An interesting presentation by Minister Kerrie Symmonds during the debate of the Sacramental Cannabis Bill 2019. His address starts at 1hr.15min of the video. It is interesting because he crafted his delivery in a social justice context.
There is another view the government has been moving with unholy haste to force this Bill through the legislative process.
Where and to Whom in Barbados can a Barbadian Black man from the blue collar working class (now an old age pensioner) complain to and seek redress from, pertaining to illegal actions by a White British ex-pat who in 2002 created a private road across, within and along a watercourse bed.
Even if such actions were carried-out with permission from the then BLP Minister of MTW, the procedures were still wrongful and illegal to effectively block an essential part of a watercourse. This means that the Minister of MTW, would have had to an abetor to an obvious violation of the Barbados “Prevention of Floods Act Cap 235”. Due to the fact, that the private road created the conditions that caused recurring rainfall run-off to redirect from an original course to my home, caused damages to my property and forced me to make some changes to prevent rainfall run-off from entering my home which is situated South-West of the illegally altered watercourse. From 2004 all of my legitimate Complaints and pleas to Officials at MTW&M for a remedy to the created at risk flooding situation are still persistently disregarded not only by prolonged inaction to remedying, also the relentless discriminatory manner that showed favouritism towards the White Ex-pat.
BLP, and DLP Government Ministers at the Ministry of Transport, Works and maintenance (MTW&M) who are entrusted with the authority under the “Prevention of Floods Act Cap 235” as it pertains to watercourses – Top Public Servants at MTW&M in general who never ever showed the courtesy of acknowledging a letter of complaint far less responding, and in particular MTW&M Chief Technical Officers who are entrusted with responsibility for the correct functioning of watercourses.
The named persons below have contributed to relentless discrimination against this Barbadian Black man exposed to the risk of flooding situation by Top Technical Officers, CTOs Frank Thornhill, and Nash Lovell. The Present Deputy CTO Philip Tudor, who would have acted as CTO at times, and CTO Cheryl Bennett-Inniss. The Ministers, Hon. Gline Clarke, John Boyce, Michael Lashley. The present Hon Minister Dr. William Duguid The Top Public servants, PS Bruce Alleyne, and acting PS Simone Rudder. The present PS Mark Cummins.
MTW CTO Frank Thornhill and Deputy CTO Philip Tudor to whom I complained and pleaded over the years, acknowledged and stated that the private road is the cause of at risk flooding. They confirmed the road contravened the “Prevention Of Floods Act Cap 235”. The CTO is entrusted with the duty to carry-out the necessary flood work to remedy such at risk flooding situations. That said, CTO and Deputy CTO, Officially verbally pledged to remove the boulders and restore the watercourse. Yet those two top Technical Officers reneged on their pledges to carry-out the functions of their responsibility clearly stipulated by the “Prevention Of Floods Act Cap 235”.
After enduring, all the unfairness and discrimination against this Black community by the last DLP government, I was looking forward to the new seemingly improved BLP government to do the right thing. Before the 2018 General Election, I sent an email to MP. Symmonds reminding him of the worsening situation at the watercourse, that email was copied to non other than the now, Hon. Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley who quickly replied. She asked for more information on the matter, (which was forwarded) and made promises to address the at risk flooding situation if successful at the polls. She also asked to support Kerrie. MP Kerrie Symmonds response to the email was to contact me. He visited and made overworked promises, that he is “still trying” to get a remedy to the watercourse. He reinforced that promise with another visit to inform me that he and Mia visited where the watercourse is altered and they agreed to prioritize the fixing of the flooding situation if successful in wining the Government. He also used that 5 yearly visit to promised other Residents affected by the at risk flooding in Clarkes Road.
One year after the BLP 30-0 victory at the polls, the Hon. Kerrie Symmonds clearly resumed his purported representation of the Black Residents of Clarke’s Road. When I called upon the Hon Minister, the Minister stated he is “still trying” to get the much needed remedying to the watercourse. When reminded that he was seeking a remedy from 2006, Minister Symmonds took cover by stating that Barbados is financially embarrassed, the public Officers are not well equipped, and “if I continue my agitation in public”, it will not advance a remedy, he said, it actually makes it harder for him to get Public Officers to work towards remedying the watercourse.
How much equipping the Public Officers need “other than integrity”. The CTO of MTW&M is entrusted with the legal responsibility to carry-out, authorize the Deputy CTO or Officers to Carry-out the functions of the clearly spelled-out stipulations of “The prevention Of Floods Act Cap 235”, pertaining to the White British Ex-pat clear contravened actions, that altered, and placed the private road across, within and along a watercourse in 2002.
The Hon. Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley, seems not to have the need now to show the respect of replying to this Barbadian Black man, as she did before the 2018 general Election, far less intervening.
Alden Blackman
Resident of Clarke’s Road, St. James.
Mr. Mark Cummins
Permanent Secretary
Ministry Of Transport, Works and Maintenance
The Pine
St. Michael
May 22, 2019
Dear Mr. Cummins
Please accept this 5th letter only by email
Sir, With no acknowledgement from you to date, from my 4 previous email letters to your official email address at MTW&M, and due to the facts that as a victim of obvious unprofessional behaviour towards me from Officials at MTW&M in general, and in particular the obvious unfair manner in which MTW top technical officers treated and continue to treat my legitimate complaints. I am advised to make this 5th request for redress.
Refer to the four email letters sent to you with the circumstances pertaining to the placing of a private road across, within, and along an original watercourse bed, in which the act was carried-out by a British Expat for a purpose that ended to create a private road which effectively resulted in creating the risk of flooding. Such actions and results were acknowledged in 2004 by the holders of responsibilities for watercourses at MTW. CTO Frank Thornhill, and Deputy CTO Philip Tudor, whose verbal statements confirmed the contravening of “The Prevention Of Floods Act Cap 235”. Yet the watercourse has not been fixed to date. Therefore obstructing the illegal private road that redirects flooding to my property already the cause of damages and continue to pose a risk to my household.
Sir, I reiterate my property adjacent to the watercourse has never flooded from an overflow of the watercourse during the years 1978-2002 I have resided here since 1982. The clarity of the facts as to how Clarke’s Road residential area became a flooding area, happened in 2002 when British ex-pat, Pat Brayshaw, commissioned the services of heavy duty equipment to illegally level a very vital part of the watercourse defined banks, and cut a road across the watercourse bed, to her lot on the North. Months later, further illegal calculated changes were made to the watercourse, by building up a boulders wall, out to her land mark, in the middle, and along the watercourse bed, and then backfill. That process clearly narrowed the watercourse, blocked the original exit of that straight part of the watercourse, and provided an increase of built up level land within the watercourse to formed a yard-cum-private road.
Sir, The wall of boulders along the middle of the watercourse bed became the new North bank to give favourable protection to the British Ex-pat side of the watercourse, while the cut-out from the south bank became a road across the watercourse bed above my home. Such illegal calculated altering of the watercourse were acknowledged by Officers of the Drainage Unit, as an “encroachment” that will certainly cause flooding. The first flooding did happened months later when the flow from rains leaked from the cut-out south bank. The narrowed watercourse obstructs and redirected spread flooding over my adjacent property on the south, caused erosion damage to my open backyard, front-yard, and made Clarke’s Road the new watercourse.
