East Coast going the way of the West Coast – Solid wall of development
by Pieter Pieper
Let’s face it – modernization and development are both desirable and inevitable. But such development should be in the best interest of the people at all times. Luxury homes and condominiums preventing easy access to the coast and obstruction of the view of the sea is not “development” from which the masses may derive enjoyment.
To benefit the people, the government should consider building a proper highway from Boscobel to Bath along the seaside. There should be small properly landscaped and furnished parkettes along the highway in every parish. The government should prohibit any further construction of residences of any kind along the seaside. Tourists and Bajans would be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and this particular part of Barbados.
There has to be modernization and development in the island. The main issue with the east coast is accessibility to the coastal lands and to our beaches in particular.
In Havana, Cuba, the government built a highway “The Malecon” and parkettes along a long stretch of the coastline in order to ensure that the people would always have a look-out and access to the coast. There are no buildings along that stretch of the coast.
Perhaps instead of building “a tower in St.Lucy” or taking over “two plantations in each parish to teach about our culture” this government should approach the Chinese for help in building a highway and parkettes – instead of building a great wall of luxury homes and condos along our east coast.
Barbados Free Press 
This concept is very appealing. An artis’ concept would certainly stimulate the senses even further.
We need more “Windows to the Sea”. I agree with the writer. Don’t turn barbados coastline into a concrete jungle and block the view of the beautiful caribbean sea. If we say tourism is our main support, then think about what would attract the tourists, even if you don’t care much of our own (bajans). Modernize and develop, but please don’t take away our access to the beach and our look-out. Whenever i come home (yearly) the first thing i do, just sit on the beach and take a good long look into the sea, feel the sprays on my face hear the waves.. it’s so peaceful and the best part is i don’t have to get permission to go there.
and tranquility. The good part i don’t have to get permission to go on thebeach
Refurbish the old railway line from Bath to Bellepaine, a wonderful walk. Put in some pit stops for walkers and places to park. Extend the trail all the way up to North Point and Animal Flower Cave. Leave the coastline undeveloped but advertise it as a heritage route.
There is so much of interest on that coast, the flora and the geological structure that is different to anywhere else in Barbados. Also, it is just wonderful scenery.
The East Coast is the hidden gem of Barbados. If I were marketing Barbados I would be keen to promote it but be careful not to destroy it.
You do not know and appreciate what you have until you lose it!
When last have you flown into Barbados on a smaller airplane? The entire West and South coasts look like concrete jungles and expanding further and further in-land. Try counting the number of quarries that pock-mark the landscape and convince me that this is progress. Someone may be “moving the earth” to displease us. Once gone be assured that the natural beauty will never return – ever! Oh yes, add to this the boxes that Government insist on herding citizens into under the guise of providing housing for the population. I cry for my country.
FearPlay, you’re too right, when I saw that NHC was building in Lancaster I thought, well, its a lovely piece of land, maybe, just maybe they will do something nice. Nope, the Smurf Village they are building is a wretched thing to behold, houses so small I dont know how they will fit the (usually) large families that end up living in these types of projects. The village just north is a safe friendly community and I wonder what so much Government housing will do to the quality of inhabitant in the area, look at Haynesville. The funny part of all this, if you have a dark sense of humour, is that right above these new concrete boxes are the luxury villas of Turtleback Ridge…
Whistling Duck refurbish the railway line? how? most of the railway is in the sea? or would you like Bathsheba to give up its one road? Please leave the East Coast alone, its very very popular & much visited by tourists & locals.
Speaking of hi-density housing,
there is no finer example than the pigeon-coops at The Villages, Coverley, Ch.Ch.
where tiny houses are built, 8-10 ft. apart,
“no property line” (HIGHLY dubious legalities!)
–it’s a ghetto in the making.
In 20 yrs. you won’t want to know it.
So you buy a “house” there (it’s a garden shed..) but whose land is it on, and where are your landmarks?
There are no landmarks.
I suspect you’re buying the house -on someone else’s land.???
Clearly an arrangement NOT for ME!
@potically tired
I am not sugesting at all that the East Coast be developed and spoilt.
