“Most Bajans don’t trust their government to honestly, impartially and competently investigate the death of the Codrington family, and they don’t trust the mainstream Barbados media to hold the government accountable.”
Barbados Citizens Not Waiting For “Official” Answers – Not Trusting “Official” Answers, Sources And Information Either
From the moment the tragedy became known, the Government of Barbados should have been taking all steps to gather facts and protect evidence for later analysis – but most ordinary Bajans have doubts about the agendas, integrity and competence of the current elected and appointed government officials. In short, most Bajans don’t trust their government to honestly, impartially and competently investigate the death of the Codrington family, and they don’t trust the mainstream Barbados media to hold the government accountable.
In any well-run and civilised country, a major incident brings out a small army of experts and expert evidence gatherers who accompany the emergency workers – and also spread out across the nation and the world seeking to collect and preserve important information.
If A Building Collapsed In The U.K. Or USA…
IF a building collapse occurred in the U.K., you can bet that the offices of the architect, engineer, construction personnel and town planning officer would be visited within hours by investigators armed with the necessary authority to seize any papers and records. Nobody would be given time to change any records or shred documents. Even homes would be visited and searched with a judge’s order.
Videotape would be rolling from the start and anyone who was in any way even remotely connected to the design, approval, construction, inspection or maintenance of the building would be identified and interviewed within days if not hours. Land transfer records and environmental reports for the area would be seized. No piece of information would be too small to preserve – on the off chance that it might provide important evidence.
A Triple Focus: Truth, Prevention And Accountability
Honest governments respond with this type of professional and all-out response with three goals: finding the truth, prevention of a recurrence, and accountability of those persons, companies, authorities or other entities who might have committed some act or omission that caused or contributed to the disaster.
For the past six days, Barbados Free Press readers have posted comments and sent us emails of their observations, memories, research and opinions concerning the disaster.
Even a cursory examination of BFP’s comments section and the Barbados media reveals evidence that long before the collapse, various persons knew, suspected or should have known about the impending collapse of the Codrington’s apartment building into the cave below.
There is also clear evidence that various Barbados government authorities and institutions failed in their duties and responsibilities. They failed both generally to protect Barbados citizens, and specifically to protect the Codrington family.
Barbados Attorney General Announces Inquest’s Conclusion Before It Begins – BFP Has The Recording
Attorney General Dale Marshall during a press interview on Friday, August 31, 2007 – as broadcast at 2pm on 92.9fm radio – told reporters about how the rubble is being preserved for forensic examination and how outside experts have arrived to assist in the enquiries.
After all his statements about the investigation of the collapse, Marshall made the most amazing statement – showing that the government has made its conclusion and that any inquest will be designed to support that conclusion.
Barbados Attorney General Dale Marshall said…
“(This unfortunate incident) could have happened to any one of us, and perhaps it could have happened anywhere”
What an amazing conclusion, Minister Marshall!
Inherent in that conclusion is an assumption that no one could have done anything to prevent this tragedy, that no one did or failed to do anything that caused or contributed to the deaths of five of our relatives, neighbours and friends.
So Attorney General Dale Marshall decided some 30 minutes after the last body was recovered that “it could have happened to any one of us…”
A few weeks ago after a 15 minute meeting with executives of the corrupt VECO corporation that is building our new jail, Minister Marshall announced that there was no corruption associated with the $300 million dollar project. In much the same way, Dale Marshall has now shown his hand…
… the fix is in.
It Is No Wonder That Barbados Citizens Are Determined To Dig For The Truth Themselves!
Tomorrow morning we will publish an excellent series of maps and satellite images sent to us by BFP reader Satellite John. Your comments on that article will continue the process started six days ago by ordinary citizens.
Keep posting your observations, photos, memories and rumours folks! In a few weeks we will compile them all in one area of the blog so that people with an agenda won’t be able to hide the truth.
We owe that much to Barbados, to our children and to the Codrington family.
Barbados Free Press 
Mr. Marshall’s statement to the reporters was a devastating condemnation of his government. Can you post the recording like you did with Tourism Minister Noel Lynch?
Good work bfp.
the police should be doing a HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION
Well wunna know this is Barbados and from what i’ve been hearing on the streets wunna should know by now that “COW” big bout hay…..nuff said.
Just a quick question: is Dale Marshall the representative for St. Andrew? I always thought it was George Payne…
There must be a full investigation. Questions that want answering; who gave permission to build there TCP or whoever? under which Minister does TCP or whoever gave permission lay;? who owns and or manages property? why was local knowledge not factored into decision to allow building;? why did rescue mission begin so slowly;? who was doing new construction in area cow or who? investigation should not be delayed and concealed like st. Joseph Hospital inquiry.