Complaints from 2003 to the Drainage Unit for over a year has been a waste of time. As Officers have advised, Drainage is not equipped with the necessary equipment to remove the boulders and remedy the watercourse. In 2004 the responsibilities of “The Prevention Of Floods Act cap 235” resided with the CTO of MTW, who happened to be CTO Mr. Frank Thornhill, (up to his retirement). He had the power to execute or authorise an Officer to execute flood works to remedy such an illegally created flooding situation. As stated above Deputy CTO Mr. Philip Tudor who would have acted as MTW CTO have also held those responsibilities. Both Top Technical Officers acknowledged my complaints and pleas by verbally stating that it is illegal to place a private road across and within a watercourse. they pledged to removed the boulders, and remedy the watercourse. But obvious prolonged inactions to remedying, and what followed, showed otherwise.
While the two Top Technical Officers prolonged what seems to be concerted inactions to remedy the recurring flooding situation. The broken and narrowed watercourse was severely altered and made worse due to an obvious biased process, carried-out when laying pipes for BWA, by Arthur’s Construction. Mr. Arthur purposely placed the pipes into a part of my backyard that was damage by recurring flooding from 2003. Mr. Arthur clearly reposition the watercourse into that part of my backyard, and made it appear as the original watercourse aiming at my home, and Clarke’s Road Residential Area. Mr. Arthur told me I can’t tell BWA where to lay pipes. After I had a conversation about property conversion with the Barbados Ombudsman, and then Mr. Arthur, he said all he can do is to ask BWA to build a protection wall for me.
The illegal flooding situations were clearly the results of a contravention of the law that MTW CTO held the responsibility to remedy. The two top Technical Officers, prolonged inaction to the extent where an obvious lack of attention from them seems to be that the wrongdoings at the watercourse are all right, as long as the illegal private road remained. My observation was confirmed when I asked MP for St. James Central, Hon Kerrie Symmonds to intervened, His effort only went as far as to set up a meeting at the watercourse site, without his present, both Top Technical Officers or others MTW Officers were unavailable for the meeting which turned out to be an exercise in futility. Base on the facts that MTW is responsible for watercourses, and to remedy after BWA completed a task.
Mr. Roy Morris published article stated what he envisaged the flooding situation would be after he witnessed that part of the watercourse. Another reporter Maria Bradshaw of the Nation, and last but not least, the widely read Barbados Underground all highlighted the unjustified allowing of an illegally placed private road across, within and along a watercourse that created flooding situations of which officers at MTW&M knew. Yet ignoring my household to the extent where the situation is extremely worse, the only path on my property adjacent to the illegal private road still has dislodged boulders after complaining to Pat Brayshaw, Drainage Unit and MTW. Further illegal contravening action by Mr. Clarke in removing the watercourse defined banks from the road across the watercourse to upstream where the flooding emerges, the area on the north is now driveway and garden, the south side is almost flattened.
The obvious continuing disregarding of the danger pose to my household, can only be the preconceived notion of MTW, Top Technical officers that a blue-collar working class Barbadian must only complaint, This notion supports the non responses from MTW. The two Top Technical Officers and Officers under their authority would have had to concur with the actions in 2012-13 of Hon. George Hutson, DLP, MP for St. James Central, the PS, and Minister of MTW, also, leading up to the 2013 General Election so that MTW workmen could and were tasked to paved the said illegal private road of the British Ex-pat, under the watchful eyes of the Hon. George Hutson.
Regardless, of the acknowledgement and confirmed contravening statements of the two top Technical Officers in 2004 pertaining to the illegal placing of the private road that created recurring flooding situations, and the verbal pledged to removed the boulders and remedy the watercourse. The two Top Technical Officers clearly revealed their agreement with aiding and abetting by authorizing the retention of an illegal private road.
After the retirement of CTO Frank Thornhill. CTO, Mr. Lovell continued to disregard the regulations of “The prevention Of Floods Act Cap 235” pertaining to his legal responsibility, concerning the illegal altering of the watercourse. Top Technical Officers knowingly refused to this day, to carry-out the required necessary floods work to remedy what caused the recurring flooding situation. By doing such, MTW&M Top Technical Officers continues to deliberately discriminate against my household.
Sir, I request an urgent redress.
Your faithfully
Alden Blackman
Resident of Clarke’s Road, St. James.
Let me have men about me that are fat, sleek-headed men and such as sleep a-nighs. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look, He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.”
-Julius Caesar Act 1, scene 2, 190-195
One of the enduring criticisms of the Mia Mottley government which dovetail those about austerity measures implemented has been the appointment of a 26 member Cabinet. When the bell is rung to end this Barbados Labour Party (BLP) term in the legislated 4 more years, one of the questions the electorate will have to answer is whether ‘value for money’ was delivered. Time is indeed longer than twine.
There is no doubt significant remedial AND strategic work is required within central government to reposition Barbados as a lean and hungry central government operation. The dysfunction that exist within the public service is legendary. It is an entity using obsolete and redundant systems made worse by a level of political interference translated to square pegs serving in round holes. A state of affairs that has transcended both of the major political parties.
After one year in office, one ministry can easily be held up as an example of the systemic dysfunction. A ministry that has two ministers at the helm- William Duguid and Peter Phillips. Some are of the view glaring errors which have and continue to plague at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance (MTWM) exposes a lack of ministerial experience. The government promised to hit the ground running and there is a reasonable expectation by Barbadians ministers in charge supported by the technocrats possess the skill set to get the job done.
There is no need to list the cock ups that have occurred in the last year under the MTWM to explain waning public confidence. One suspects this ministry is in line for a shake up when Prime Minister Mia Mottley does an obligatory annual performance review. The dysfunction one may argue has led to the resignation of Gregory Nicholls as Chairman of the Transport Board after being publicly criticized by Mottley.
Unfortunately for Messrs Duguid and Phillips the blogmaster intends to highlight the dysfunction at MTWM in upcoming blogs as the poster ministry. The objective: to expose an inefficient approach to doing business in the twentieth century. Although policy positions of all ministries ultimately impact the electorate the MTWM by the nature of its operations is seen as one of the most visible.
One area that is an embarrassment is the system to register a vehicle at the offices of the Barbados Licensing Authority. To be fair, Barbados Revenue Authority (reports to the Ministry of Finance) must share in the chaos Barbadians are subjected to on a daily basis. Annually owners of vehicles must make the trek to the Pine or its satellite offices to show proof of insurance to receive a document to display on the vehicle. The process is one where people have to carve out 1 to 2 hours to stand in a line to complete the transaction. This is clearly a systemic problem from casual observation and should have been fixed a long time ago.
If we want to send the right message to Barbados workers and the general public, we must fix as a matter of urgency. We cannot be sending home workers, paying consultants millions from the public purse, jet setting across the globe in business class and being accommodated in 4 and 5 star hotels, YET, there is no commensurate lift in the operating efficiency at public agencies.
Minster Duguid note the blogmaster has not included the matter of Alden BLACKman. A matter that will continue to plague your performance and legacy as a member of Cabinet even if you are not the only one responsible for its resolution. The pain and suffering being inflicted on a BLACKman while a WHITE woman Pat Brayshaw is the beneficiary by a government elected by a predominant BLACK population is a woeful dereliction in your mandate to serve.
A word to the wise they say should be sufficient.
Prime Minister Hon Ms. Mia Amor Mottley QC MP.
Government Headquarters
Bay Street, St. Michael
May 14, 2019
Dear Hon. Prime Minister ‘
Please accept this 2nd letter only by email
Hon. Prime Minister, With no responses to date I am again requesting your intervention in obtaining an urgent remedy pertaining to an illegally placed private road across, within, and along a watercourse in which both the preparations to place and the placing, were illegally calculated projects, purposely carried-out by a seemingly wealthy British Expat in contravention of “The Prevention Of Floods Act Cap 235”.
