Let the culture remain– Resident on proposed Brandywine Bay Dev.
His call was applauded by those in attendance at a special community meeting called by the Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. The Honourable Pickering last evening September 12, 2013.
The meeting was held beachside at Brandywine Bay and saw a massive turn out of residents.
“When I in St John and I go up to North Shore road I can see the whole beach front, white people are on the road, black people are on the road, the cars they are on the road, its affect no one. Why we can’t let the people have the real actual culture of the land …. Let the people see culture. We need to have culture in the Island,” said the resident who was applauded for his recommendation.
The resident suggested that the government request from land owners of the existing setting a portion more of their lands and develop it where it allows the culture of the area to remain. “Why you can’t ask me for ten feet more road and let ten feet of the land coming in move back a little further and we develop a certain part of the road with some kind of stone, trees, anything that camouflage the beach,” he explained.
The man spoke of animals reportedly blending as one family with humans and traffic as is seen in neighbouring Islands, where pigs are seen daily sucking cows’ milk and donkey peering into the windows of cars and other vehicles. “That forms a culture and that’s why we need our culture to remain because that is what tourists come to see, that is what we want to see. Let the culture remain,” he added.
Road should remain
Several others said they would rather support the idea of having the road remain in its original position. They proposed that the existing road be upgraded and have a stretch of the existing water front of the beach back filled and re-designed to accommodate the intended development of Brandywine Bay Beach for economic and other gains.
Speaking exclusively with Virgin Island News Online, one resident said he would rather share his opinion on a one-to-one basis with the stakeholders as opposed to open microphone and flashing cameras and explained that he supported the idea of having the culture remain. “We have to be smart and be economical in try to bring economic gains,” he said.
According to the man, who spoke very passionately, the existing road has deep memories and strong cultural roots and meaning to many families who had given up large portions of their lands at no cost to government for the road to be constructed.
“With the designs they put forward they are taking away the whole culture of the area, all of it they taking away. As it is right now, anyone passing through Brandywine Bay gets a glimpse of the beauty of the beach. It remains in their memories, it is culture,” he said.
Anything we do will affect people’s land – Dr The Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering
Addressing residents on the proposed designs to have the road relocated, Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr the Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering openly admitted that whichever design is accepted and should move forward will have some measure of effect on persons’ land or property. “We really need feedback. I am perfectly aware that anything we do is going to affect people’s land and I am aware of that. I am not ignorant of the fact that it is going to be a sensitive issue when you start having to cut through people’s land and having to negotiate for land. I am very much aware of that,” said Dr Pickering.
He further emphasised that the proposed designs were those of the Survey Department, Town and Country Planning and Public Works Departments. “We need feedback on what people think especially from those people who have land in the area. It is no sense coming here and walking away vex with the government,” said Dr Pickering.
He stressed it is imperative that the road be built at some point in time and that time is swiftly approaching as the development of the beach is one that is of critical importance to the economic development of the Country. “It’s been on the agenda for the last 20 to 25 years. The time has come, the road has to go ahead.” He added that it may not be done during his term but yet it has to be done as the present situation could not continue.
“You cannot do anything on the beach with the road so close to the beach. It is totally destructive for anybody who wants to do a development here,” He added.
Three by-pass options
Government presented three by-pass road proposal to residents and explained by Deputy Chief Surveyor of the Lands and Survey Department, Mr Dwayen Nibbs and assisted by Senior Lands Officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Ms Heather James.
Option one had three parts; the first phase is Sotheby Bay where it is proposed to change the gradient of the road and curbs to accommodate big trucks. The second is where it starts at the level of the Brandywine Bay Hill and goes across into the road towards Paraquita Bay.
Option two starts from the foot of the Brandywine Bay Hill and meanders up the hill. “The objective of this option also is to open up more lands along the ridge,” said Mr Nibbs. The option rises towards Sabbath Hill, going towards Belle Vue, comes back across the existing buildings and merges back into the road heading to Paraquita Bay.
Option three starts from Kingston, goes up through Sotheby Bay, “goes through the buildings” and joins back into the road heading into Paraquita Bay.
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31 Responses to “Let the culture remain– Resident on proposed Brandywine Bay Dev.”
STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES
Lord Help Us Now!! Please hear the voices of those crying out to you for the wisdom to rule this Earth that you gave us. Amen!
That beach needs water sports and a few bars and restaurants, real craft shop and a few cyber cafe spots. Nothing more. Watch the taxis start going there with their passengers instead of CGB. Develop a weekly event there during the tourist season and Boom! Work on a story about how great sea weed is as healing property for the skin and the tourists will gladly swim along the seaweeds. It isn't rocket science!
We don't need a new road nor a foreign company to invest and tell us what we can or can't do on our Bay!
Normally, using eminent domain to take property is done for the public good. For example, to build a school, a hospital, a roadway to ease traffic congestion…..etc. It is rarely used for direct economic development. I’m not too sure that this is a good use of eminent domain. Is the new road being use to improve traffic safety, reduce traffic congestion, reduce roadway damage from tidal and storm surges…etc. Eminent domain needs to be employed for true public good. To the maximum extent possible and practical land ownership should be respected and eminent domain employed for true public good.
If the the land were the Hon Pickering or close family, would he be so quick to employ eminent domain in this case? The civil engineers need to put on their creative and innovative caps and head back to the drawing board/autocad. Many of our sister regional countries are feeling the ravages of plantation economics; the BVI needs to take heed and learn from their missteps. An economy that is totally external oriented without a plan B is a disaster waiting to happen.
There was never a beach in Brandywine Bay and you nor any one can create a beach. A beach is a natural part of nature, and the only thing Kedrick Pikering can do is go along with some foolish proposal by his rich white friends for money, while messing over the land owners in the area. If he is so concern about beach; He needs to start trying to improve what they has destroyed in the East End area.
If you tell me you cutting roads to help people to get to their land, I will say sounds good, but to please disney? Thats stupid!!! Do you really care for and love the people of the BVI doc? I thought you were one of the more intelligent ones but obviously your not. At least not for public service. Get back to your practice where you made a positive impact and stop trying to find jobs for the nuckle heads running autland!