::Lianne you should know Payne and Dale Marshall are inseperable.
The B/dos Police can’t dare to do a homicide investigation unless that man at the top of the force is directed to do so by the political croonies, and furthermore, $$ would pass hands for what will be a make belief investigation. For all we know, PF might be doing a different type of investigation — looking for people who took photos at the scene.
Vex, I agree there should be a full investigation but to say there MUST be could be stretching it, knowing the way Barbados covers-up when it comes to the Government, rank/file and any high officials of the country.
Although that Barbados has top experts in this arena and some, if not all, would be honest enough and let the chips fall where they may, I don’t have confidence in Bdos using their own resources to conduct the investigation.
I am reliably informed that Ralph Thorne has been retained by the family.
Is it true that if the government pays for the burial that they cannot be sued later
Dale Marshall is the rep for St. Joseph
Sapidillo
September 1st, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Vex, I agree there should be a full investigation but to say there MUST be could be stretching it,
Although that Barbados has top experts in this arena and some, if not all, would be honest enough and let the chips fall where they may, I don’t have confidence in Bdos using their own resources to conduct the investigation.
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Thats not the case here, from the very next day we have heard from person’s who first announce their academic qualifications and then move on to point blame for the cave in, away from anything to do with construction. The average person in Barbados has been fighting the politician, the police, the landed gentry, and the academics for all of our independent history, and i see no reason why at this juncture they should believe anything they say. They have no better grasp of the facts that you do. Pictures and video tape don’t lie but people do especially when money and access is dangle in front of them.
Wunnuh know that how this incident is being percieved by the public that the november elections put once more. 😀 where is the 4 luv crew?
The people on this site must be as drunk as Owen.
Bajans are so easy to forget.The same will happen to this incident,some will milk it for all it is worth and then it will be forgotten.
For years now Carew’s death has never been fully investgated,even though the whole of St.Peter and St.James knew full well that a certain big construction company was responsible for blocking the natural water course to the sea,in order to build a bridge to some property.Ater 3 days of rain this dam broke and brought with it these huge boulders and all the water that was trapped behind,down the hill to the sea with so much force ,it pushed Carew’s home right out to sea.
Until this day,there has been no investigation of any merit and most bajans have forgotten this incident.
I for one would love to see the party responsible made to pay for these acts in any way.
When did the Carew death happen? What was his full name? What did the newspapers say at the time?
This incident will be swept away by the Trust Fund for the children left behind.
Government will be forced to assist the people who lost their homes and others in the immediate area.
Elections coming.
However, I am sure there will be talk about changing construction methods in some parts of Barbados.
For sure I will not go into any attraction that has a cave again.
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Above the investigations and enquiries that need to be made into this tragic incident…….Blessings to the Codrington family and friends, those that passed and those that remain behind to mourn.
May whatever the final result be. Lets hope it heads in the direction of Unity. The knowledge and inner knowing, that we are all One, with each other and our environment.
No amount of money can ever replace this truth.
With loving thoughts to all of Barbados.
Jackie O’Neal
Adrian quote, Thats not the case here, from the very next day we have heard from person’s who first announce their academic qualifications and then move on to point blame for the cave in, away from anything to do with construction. The average person in Barbados has been fighting the politician, the police, the landed gentry, and the academics for all of our independent history, and i see no reason why at this juncture they should believe anything they say. They have no better grasp of the facts that you do. Pictures and video tape don’t lie but people do especially when money and access is dangle in front of them.
~
My comments were based on past incidents, although they do not rise to the level of our lastest. I would be deceitful by saying that I am confident that the Goverment will be forthcoming in its investigation. I do feel however, that it would not be fair if I were to paint all the island’s top experts in this field with the same brush.
lol thanks Vex…but do you all HONESTLY expect any kind of investigation? From my experience many of the Commissions of Inquiry are established and operated at OUR expense (taxpayers) and there is hardly ever a published outcome with real discoveries, conclusions or solutions.
We may all be dabbling in a little wishful thinking.
A number of posts query that building permission was given right over a cave like this.
However I wonder whether a public road should pass over such a cave. To judge from the aerial photo, there is only about five feet of rock between the road and the cavity.
With the large trucks, particularly cement trucks, that use even minor roads these days, one would think the vibration from their extreme weight could cause even a long-established road such as this to give way. There may be many roads where this applies.
BFP – I think that it is a stretch when the Minister says that “(This unfortunate incident) could have happened to any one of us, and perhaps it could have happened anywhere”, and you say that this is a conclusion. How do you make that connection??? Maybe you should check Dictionary.com for the meaning of the word “perhaps”.