Please be reminded by my shorter version of the circumstances, outline below.
I apologize if the tone of my letter seems to be xenophobic, My concerns are due to an illegally placed private road that effectively resulted into creating flooding situations that cause damage and continues to pose floods risk to my household.
Hon. Prime Minister, I reiterate, my property adjacent to that vital part of the watercourse, never ever flooded from an overflow of the watercourse, during the years 1978-2002 of my familiarity with the area. I reside here since 1982. The clarity of the facts, as to how Clarke’s Road Residential Area become a flooding area, happened In 2002, when British ex-pat, Pat Brayshaw, commissioned the services of heavy duty equipment to illegally levelled a very vital part of the watercourse defined banks, and cut a road across the watercourse bed, to her lot on the North. Months later, further illegal calculated changes were made to the watercourse, by building up a boulders wall, out to the land mark in the middle, along the watercourse bed, and backfilled. That process clearly narrowed the watercourse, blocked the original exit of that straight part of the watercourse, and provided an increase of built up level land within the watercourse to formed a yard-cum-private road.
The boulders wall along the middle of the watercourse bed, become the new North bank to give favourable protection to the British Ex-pat side of the watercourse. while the cut-out from the south bank become a road across the watercourse bed, above my home. Such illegal calculated altering of the watercourse were acknowledged by Officers of the Drainage Unit, as an “encroachment” that will certainly cause flooding. The first flooding did happened months later when flood flow leak from the cut-out South bank, the narrowed watercourse obstructs and redirected spread flooding over my adjacent property on the south, caused erosion damage to my open backyard, front-yard, and made Clarke’s Road the new watercourse.
Hon. Prime Minister, Complaining to the Drainage Unit for over a year, was a waste of time. As an Officers said, Drainage is not equipped with the necessary equipment to removed the boulders and remedy the watercourse. In 2004 the responsibilities of “The Prevention Of Floods Act cap 235”, resides with the CTO of MTW, who happened to be CTO Mr. Frank Thornhill, ( up to his retirement ) who had the power to execute, or authorised an Officer to execute flood works to remedying such an illegal created flooding situation.(as stated above) Deputy CTO. Mr. Philip Tudor who certainly would have acted as MTW CTO would have also held those responsibilities. Both Top Technical Officers acknowledged my complaints and pleas by officially verbally stating that it is illegal to placing a private road across and within a watercourse. they pledged to removed the boulders, and remedy the watercourse. But obvious prolonged inactions to remedying, and what followed, showed otherwise.
While the two Top Technical Officers prolonged what seems to be concerted inactions to rectify the flooding situation. The broken, and narrowed watercourse was severely altered and made worse, Due to an obvious bias process, carried-out when laying pipes for BWA, by Arthur’s Construction. Mr. Arthur purposely placed the pipes into a part of my backyard that was damage by recurring flooding from 2003. Mr. Arthur clearly reposition the watercourse, into that part of my backyard, and made it appeared as the original watercourse, aiming at my home, and Clarke’s Road Residential Area. Mr. Arthur told me I can’t tell BWA where to lay pipes. After I had a conversation about property conversion with the Barbados Ombudsman, and then Mr. Arthur, he said all he can do is to ask BWA to build a protection wall for me.
Hon. Prime Minister, The illegally created flooding Situations were clearly the results of contravening a law, that MTW CTO held the responsibility to justly rectify. The two top Technical Officers concertedly, prolonged inaction to remedying the said flooding situation, to the extent where obvious lack of attention from them, to the destruction of the watercourse was all right, as long as the illegal private road remained. My observation was confirmed when I asked MP for St. James Central, Hon Kerrie Symmonds to intervened, His effort only went as far as to set up a meeting at the watercourse site, without his present, both Top Technical Officers or others MTW Officers were unavailable for the meeting which turned out to be an exercise in futility. Base on the fact that MTW is responsible for watercourses, also to rectify after BWA completed a task.
Hon Prime Minister, Your Press Secretary, Mr. Roy Morris can state what he envisaged the flooding situation would be, when flood flow arrived at that vital part of the watercourse, due to what he acknowledged at the watercourse site, Other reporter, and Maria Bradshaw of the Nation, and last but not least, the widely read Barbados Underground, all highlighted the unjustified allowing of an illegally placed private road across, within and along a watercourse. that created flooding situations. The more highlighting, the more victimization, and disregarding towards my household, to the extent where the situation is extremely worse, the only path on my property adjacent to the illegal private road, still have dislodged boulders, after complaining to Pat Brayshaw, Drainage Unit and MTW. Further illegal contravening action by Mr. Clarke in removing the watercourse defined banks from the road across the watercourse to upstream where the flooding emerges, the area on the north is now driveway and garden, the south side is almost flatten.
Hon Prime Minister, The obvious continuing disregarding can only be the preconceived notion of MTW, CTO Mr. Thornhill, and Deputy CTO Mr. Tudor, that a blue-collar working class Barbadian,( now an old age pensioner ) can only complaint, Similar notions allowed for not only non responses from MTW, also obvious recklessness and extremely irresponsibility of their duties. The two Top Technical Officers, would have had to concertedly Complicit with Hon. George Hutson, DLP, MP for St. James Central, the PS, and Minister of MTW, vice versa, leading up to the 2013 General Election, to tasked MTW workmen to paved the said illegal private road of the seemingly wealthy British Ex-pat, under the watchful eyes of the Hon. George Hutson. Regardless, of the stated concerns of the two top Technical Officers, pertaining to the illegal placing of the private road that created flooding situations, and the verbal pledged to removed the boulders and remedy the watercourse. The two Top Technical Officers clearly revealed their recklessness of concerted complicity, corrupted actions, and discriminatory favoured to aiding and abetting by authorizing the upkeep, thereby allowing the retention of an illegally placed private road.
After the retirement of CTO Frank Thornhill. CTO Mr. Lovell clearly continued the refusal to comply with regulations of “The prevention Of Floods Act Cap 235” pertaining to his legal responsibility, concerning the illegal altering of the watercourse. Top Technical Officers knowingly continued prolonging the required necessary floods work to remedy a created flooding situation, that resulted from an illegally placed private road. By doing such, Top Technical Officers knowingly continued to discriminated against my household.
Whoever the beneficiaries are concerning the concerted complicity of aiding and abetting a seemingly wealthy British ex-pat to probably placed and certainly retained a private road across, within, and along the watercourse. The cover-up have started, Deputy CTO. Tudor have gone as far as to lied about meeting with me at the watercourse site, in effort to hide his concerted prolonged inactions to remedying an illegally created flooding situations, for the pass 15+ years. Mr. Tudor stated untruth in an email to me, copied to you, and Hon Minister Symmonds, MP for St. Janes Central.
Hon. Prime Minister, The actions of Top Technical Officers, with legal responsibilities for the pass 15+ years, (especially 2008-2018) were clearly “blatantly reckless.” Hon. Prime Minister, You, yourself used “blatantly reckless” many times before, and throughout the 2018 General Election campaign to describe actions of disregarding, complicity, discriminatory treatment, corruption and all the wrongdoings, carried out by Civil Servants, and DLP Politicians, towards Barbadians for reasons. The above case is one such reason, that happened under a previously BLP Government in 2002,and crying out for rectification. With due respect to Hon Minister Duguid. I now plea to you, Hon. Prime Minister to urgently intervene, and ensure a justly remedying is done to this watercourse. If or when you do obtain a remedy for this long overdue created flooding situation. it will certainly be made public. in fairness I shall make this and all monthly letters of pleading, as public as I can, until a remedy is done.
