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‘Beachfront development hurting us!’ – Levi Malone
According to Tilford Levi Malone, a particular contractor brought a load of dirt and dumped it on the beach, making for an unsightly scene.
The man believes that what is being done changes the whole ecology of the beach front and as a result would affect the property values of not only his property but every single one along the beach.
Speaking to this news site on July 20, 2015, Malone called on the entire National Democratic Party government, especially Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering who is the Representative for the Seventh District and Honourable Marlon A. Penn who is the Representative for the Eighth District to come to the area, see what's taking place and stop the works. He singled out the three politicians as he said they have family ties to the people of the Fat Hog’s Bay area.
Property value reduction
"Who wants to come to the beach to see dirt?" asked the businessman. He is concerned that the property values in the area will be reduced as a result of the development works, which he said will also see a road along the beach, land locking him and others. He is also concerned that the road will bring the problem of noise nuisance from traversing vehicles.
The man said he was speaking on behalf of the many property owners in the area who feel affected by the development.
“I am appealing to the Government to stop this contractor from destroying our bay and destroying the ecology of the bay,” he said.
Malone further said that the works will cut into land left to families by William Malone, the man’s grandfather. According to him, the land gifted to the families measure 450 feet of beachfront and 300 feet on depth.
The man said that growing up, the area was special to him and others in the family as they used to visit to enjoy the sand and sea.
“If you put dirt you cannot recreate and let the kids loose to the water,” said the man. “Who are we building this country for?” he asked, adding that if it were white people, this would not have been done.
“My mother taught me to swim in what we called the 'white hole'. People used to walk and come down to Fat Hogs Bay and recreate on my grandfather’s land," he said.
Changing the ecology
Malone is also concerned about the potential for run off issues with the land as a result of all the earth moving works not only there but in other places especially in higher elevations. He believes all of the silt will run off and end up in the bay, changing its ecology in the process.
“This whole bay is impacted by what we are doing in the mountains and other areas,” said Malone. “What are we going to have? A cesspool?” he asked.
“If you put this amount of dirt so close to the water you will have run off. We already lost fishes because of the amount of dirt or silt in the water,” he said. “Come on man, restore our place. We need sand not dirt. Develop for the people. Nobody don’t go to no beach with dirt,” he said.
Efforts to reach Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering for a comment on the concerns raised proved futile.
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31 Responses to “‘Beachfront development hurting us!’ – Levi Malone”
the BVI is way behind in tourism because THERE IS NOTHING TO DO and NO WHERE for tourist to go when the come here. This is about survival not personal wants and gains. The bVI needs this.
what if we didnt want roads cut and paved to drive instead we keep using horse and donkey? what if we didnt want electricity poles and wire ran because we think lantern is better? I'm sorry if u think having nothing to see and no place to go is the best tourist product. But just like how u say there are repeat visitors, there are the ones that say it boring and i'm never coming back. Plus this is not just for tourist, it's for residents. U can take your family for recreation OUTSIDE not pen up in SAVE THE SEED. Let your kids ride bikes and run up and down. instead of these fat lil children who only want tablets to play on instead of going outside.
What does the environmental impact assessment say? Where is town and country to monitor? Where is Conservation and Fisheries to investigate? Why are these vulnerable places not protected or at least planned for? We are losing parts of Nanny Cay, Trellis Bay and Beef Island, Josiahs bay, Brewers. And the character of Smugglers Cove to vendors for the cruise ship passengers. It is our natural resources that bring people. Not boardwalks and hotels to look like St Maarten or St thomas. Where are our Urban Planners?, preservationists?, historians? our educated instead of greedy? The shallow reefs and coral being filled will affect the whole environment. I agree with the caller. Building on the waterside also deprives visitors of the water view.
Only one month at getting back in and NDP has Brandywine amusement park, and Fat Hog development already under way. Just wait for the rest of the building around without telling anyone. The environment will suffer and visitors will leave because of the crowds. 700 people on Brandywine? really?
Why does the BVI have NO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN?
How the heck can we as a territory know what projects are right and wrong when they just appear to us a "done deals', with powerful local contractors and banks the only ones who knew anything about them before?
This territory needs a massive national debate about the way we want the islands to be in 10-25 years so we can then vote on governments and policies that will get us there.
Right now it is piecemeal and always predetermined by small groups of private, backroom, masonic, rotarian etc. cliques who may fool themselves that they have our best interest at heart but definitely sprinkle a large amount of their own business or private interest into the deals they cooking up.
Pickering is the worst offender. He seems to think he is destined to be a great leader so everything he does is great for 'his' people. Like Kim Il Jong and others - he is deluded about his own wisdom.
Please - a national development plan: now!
Mr. Malone, you seem to be attributing undeserved wisdom to the same people who worked your grandfather or one of his near ancestors for free. Some of them (but not all, I admit) would not give you the time of day. But now look at the worldwide backlash and racial violence many of them are facing. You won't see it on CNN, but it is a grave situation. They don't seem so wise to me.
Or if I interpret your response differently, you are saying we would build the territory better if white people were the beneficiaries.
Either way you are too experienced to be saying such nonsense. I only see your greed speaking.