Also, how is that some comments are suggesting that is the governments fault that this building was allowed to be built. From what I have read the apartment complex was built about 30 years ago (under a different administration mind you) and who knows what the geology of the land was like at that time. We all know that with the passage of time, land shifts etc. Why is it that residents noticed problems but we never heard of anything? Is the government supposed to examine peoples properties for them? That is the job of the property owner!!!
Come one people, while I may not agree with everything this government does, stop making it seem that the collapse was their fault!
Whoops, stupid me …. assuming that for once Bajans won’t play the blame game.
Has anyone heard rumors about a certain happening that took place on the construction site that was going on before the collapse? And this certain happening was covered up by the construction company. This certain happening would have also caused any right thinking person to also exclaim what the hell, and raise red flags instantly about proceeding with such construction?
Sylvan, if by ‘certain happening’ you mean a minor collapse, the loss of equipment and a call to the BDF for assistance from the construction site, then yes. Sadly however, it remains filed in the ‘rumour’ file for me until more conclusive information can be provided. What’s even more saddening is that the mainstream media cannot be counted on to relay this information to the press. Has anyone else heard similar rumours?
clearly I should be asleep…
“to relay this information to the press.”
should have read
to relay this information to the public.
My apologies
It was reported in the mainstream media that an engineer noted some assessment work or mapping just two weeks before the tragedy.
The simple question is what sparked this examination? It could not have come out of the blue, but obviously something happened to make it necessary for the contractor to have this done.
The next question is what did the engineer report, even if only a preliminary verbal report pending a written assessment. Surely if work continued past that date there must have been a ‘verbal’ to continue after viewing of the site, if not, the contractor would have some explaining to do. If there was a verbal, either the engineer has some explaining to do or he simply did not read the situation correctly.
Thirdly, if there was a verbal or written assessment from the engineer that indicated trouble, why were the authorities not notified?
Finally, if the authorities were actually notified, what did they do to assess the situation, to ensure that the situation did not deteriorate and to assess the wider area?
I note todays Sunday Sun, which refers to two areas where caves or land sinkage are concerning residents.
Firstly Cave Hill, where the lady has bravely come forward and indicated the serious issue, for the Skinenrs Cave that runs all the way to both Spring Garden and Warrens.
Secondly, the lady in Spooners Hill, whose home is experiencing obvious land slippage.
If there is any doubt that this is a broader problem, in light of these, in light of the West Coast condo issue and in light of all of the areas where development has taken place and sinkholes and caves were discovered, any doubt should now be erased.
The obvious answer is an overall specialist geological survey and engineering assessment, which will immediately be incorporated into a new Barbados development plan, indicating agricultural land, building land and parkland.
And in light of this, the flyover project should be halted immediately, aside from socio-political considerations, purely from a geological and engineering position, until such assessment has taken place.
Rumple, you should also consider the experience of those who lived in these areas for decades. One of the points that was repeated over the past week was that people who lived in the area knew about the cave network. A combination of local knowledge and engineering expertise could only augur well in such efforts.
I understand that a 6th body was found in the rubble as well and that it belonged to a Guyanese who was living with the family . I dont’ know how true this is , has anyone heard anything to this effect. I also understand that his family has flown in to identify and claim the body.
Illuminator…I think this will go the route of the major accident at Haggatt Hall…mere rumour.
lady anon,
Sorry I heard the same . It is not just a rumour
Are we suggesting that they may have been a sixth person dead as result of this incident?
How come we have not heard or seen the movie star the AG Marshall making a cameo appearence as yet on this matter?
I am sure that if this were the case he would not have waited to put in an appearence for the press after all he has worked them for the past week.
And did the cadaver dogs point out the location of a sixth body ?
My heart goes out to the familes of this unfortunate tragedy. I do not think a catastrophe like this would have happened in the UK or the USA because first of all the appropriate “building code” would be in place, and the proper protocol would be employed such as “dig safe” before any construction occured. One would think that given the numerous caves in Barbados, government officials would be aware of these possibilities, but as the saying goes “money talks”. I am very concerned of moving forward with the building of my home on the land I recently purchased in St. Philip especially when the first offer of sale was in a “Swamp area”.
A number of areas where water settle have been cut up and sold as housing lots, especially in the Prior Park and the Husbands area.
It is essential that when potential land owners and purchasing plots that they have a few discussions with the residents in the area to find out about the land in question.
I know land is being snapped up quickly, but the onus is on us to ensure that we are not buying a pig in a poke.