Your faithfully
Alden Blackman
Resident of Clarke’s Road, St. James.
Dr. The Hon. William F. Duguid, J.P., M.P
Ministry of Transport Works and Maintenance
The Pine, St. Michael
May 6, 2019
Dear. Hon. Minister Duguid
Please accept this 2nd letter only by email
Dr. The Hon. William F. Duguid, J.P., M.P this is my second request to you seeking rectification, to an illegally built private road across, within, and along a watercourse channel. Both the preparations for and placing of this private road are wrongful and has clearly created flooding situations from 2003, It remains, posing a flood risk from heavy rainfall. Due to an obvious continuation of wilful negligence of Top Technical Officer, and the conspicuous traditional dilly dallying non responses from MTW (MTW&M), pertaining to this clear-cut case of contravening, “The Prevention Of Floods Act Cap 235”. To continuously favour a wealthy White British Expat while at the same time placing and keeping me a Black Barbadian of the blue-collar working class (now a pensioner) in an unfavourable risk of flooding harm. The circumstances of this illegally created flooding situations, and what followed, even though repeated many times to MTW/MTW&M, are outline below.
Some obvious facts, why the Clarke’s Road Residential Area, was not a flooding area before 2003, is attributed to exemplary behaviour by locals, and Town and Country planning Department. The competent Officers at planning made very wise decisions, that protected a vital part of this natural watercourse, from vehicular traffic with dead-end roads from the West, North, and South. The channel was deep enough for capacity and naturally sloped for fast run-off. It never overflowed from heavy rainfall, during the years 1978-2003 of my familiarity with this area, I reside here since 1982. Therefore no imminent or foreseeable flooding risk. There was never a vehicular through public or private road, from Appleby, Clarkes Road or Chapel Gap, to, across, within, over, or along the channel of this natural watercourse.
The clarity of the facts as to how Clarke’s Road Residential Area became a flooding area. showed in 2002, when a White British ex-pat, name Pat Brayshaw, commissioned the services of heavy equipment, that approached from Appleby, on the South, along an open lot of an absentee, and willfully altered, by leveling the channel defined banks from a very vital part, and cut a road across the watercourse, to her lot on the North. Months later, Pat Brayshaw commissioned further calculated altering, to the channel by building up a boulders wall out, within the channel, to the land mark middle, and backfilled. That process clearly narrowed the channel, block the original exit of that straight part of the channel, and favourably provided an increase of level land, along the channel to formed a yard-cum-private road, joined to the previously cut road across. Thereby, illegally created a private road across, within and along the watercourse Channel.
Hon. Minister, Even if, permission was given by a previous MTW, Minister to place a private road in that manner, it would still be wrongful, Furthermore, by allowing the said private road to stay in this watercourse channel, for almost 16 years after receiving complaints and pleas for remedying as to what happened in less that a year after the placing, of said road, is not only discriminatory, it is atrocious. The perpetrator’s actions were openly willfully done. Due to the fact, that the built up boulders wall within the channel, not only reduced fast run-off, it block and redirected flooding, it also formed the North channel bank to give that favourably protection to the perpetrator side of the channel, while the cut-out for the road across” from the South Channel bank was callously not replaced, That action clearly caused the first flooding situation that I have experience in my years of residing adjacent to this natural watercourse channel. Thereafter, yearly recurring floods leak from the cut-out South channel bank, the narrowed channel obstructs and redirect spread flooding over my property, caused erosion damage to my backyard, front-yard and made Clarke’s Road the new watercourse.
Hon. Minister, There is no need for me to repeat details here, how complaining to Drainage Unit Officers, turned out, except to note. The traditional dilly-dally of Officers lasted for over a year, until one honest Officer, told me that Drainage Unit is not equip to rectify the watercourse channel, He directed me to MTW, Deputy CTO. Philip Tudor. There is no need to repeatedly state Mr. Tudor’s and Mr. Thornhill’s actions. The facts will highlight their inaction.
Hon. Minister, The authority to execute flood work in 2003-4, resided with MTW, CTO. Mr. Thornhill, who had the authority and duty (up to his retirement) to execute, or authorized an Officer to execute flood works to remedy such flooding situation. Deputy CTO. Mr. Tudor who certainly would have acted as MTW, CTO. during said dates, would have also held the authority, and duty of the “prevention of floods Act 235”. Still, both Top Technical Officers willfully neglected their legal duty and did not carry-out the necessary required remedying, to stop the wrongful redirecting of floods flow to my property, by doing such they certainly willfully discriminated against my household by allowing what caused the flooding situation to remained, and pose further flooding harm, during the rainy season, ranging from damage to property, to loss of life, God forbid.
While the said two Top Technical Officers prolonged their reckless inaction to cause the flooding. The broken and narrowed channel was severely altered and made worse to further disadvantage my household. Due to an obvious bias process, carried-out when laying pipes for BWA, by Arthur’s Construction. Mr. Arthur used bullying action, then purposely placed the pipes into a part of my backyard that was damage by flooding erosion due to the broken and narrowed channel redirecting spread flooding. Mr. Arthur clearly reposition the channel, into that part of my backyard and made it appear as the original channel, aiming at my home, and Clarke’s Road Residential Area. The MP for St. James Central, Hon Kerrie Symmonds hesitantly intervened and only went as far as to set up a meeting at the watercourse site, with out his present, both Top Technical Officers or others Officers from MTW were unavailable for the meeting, that turned out to be an exercise in futility. Base on the fact that MTW is responsible for watercourses, also to rectify after BWA completed a task. Therefore, from 2008-2018 the Inactions to the risk prolonged, disregarding of the risk continued, and overlooking of further altering, when Mr. Clarke removed the channel banks from the road across the channel to upstream where the floods emerges, that area is now driveway, and garden.
Hon Minister, The clearly wilful disregard of my plight is obviously the preconceived notions of MTW, CTO Thornhill, and Deputy CTO Tudor, that a blue-collar working class Black Barbadian, can only complain. Those notions allowed for not only non responses from MTW, also willfully neglected duties, by said two Top Technical Officers, or Officers under their authority who evidently Complicit with Hon. George Hutson, DLP, MP for St. James Central, leading up to the 2013 General Election, and discriminatory maintenance, by tasking MTW work men, to paved the seemingly wealthy White British Ex-pat illegal private road, under the watchful eyes of Hon. George Hutson. Even though, the said two Top Technical Officers considered the said private road to be illegally placed. They did officially pledge to removed the boulders and restored the channel. Still, the said two Top Technical Officers concerted to aiding and abetting, or did not used their authority to stop it. Any which way the two Top Technical Officers grossly neglected their duties.
Whoever the beneficiaries are concerning the concerted complicity of discriminatory aiding and abetting a seemingly wealthy British ex-pat to wrongfully placed and retained a private road across, within, and along a natural watercourse channel. The cover-up have started, Deputy CTO. Tudor have gone as far as lying about his inactions to the illegally created flooding situations, in an email to me, copied to the Hon. Prime Minister. Mia Mottley, and Hon Minister Symmonds, MP for St. Janes Central.
Hon. Minister Duguid an urgent rectification to this illegally created flooding situation is needed.
