destroyed from Hurricane Beryl’s passage”

    220/312X100 = 70%

    So, it seems that the vast majority of the boats that were damaged or destroyed were not built up to code.

    Boy Boy is saying simply that by using a thicker fiberglass hull,, all this could have been avoided.

    Makes perfect sense!!

    Even a politician could understand that.

    Boy Boy is the Grenville Phillips of the Fishing Industry.

  37. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    Hopefully you have been listening to the cry of many Barbadians about the lack of a bus and garbage service. To restate: poor management.

  38. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    On that we can agree. Because it does make perfect sense. Just as Grenville Phillips does on engineering matters.

  39. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    So what really is new when it comes to a proper bus service and garbage collection?
    We were led to believe that all of those problems were solved sometime ago . We are most certain that the archives of BU would reflect such. We were probably mistaken. Oh well……..

  40. David Avatar
    David

    Do we have a grasp how this project and the proposed investments will impact the coast line. >especially of concern since the passing of Hurricane Beryl.

    Pierhead project ‘broadly on track’

    The Pierhead Project in Bridgetown is “broadly on track”, according to a source connected with the project.

    The official however noted that “piling will not be starting in September”.

    Demolition work for the $160 million project began in March to remove some of the old warehouse buildings on the site, which engineers determined would not be able to bear the weight of some of the planned multi-storied new structures. However, in keeping with efforts to preserve historical features of the Pierhead which lies within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bridgetown and its Garrison, the decision was made to salvage the stone blocks from the demolished structures for use in the new buildings.

    In giving the update on the progress of the work, the source said: “Currently on site, the salvage operation and the taking down of the two main warehouses called the Steel Building and the House of Pillars is complete; the foundation slabs for the Steel Building and House of Pillars are being carefully removed.”

    Site and staff offices have also been set up on the ground floor of Bridge House.

    Three phases

    In an on-spot local television interview four months ago, the developer, former Coca Cola chairman Neville Isdell, revealed the residential and commercial project to be built “in three phases”, would consist of “The Steel Building; the House of Pillars; Bridge House and the Blackwood Screw Dock”. He also projected then, that “some construction should start by the end of the year, with “about 46 apartments” to be built in the first phase of the project, part of an eventual total of 174 apartments that would be constructed by the end of Phase 3.

    At that time, the developer also gave an idea of the make-up of the Pierhead development, pointing out it would not be exclusively for tourists. He said it was also being designed taking Barbadians and their interests into consideration, with features such as “cafes, restaurants, shops and a beach club”.

    A printed promotional article on the development by the Altman Real Estate Group also states: “The PierHead will be a multi-dimensional destination, boasting an array of features to cater to residents, visitors and businesses alike.

    “The thoughtfully designed apartments will incorporate office spaces, promoting a seamless worklife integration for those who call The PierHead home.”

    Restaurants

    The PierHead will house a variety of restaurants, with the main attraction nestled along the beachside among luxurious beach cabanas. Other eateries will spill onto The Careenage from the four main buildings, providing waterfront and city views. Additionally, a rooftop restaurant overlooking Parliament and a unique dining experience set in an old Molasses Tank will add to the culinary delights.

    In the television interview, Isdell said he expected the project would be completed “in about 72 months”. (GC)

    Source: Nation

  41. David Avatar
    David

    Scientist breaks Sargassum

    By Diara Springer

    In what is described as a ground-breaking achievement, Dr Bidyut Mohapatra of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus has put Barbados on the global scientific map.

    Mohapatra’s discovery of a new bacterium, which he named “Chryseobacterium barbadensis” in honour of Barbados, marks a significant milestone in the field of microbiology and environmental science.

    The novel microorganism was isolated from decomposed Sargassum biomass found in Long Beach, Barbados. Mohapatra explained the significance of this discovery: “It’s the first time it has been discovered. Nobody did it before because it’s not easy to grow.”

    The bacterium’s unique ability to break down components of Sargassum seaweed makes it particularly interesting.

    “When it popped up in my petri plates here, I saw it was eating a lot of alginate, which is 40 per cent of the Sargassum cell wall, as well as cellulose, which is 30 per cent of the cell wall,” Mohapatra elaborated.

    The discovery has been officially recognised by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), cementing its place in the annals of scientific history. This recognition not only validates Mohapatra’s work, but also puts Barbados on the map in the field of microbiology.

    In a touching tribute to his adopted home, Mohapatra shared his motivation for choosing to name the bacterium after Barbados.

    “From my childhood, I was a cricket fan. So when I was a kid, Barbados was one of the famous countries known for cricket. Barbados was known for some of the most iconic cricketers at that time. Malcolm Marshall was one of my favourite stars actually.” He continued: “I have always wanted to come to Barbados so when I got the opportunity to work at UWI as a lecturer, I was extremely happy.”

    Mohapatra’s decision to name the bacterium after Barbados instead of himself is a departure from common practice. He explained, “This is the first time a microorganism has been named after Barbados. So I’m just feeling proud that I could honour Barbados in this way.”

    Mohapatra’s discovery has significant implications for ongoing research into Sargassum seaweed, a pressing environmental issue in the Caribbean. The bacterium’s ability to break down Sargassum components could potentially revolutionise how this invasive species is handled.

    Moreover, his work has inspired young researchers in Barbados.

    Rachel Sobers, an aspiring scientist studying Sargassum as a potential biofuel source, recalled her first encounter with Mohapatra when he was playing table tennis with a colleague. Sobers, who was there for a Mandarin class, was introduced to him and recounted, “I began discussing my continued interest in Sargassum and my studies and he actually revealed to me that that very day, he’d gotten recognition for the identification of the previously unknown Chryseobacterium barbadensis.” This chance meeting left a profound impact on Sobers. She shared her excitement about the discovery: “I was over the moon, really. It’s not often that you hear people firstly mention Sargassum in a positive light. Also, they’ve been studying it, so I was extremely excited and encouraged that someone took that step.” Sobers explained how Mohapatra’s work could address challenges in biofuel production: “His discovery of a biological method of breakdown is really groundbreaking in that it has the potential to eliminate a great deal of the chemical, thermal and mechanical decomposition methods and thereby reduce the cost significantly and make Sargassum as a biofuel source far more feasible.” Despite the ground-breaking nature of his work, Mohapatra faced several challenges during his research. “We have very good facilities at the Cave Hill Campus when I joined here, but it is slowly degrading because we don’t have that much funds here to maintain the instruments,” he revealed.

    The lack of certain advanced equipment on the island forced Mohapatra to send samples overseas for analysis.

    “I sent overseas to some commercial labs for sequencing because we don’t have it available on the island. So I had to send it outside to the United States to do that and pay money out of my own pockets,” he added.

    When asked about the needs of the scientific community in Barbados, Mohapatra’s answer was straightforward: “We need funds.”

    Drawing from his experience in other countries, he explained, “When I worked in the United States, did my PhD in Japan and worked in Canada, we always had funds available. But here, there are very limited resources.”

    Mohapatra stressed the importance of investing in scientific research.

    “We should spend a little bit more money, especially in the cutting-edge areas like microbiology, biotechnology and genome sequencing – these things are required,” he said.

    Source: Nation

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