The paths up there need some attention. Have you walked from Bath to Bathsheba or from Bathsheba to Boscobelle? These trails could do with some attention, particularly below The Risk at Boscobelle. These trails can be left unspoilt but they would be an asset to Barbados if they were kept up in a manner sympathetic to the nature of the East Coast.
Whistling Duck
No I’ve not walked the Bathsheba to Bosobelle ( Bathsheba to Bellplaine , yes, no problems there) Bathsheba to Bath needs some attention the path is narrow leaving Tent Bay, the path from Tent Bay to Bathsheba (very short) was reported to the Coastal Zone management as being in desperate need of repair/attention many many months ago, they eventually looked at it, but that’s all that’s been done! Tourist/Locals staying/living at Tent Bay, whether at Atlantis/Fleetview/Sea-U or private houses can no longer walk this path safely, maybe we could start with ‘small’ projects like this ?
@ Poitically Tired
A good idea to start with small projects that might be achievable. Tent Bay to Bathsheba would be a good start. I haven’t walked it recently but what is the state of the bridge across Joe’s River, on the old railway line, between Bathsheba and Kingsley? It was in a bad way.
The first bit of the path from Tent Bay to Bath is more of a problem. Errosion has narrowed it and it would need some excavation to make it wider. Is this something that should happen or should it be allowed to fall into the sea?
This has made me think. There is a very fine line between providing access vis preserving the natural coastline.
But the amazing view of Bath and Consett Bay that awaits anyone who emerges from the trees after their walk from Bathsheba is very special.
Is there anything more than just untoward greed and avarice by developers, businessmen and their politician enablers that leads to the destruction and paving over of our natural environment in the name of development, not just in Barbados but in many other places around the world as well?
The complaints we hear about the destruction of our own environment and our scenic locations in the name of development (which many of us see as unsustainable and as certain to eventually kill the “goose that lays the golden egg”) is certainly not unique to Barbados. Could there be a very deep and yet widely accepted flaw in our debt based monetary systems that inevitably leads to the commons being appropriated and turned into money in order to sustain perpetual economic growth?
In the essay The Economics of Usury the author explains the inherent flaws of debt based money and recounts an entertaining little parable to describe how the occupants of an imaginary “backwards” village (where all goods could only be exchanged through an inconvenient and laborious process of barter) were introduced to the convenience of debt based money by someone who might loosely be described in today’s terms as a “banker”, and the consequences that follow. Here is an excerpt from the article (doesn’t include the parable part):
A hiking trail, yes but a highway… noway! That would be the end of it all. Just imagine the cars zooming through Bath, Martins Bay and Glen Burnie. A highway would totally ruin and peace, quiet or sense of solitude that now exists on that coast. Is there to be nowhere left on this island to escape the traffic? Currently there is access to the shore through the seaside villages along the old railway line. It is true that the going gets a bit rough in some areas where the train embankment has been eroded by the sea but that can be corrected.
All over the world trails are being constructed for the visitor and local resident who need to get away from the concrete jungle they inhabit. Take a look at some of our neighboring islands, they’ll be laughing at us in a few years time, if not already.
A highway would be the beginning of the end. Barbados’ best kept secret is best kept from those who don’t care and those that have more access to money than common sense.
Where was building a highway mentioned? That would be the worst thing that could happen.
2nd paragraph of lead article.
What NEEDS to happen is action, NOT all of this talk that is going on on this blog…Everytime wunna sit down at your computers and type an article or leave your comments that is energy wasted that could have been used to directly protest the overdevelopment of our Island. Now don’t get up in arms and say that I’m a hypocrite because I frequent this site as well, I am currently not in Barbados and have only visited my inherited island home twice BUT I know my island like de back uh muh han’ and I for one am TOTALLY against overdevelopment in general. Whether it be in Barbados, Hawaii, Fiji or Samoa…overdevelopment MUST stop! Our Earth is too precious to destroy. Our island is our lifeline, once we all learn to revere and love the land then only will we be TRUE island people…but until then we are merely victims of our own neglect and contempt.
SAVE OUR ISLAND!