Your faithfully
Alden Blackman
Resident of Clarke’s Road
St James
Mr. Mark Cummins
Permanent Secretary
Ministry Of Transport, Works And Maintenance
The Pine
St. Michael
April 25,2019.
Please Accept This 4thLetter Only By Email
Dear Mr. Cummins
Sir, When the window is closed to pertinent facts regarding the circumstances of a situation, read an illegally created situation which may lead to a dangerous flooding situation- “unfairness” goes through the door and the disadvantaged become most vulnerable.
Some of the facts why the Clarke’s Road residential area was not a flooding area before 2003 is attributed to exemplary behaviour by locals and Town and Country planning Department. The competent Officers at planning made very wise decisions that protected a vital part of the natural watercourse @Clarke’s Road i.e. from vehicular traffic with deadend roads from the West, North, and South.
The channel was deep enough for capacity and naturally sloped for fast run-off. It never overflowed from heavy rainfall during the years 1978-2003. I confirm this withut challenge BECAUSE of my familiarity with this area. I have resided @Clarke’s Road since 1982. There was never vehicular through traffic from Appleby, Clarke’s Road or Chapel Gap to, across, within, over or along the channel of this natural watercourse.
Mr. Permanent Secretary the facts as to how the Clarke’s Road residential area has become a flooding area are:
In 2002 a British ex-pat name Pat Brayshaw commissioned the services of heavy equipment and wrongfully altered the natural watercourse from Appleby on the South, along an open lot of an absentee. She levelled the channel defined banks from a very vital part of the channel and cut a road across the watercourse to her lot on the North.
Later in 2002 Pat Brayshaw persisted with the illegal act by altering the channel by wall from boulders within the channel to the land mark middle and backfilled. That process clearly narrowed the channel and provided an increase in the land level along the channel that formed a yard-cum-private road, THEN, joined a previously cut across road creating an illegal private road across within and along the watercourse channel.
Even if permission was given by MTW Minister to place a private road in that manner, it would still be wrong, unjustified and discriminatory. Furthermore, by allowing the said private road to stay in this natural watercourse channel for almost 16 years after what happened in less than a year after the alteration, is clearly unconscionable. Due to the fact the build up boulders wall within the channel not only reduced floods fast run-off, it formed the North channel bank for a favourable protection for the wrongdoer side of the channel, while the cut-out for the road across” from the South Channel bank, was callously not replaced. Those callous wrongdoings to the channel clearly caused the first flooding situation that I have experience in my years of residing adjacent to this natural watercourse channel. Thereafter, recurring floods have leaked from the cut-out South channel bank, the narrowed channel obstructs and redirect spread flooding over my property, caused erosion damage to my backyard, front-yard and made Clarke’s Road the new watercourse.
Sir, there is no need for me to repeat details here, how complaining to Drainage Unit Officers turned out, except to note that Officers dilly-dally for over a year until one honest Officer told me that Drainage Unit is not equip to rectify the watercourse channel, He directed me to MTW, Deputy CTO. Philip Tudor.
Sir. It must be stated here for obvious reasons, The actions of Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW- MTW&M) two Top Technical Officers, I will make details short, and to the point.
Sir. During a telephone conversation in 2004 with Deputy CTO. Mr. Tudor in which I outlined what happened to the natural watercourse channel. The altering, building of the private Road, the damage it caused – Mr. Tudor promised to visit the watercourse site in my presence to investigate. Up to this day I have not met Mr. Tudor. After a duration of months, in a follow up telephone conversation with Mr. Tudor, he stated the placing of the private road is illegal, and pledge to have the boulders removed and restore the channel. After many inactions only comfort promises from other telephone conversations with Mr. Tudor for nearly a year. I verbally complained to CTO. Frank Thornhill who officially pledged his agreement and approval of the rectification to be carry-out to the watercourse channel made by Deputy CTO. Mr. Tudor. The rectifying is yet to be done.
Sir. The illegal placing of the private road, clearly contravened the “Prevention of Floods Act 235”. It created a dangerous flooding situation that caused flooding damage. The authority to execute flood work is the responsibility of MTW, CTO. Mr. Thornhill, who had the authority and duty (up to his retirement ) to execute, or authorised an Officer to do flood works to remedy such flooding situation.
Deputy CTO. Mr. Tudor who certainly would have acted as MTW, CTO. during 2004-to-date would have also held the authority and duty of the “prevention of floods Act 235”. Yet, both Top Technical Officers costantly ignored my pleas for a remedy to the illegally created dangerous flooding situation for the past 15+ years. They wilfully neglected their duty by not carrying-out the necessary rectification required of them to stop the wrongful redirecting of floods flow to my property. By doing such they knowingly discriminated against my household by allowing what caused the dangerous flooding situation to prolonged, causing further flooding damage, and continue to pose flooding harms, ranging from damage to property, to loss of life, God forbid.
While the said two Top Technical Officers prolonged their reckless inactions to cause flooding. The broken, narrowed channel was severely altered and made worse to further disadvantage my household. This is because of an obvious biased process, carried-out when laying pipes for BWA by Arthur’s Construction. Mr. Arthur used bullying action, then purposely placed the pipes into a part of my backyard that was damaged by flooding erosion, due to the broken and narrowed channel redirecting spread flooding over my backyard. Mr. Arthur reposition the channel, into that part of my backyard and made it appear as the original channel, aiming at my home, and Clarke’s Road Residential Area.
The then MP for St. James Central, Hon Kerrie Symmonds ontervened, set up a meeting at the watercourse site, both Top Technical Officers or others Officers from MTW were unavailable for the meeting, that turned out to be an exercise in futility. Base on the fact that MTW is responsible for watercourses, also after BWA completed a task. Therefore, the inactions to the risk prolonged, and overlooking of further altering when Mr. Clarke removed the channel banks from the across road to upstream where the floods emerges, that area is now driveway and garden.
MTW, CTO Frank Thornhill and Deputy CTO Philip Tudor not only wilfully neglected their duties by prolonged inactions to the remedying of dangerous flooding situation. The said two Top Technical Officers, or Officers under they authority knowingly Complicit with Hon. George Hutson, DLP, MP for St. James Central leading up to the 2013 General Election, and confirmed to aiding and abetting by discriminatory maintenance.
Tasked MTW work men paved the said illegal private road under the watchful eye of Hon. George Hutson. Even though, the said two Top Technical Officers considered the said private road to be illegally placed, they officially pledge to removing the boulders and restoring the channel. Yet, the said two Top Technical Officers aided and abetted or did not used they authority to stop it. Any which way the two Top Technical Officers grossly neglected they duties.
Whoever the beneficiaries are concerning the concerted complicit aiding and abetting a seemingly wealthy British ex-pat to wrongfully placed a private road across, within, and along a natural watercourse channel. The cover-up have started, Deputy CTO. Tudor have gone as far as lying about his inaction to the dangerous flooding situation, in an email to me, copied to the Hon. Prime Minister. Mia Mottley, and Hon Minister Symmonds, MP for St. Janes Central.
Sir. An Urgent redress to this wrongful dangerous flooding situation is needed.
Your faithfully
Alden Blackman
Resident of Clarke’s Road
St. James
Mr. Mark Cummins
Permanent Secretary
Ministry Of Transport, Works And Maintenance
The Pine
St. Michael
April 10,2019.
Please Accept 3rd letter Only By Email
Dear Mr. Cummins
This email is to inform the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance, through you, that unless I get a response I will be seeking recourse from the Law Courts of Barbados.
I will outline my main reason for proceeding on that course of action, the other reasons will become apparent.
The fact that a remedy is yet to be carried out by the Chief Technical Officer of MTW&M who has the authority to do so.
I am familiar with this location from 1978 and lived here since 1982, at the top of dead-end Clarke’s Road, adjacent to a natural watercourse. This said course is situated between Chapel Gap and Clarke’s Road. The said course was deep, never overflowed during 1982-2002. Therefore, no foreseeable flooding risk. There was never a vehicular through public or private road, from Appleby or Chapel Gap, to or across the said watercourse.
In 2002, a White British ex-pat by the name Pat Brayshaw commissioned the services of heavy equipment that approached the watercourse from Appleby, across an open lot of an absentee land owner, and wrongfully altered the natural watercourse by levelling both edges. Thereby creating a path/road across the said course, to her lot on the North.
Later in 2002, Pat Brayshaw committed further illegal alterations to the said watercourse by placing boulders within and along the land mark centre that narrowed the course. This allowed a build-up in the level land that formed a yard-cum-private road joined the across path/road, thereby creating a wrongful private botched road from Appleby across the said absentee lot, across and within said watercourse to her lot in Chapel Gap, vice versa. Thereby causing the first flooding I witnessed in my years of living adjacent to the watercourse.
Due to the proximity of my home, on the South-west of the wrongful altered said course, the results from redirected recurring flooding caused severe damage to my then open backyard surrounding and caused me to make several changes to my home.
I complained verbally to the Drainage Unit in 2003. Officer Mr. Dawe visited the site and in conversation said the encroachment is illegal, he would report to Drainage Director. I found out he never reported when I went to the Drainage Unit Office almost a year later.
In conversation with an Officer in charge Mr. Charles Yearwood at Drainage Unit Office, he said Drainage Unit does not have the equipment to removed the boulders or to restore the course. He directed me to M.T.W, Deputy CTO Tudor. In 2004 during our first telephone conversation of my complaint and plea for a remedy Deputy CTO Tudor said, what was done to the watercourse is illegal. He promised to investigate the situation. Months later in follow up conversation, Mr, Tudor verbally pledged to have the boulders removed and the course restored. Nothing happened!
I then turned to M.T.W, CTO Thornhill who recited what the Deputy CTO Tudor said of the situation and the actions that will be taken. The verbal pledges of remedying and restoring the said watercourse by both Top Technical Officers have not yet materialized.
The dangerous situation at the watercourse became worse due to an obvious biase of Arthur’s Construction that wrongfully placed B.W.A pipes, into a part of my adjacent backyard, that was eroded by redirected spread flooding, from the illegal road within, and across the course.
From 2004, I had to endure flooding on an annual basis to my home and environs. Even though, I made written and verbal complaints about the flooding to my home caused by the illegal construction of a private road across and within the watercourse.
My verbal pleas to M.T.W CTO Thornhill and Deputy CTO Tudor, were verbally accepted by formal pledges of remedying the watercourse. But the inactions of said Officers showed different due to the fact, that I alerted said officers about further alterations of removing the course edges upstream where the flood flows emerges. That action was commissioned by a Mr. Clarke. The space is now driveway and Garden.
One reply came from the Ministry of Environment and Drainage in 2015 informing me that the authority in the “prevention of floods Act Cap 235 section 6B and 7” to carry out remedy of watercourses, lies with the C.T.O of M.T.W.
The M.T.W, now M.T.W & M top technical officers inactions for the pass 15+ years to provide a remedy to an illegally constructed private botched road, clearly constitutes discrimination against me a Black Barbadian.
Meanwhile, M.T.W Top Technical Officers, evidently complicit, favouring the White British ex-pat, illegal road by not only allowing the retention but also discriminatory assisted with maintenance leading up to the 2013 General Election.
Tasked M.T.W work men paved the said private road. Blatantly supervised by Politician Mr. George Hutson the then DLP. MP for St. James Central despite the danger it continue to pose to my household.
Sir an urgent redress is needed.
Your faithfully,
Alden Blackman
Clarke’s Road Resident
Citizen of Barbados
27 March 2019.
Hon. Mia Mottley, QC., M.P
Prime Minister
Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment
Government Headquarters
Bay St, St. Michael
Dear, Hon. Prime Minister
I have refrained in the past years from seeking a political intervention at the highest. But must do so now.
Hon. Prime Minister, I am requesting your intervention for an urgent rectification of a dangerous situation which was caused by a the construction of an illegal botched road within and across a natural watercourse above the residential area of Clarke’s Road, St. James where the BLACKman and black residents reside. That occurred in 2002 under a former B.L.P Government.
I will outline two main reasons for requesting your intervention upfront, the other reasons will become apparent.
Hon. Prime Minister, I am very familiar with this location from 1978. And lived here since 1982, the top of dead-end Clarke’s Road, adjacent to a Natural Watercourse. This said course is situated between Chapel Gap and Clarke’s Road. The course was deep, never overflowed, during the mention times. Therefore, no foreseeable flooding risk. There was never vehicular traffic through public or private road from Appleby or Chapel Gap to or across the said watercourse.
Then in 2002, a British ex-pat White person by the name of Pat Brayshaw, appeared with the services of heavy equipment, took the liberty to go from Appleby, across an open lot of an absentee land owner, and wrongfully altered the natural watercourse, by leveling both edges thereby creating a path/road across the said course, to her lot on the north.
Later in 2002, Pat Brayshaw commissioned further significant wrongful alterations, to the said watercourse, by placing boulders within, and along the land mark centre, that narrowed the course, for a built-up increase of level land to joined the across path/road, thereby creating a wrongful private botch road, from Appleby, across the said absentee lot, across and within said watercourse, to Chapel Gap, vice versa. Thereby, causing the first flooding, I witness in my years of knowing this watercourse.
Hon. Prime Minister, Due to the proximity of my home, below the wrongful altered course, the results from recurring flooding caused severed damages to my surrounding, and caused me to made several changes to my home.
I complained verbally to the Drainage Unit in 2003, an Officer by the name of Mr. Dawe visited the site, and in conversation, said the encroachment is illegal, he will report to Drainage Director. I found out he never reported, when I went to the Drainage Unit Office almost a year later.
With information from a Mr. Charles Yearwood of the said Drainage Office. In which he said, Drainage does not have the Equipment to removed the boulders or restore the course. Mr. Yearwood directed me to M.T.W, D.C.T.O, Mr. Philip Tudor and in our telephone conversation of my complaint and pleading for a remedy. Mr. Tudor said, what was done to the watercourse is illegal. He promised to have the boulders removed and the course restored, Nothing happened.
I then turned to M.T.W, C.T.O, Frank Thornhill who (almost) recited, what Mr. Tudor said of the situation and the actions that will be taken. The almost, is that Mr. Thornhill is the Chief Technical Officer. The promised actions of both top Technical Officers have not yet, materialized.
Hon. Prime Minister, The dangerous situation at the water-course became worse due to an obvious biased. Arthur’s Construction, wrongfully placed BWA pipes into a part of my adjacent backyard that was eroded by redirected spread flooding, from the illegal road within, and across the course. For two purposes ( 1 ) To save company cost of cutting track. ( 2 ) To ensured the wrongful private botch road, probably built by the said company in 2002 remained. As a result of those unjustly actions, combined with the inactions to, and overlooking of, the dangerous situation by M.T.W, C.T.O. Mr. Frank Thornhill and D.C.T.O, Mr. Philip Tudor. The Black Residents had to endured the results of Clarke’s Road becoming the new watercourse
In late 2006 I asked Mr. Roy Morris of the Nation newspaper, to highlight my plight, due to Pat Brayshaw wrongful created dangerous encroachment, and the shoddy job of Arthur’s Construction. From what Mr. Morris saw, and his investigation, he published an article “St. James man fearing the worst” in The Nation on 26 October 2006. I was then enlighten years after making verbal complaints, that an Official of the Ministry, said Mr. Blackman must make an Official complaint in writing.
After that, I made written and verbal complaints, requesting a remedy to the said dangerous situation. Only to be completely ignored, by M.T.W, C.T.O, Thornhill and D.C.T.O Tudor who reneged on all verbally made pledges of remedying the watercourse. No verbal or written reason given.
One response came from the Ministry of Environment and Drainage in 2015, informing me that the authority in the “prevention of floods Act Cap 235 section 6B and 7” to carry out remedy of watercourses, lies with the C.T.O of M.T.W.
The Nation Newspaper published two other articles highlighting the dangerous situation in the watercourse. The last article by Ms. Maria Bradshaw highlighted the November 2016 flooding in Clarkes Road, that caused damages to residents.
The widely read Barbados Underground that brings news and opinions to the people (which certain people want to hide) highlighted this dangerous situation in many articles over the years. But, M.T.W, Two Top Technical Officers continued inaction to the caused, and ignoring the plights of Black Residents in Clarke’s Road
As if the continued inaction to the cause was not enough. M.T.W said Top Technical Officers apparent biases escalated to discriminatory assisting in the upkeep of this wrongful created private botch road, leading up to the 2013 General Election. Tasked M.T.W. work men paved the said illegal private road. Blatantly supervised by the then D.L.P, M.P for St James Central. Mr. George Hutson.
I email a letter requesting an urgent rectification of said wrongful dangerous situation, to our new Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance, Dr. Hon. William Duguid, J.P MP.( I thank him for his quick reply) on 24, Feb 2019 he stated, “I have asked for a Town Planning Enforcement notice, that is the first stage”.
Hon. Prime Minister, M.T.W, D.C.T.O, Mr. Philip Tudor email me for the first time in 15+years about a comment I made on Face- Book about his inaction to the watercourse situation. He stated on 20, Feb 2019 “As I had mentioned to you at a site meeting sometime ago, this matter was referred to the chief Town Planner whose agency is responsible for issuing enforcement notices. Please note that no demolition of this structure in St. James. could have been carried out by the Ministry of Transport and Work without the prior authorization of Town and Country Planning Department. To-date we Have received no such authorization. I will however contact the Chief Town Planner in an effort to see if this situation can be remedied before the 2019 hurricane season”.
Hon. Prime Minister, Certainly, with all due respect, this wrongful created dangerous situation, is deserving of much more attention, than a 14 worded statement, from the Hon. Minister Duguid (due to the fact that Town and Country Planning, has nothing to do with an encroached within and across the watercourse. More so, is Mr. Philip Tudor confusing email.
Hon. Prime Minister, with further due respect, questions must be ask. Please allowed an endurer of the dangerous situation. This 67 year old Poor Black Barbadian man who went to a Primary School, and Hard-Work-Low-Wage University. To ask.
Did M.T.W, CTO Frank Thornhill or D.C.T.O, Mr. Philip Tudor, seek Town and Country Planning authorization, to removed or demolished the boulders, after It was brought to they attention, and a formal verbal pledges made to remedy and restored the watercourse in 2004. If not, why not ?
Who or what hindered, Hon. Minister Kerrie Symmonds during 2006-2008 from obtaining a remedy to the said dangerous situation, that caused flooding in a part of his constituency ?.
Why did M.T.W, maintained the said wrongful private botch road across, within, and along the centre of a watercourse, leading up to 2013 General Election, despite the fact that from 2002, the said road caused flooding in The Black Residential Area of Clarke’s Road?
Who at M.T.W, authorized the asphalt paving of the said wrongful Private Road, who pay the cost?
Hon Prime Minister, I have never met Mr. Philip Tudor. The email is his effort to cover-up the reneging, ignoring, overlooking, and inaction to the dangerous situation, and the plights of the Black Residents, Mr Tudor forgot the blatant discriminatory assistance to the wrongful private botch road, that caused the dangerous situation, was from M.T.W. Top Technical Officers and others concerted corruption, especially within the years of 2008-2018 that enable said dangerous situation to remained.
The last 15+years, of this case the apparent inactions by the said Top Technical Officers, have come to the point, where they inactions to the wrongdoing that destroyed a part of the once natural watercourse, are as callous as the perpetrators. But, to allowed and assisted in the upkeep of a wrongful created dangerous situation, that continued to pose a serious threat to the Black Barbadian Residential Area of Clarkes Road. Is atrocious
Hon. Prime Minister, there is a need for an urgent justly intervention, attention, and rectification of this wrongful created dangerous situation, Please have it righted, and send a clear message that wrongdoing of any kind. must cease in Barbados.
I thank you, God bless you Prime Minister.
Your faithfully,
Alden Blackman
Alden Blackman has been pleading for 15 years for help involving flooding in his native home village in Barbados known as Clarke’s Gap. The story can be found on Barbados Underground, where Mr Blackman has provided a detail account of the events leading up to the floods that threatens his property.
What should be of interest to readers, but well known to almost every Barbadian, is that as long as you are wealthy in Barbados, you are entitled to certain privileges, freedoms, exemption from penalties, and even special treatment in matters related to the law. That is because the law that is practice in Barbados is a big respecter of persons.
This is a known fact because stealing has two different classifications depending on what status you hold in the land of the cou cou and flying fish. For example, a lawyer stealing thousands of dollars of his client’s money is treated differently then a government clerical officer who steals a similar amount. One would be given a private hearing and told to get a lawyer or a simple slap on the wrist penalty outside of court proceedings, while the other would face the courts of Barbados, charged for theft and face possible incarceration. Depending on who you are again, you can go for years without paying millions in taxes and do not have to worry about prosecution, period, whereas a normal citizen owing a few hundred in taxes would not be so fortunate.
This is the Barbados that many Barbadians have come to know for its shenanigans and double standards. That is why we have to wonder why successive governments in the form of BLP and DLP have not lend ear to Mr Alden Blackman’s plea.
Could it be that deals where struck and money passed permitting this rich woman to do as she please in a known water course that the locals in Clarke’s Gap know far better than she? Could it be that the reason why Mr Blackman has not seen resolve or aid in this matter is because he is average in status and have no bargaining power the likes of which money in Barbados provides?
What is clear in this matter is that Alden Blackman is suffering as a son of the rock , while a non native of the rock is living in comfort and without fear after permitted to build an access road that is diverting the natural flow of water in the water course towards his property.
The matter should draw the attention of the newly elected BLP party Prime Minister, Mia Mottley because it was under BLP leadership that this matter was birthed. A son is asking for your help, Ms Prime Minister. Its been 15 years and a few elections later and still no redress to this matter. The same way how the elected Prime Minister can change the constitution to get her friends into senate positions in the government, grant tax amnesty to those owing millions in taxes without penalty, and refusing to conduct investigations into a DLP she described as operating in the shade and under cloak, she can now show Barbados that her interest also lies in helping out the common man.
The ball is in your court Ms Mottley. Help one! While you are contemplating if you should help this small fella or not, look into the charge that senior civil servants are coercing clients into paying cash sums for expediting paper work and the granting of permissions. I will implore any Barbadian who have proof of this to come forward with it.
So what will you do Prime Minister Mottley? Remember that you were up in arms over the Mark Maloney Coverly obstacle that you rightfully removed. Let us see if you will do the same to help Mr Alden Blackman versus the rich white who is using the permissions given to her to do as she likes. #WhataboutAldenBlackman?
March 12, 2019
Hon. William Duguid JP,
Sir, I write to you as the new Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance. To informed you, and seek clarification, and rectification of a dangerous situation.
Sir, I lived adjacent to a natural watercourse from 1982, and never once saw the course edges overflowed, until 2002, after a British Expat White Woman, obtained the services of heavy equipment, and encroached onto said watercourse, levelled down the edges and made a path/road across, to prepared her lot for building. That process started the alteration of the course.
In late 2002, nearing completion of building, the heavy equipment returned, entered the said course, and proceeded to further altering, by placing boulders out, up, and along the land marks in the centre. That resulted in narrowing the natural course, for an increased of land from within the course, to form a yard-cum-private road that joined the levelled down path/road across the course on her side. The levelled edge to the outer side was not rebuilt.
Those actions brought the first flooding in 20+years. At that stage, I was the most affected by flooding. Thereafter, I was made to endured the consequences of yearly redirecting flood flows to my home causing damages to house and surrounding.
Sir, years of Complaining to Drainage Unit Officers from 2003 and MTW Officers from 2004, to this day, brought no relieved, no remedy , only comfort promises. The top Officers from MTW. Former CTO Thornhill and present DCTO Tudor, the two Officers, I held hope in, for a remedy to said altered course, showed inaction to the plight of this Black man.
Sir, no need for me repeating what was done by Arthur’s Construction when laying pipes for BWA, in said course. After the pipes were biased laid, the results from heavy rainfall became worse, started to affect the Black Residents of Clarke Road, but MTW/Drainage Unit Officers continued disregarding my pleas, and blatantly overlooked the dangerous situation, and the fact that Black Barbadian lived below the risk.
The effort of MP. Hon. Minister Kerrie Symmonds, did failed by 2008, no remedy was done.
The following 10 years, MTW/ Drainage Unit Officers blatantly continued disregarding the plight of Black Residents of Clarke’s Road, by inactions to the root cause of flooding, for the purpose of allowing a British Ex-pat white woman to have a private road, that was discriminatory maintained with paving, by MTW, leading up to the General Election in 2013.
Sir, the Black Residential Area, road was then, still is deteriorating condition, because it became the new watercourse, due to the altering of the original watercourse in 2002. But was not paved, leading up to 2013 General Election.
While MTW/Drainage Unit Officers kept overlooking the risk. similar actions, were done by a Mr. Clarke in 2010, while preparing his lot behind the White land owner. Mr. Clarke: also got the services of heavy equipment to removed, the remaining edges, from above the across road, to upstream where the floods flow emerges. That deep part of the once natural course, is now a garden.
Its clearly seen by me, and persons with integrity, that the said Officers of MTW/Drainage Unit have afflicted this dangerous situation with blatant disregard, unjustified and discriminatory actions.
Concerned persons acted for the safety of me and my family plight. In late 2010 assisted us with erecting a short protection wall, “on what appears to be a drainage course”, is not the original drainage course, but due to years of erosion from redirected floods flows, caused by the narrowing of the original course in 2002, and the directed wash over floods flows, from the road across the course.
Sir, due to statement from you” as the new Minister of MTW&M”, in reply, to a an email from me, on 24 Feb 2019 you stated “I have asked for the Town Planning enforcement notice” this is the first stage.
DCTO Mr. Philip Tudor, email to me, on the 20 Feb 2019, stated “As I had mentioned to you at a site meeting which we had some time ago, this matter was referred to Chief Town Planner, Whose Agency is responsible for issuing enforcement notices. Please note that no demolition of this structure in St. James could have been carried out by the Ministry of Transport and Works without the authorization of Town and country Planning Department. To date, we have received no such authorization. I will however contact the Chief Town Planner in an effort to see if this situation can be remedied before the 2019 hurricane season”.
Sir, I never met Mr. Tudor, my telephone conversations with Mr. Tudor ceased when I realized that my pleading and hoping were misplaced. Clarification Is needed from Mr. Tudor as to what structure is to be demolish, and for what reason.
Sir, I was informed of further Discriminatory practices against me, “to demolish my protection wall, built in late 2010,” as the “MAIN PROBLEM” that caused flooding to my home, and Clarke’s Road Residents since 2002”, and not the White woman private road, “built into and across the watercourse in 2002”.
Did DCTO Mr. Tudor in 2004, seek to obtained an enforcement notice from the Chief Town Planner, to removed, what he told me, is “an illegal boulders wall private road into, and along the natural watercourse”. why was the road across said watercourse allowed?
This is 15+years later in which Mr. Tudor inactions as to this dangerous situation was as blatantly showed, as the others Officers.
Sir, I now appeal to you for a justly, “right to a wrong” that Residents of Clarke’s Road and I had to endured for the pass 15+ years. Please, see this watercourse site that was once a define natural watercourse, and judge for yourself.
This photo represents a burst BWA pipe leaking at the back of my wall for months. The inconsiderate BWA work crew for work #499557 did the clumsy job of repair by cutting the pipe where it was not leaking, placed a joint but left the leak under the wall worse – Backman.
Clarke’s Road, Derricks, St.James
February 15, 2016
Mr. Frank Thornhill
Chief Technical Officer (CTO)
Ministry Of Transport and Works (MTW)
After months of leaving several messages, I finally got the opportunity to have a conversation with you on Wednesday 3rd February 2016, during which you acknowledge there is an illegal private road obstructing the watercourse at Clarke’s Road, Derricks, St. James. And that the infringement of the law occurred from 2004 based on my initial complaint.
I asserted that the illegal road was allowed to exist despite my persistent pleas for corrective work to be done. My protestations were ignored by you and other MTW officials as well as the Drainage Unit. You conceded that because the road remains untouched that my pleading were ignored. You also revealed that you as the CTO of MTW, will not commit MTW/ Government resources to perform remedial work on said watercourse.
With respect Sir, you the CTO of MTW have in this case abused your authority in 2004 and proceeded to ignore and ordinary Black man (and a Barbadian) who beseeched you to discharge your duty and effectively address the illegal road built by a foreign white land owner -“a yard-garden cum road in and along a watercourse”, causing flood water to be redirected and to damage part of my home and surroundings. Sir, you as CTO and other officials of MTW have already committed an egregious act. You have not only allowed an illegal road to remain but leading up to the 2013 general election, MTW workers were employed on said road, not to correct but to maintain the road to appease the request of former MP for St. James Central, Mr. George Hutson thereby making a bad situation worse. Further, after the paving the land owner constructed humps on road – MTW workers removed said humps.
With all respect Sir, your behaviour since the matter was brought to your attention is no different to that of the perpetrator of the illegal and callous act. Sir I am certain like the majority of Barbadians that I – who you already perceived to be a low status black working class man “due to the way you treated this situation – “could not have built that road in a watercourse to put your household or for that matter any of your colleagues or any foreign white land owner household at risk of getting flooded out. Why the discrimination against me, Sir, a Black man. As the CTO of MTW you are totally responsible for the damaged and suffering I have to endured endured to date.
As a Black man and a taxpaying Barbadian I appeal to your sense of reasonableness. I await your response .
Alden Blackman
