Government minister wants state agencies to act

Member of Parliament for St Peter Colin Jordan has called on relevant Government agencies to do what is necessary to stop the beach erosion at Six Men’s in that parish.

Noting that he was especially concerned that the situation was having a negative impact on the popular Braddy’s Bar, Jordan stated that the problem must not be allowed to persist. 

Contributing to Tuesday’s debate on a Resolution seeking to vest land at Six Men’s in the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. (BTII) for tourism development, Jordan called on those at the relevant state agencies to “get up off of their sit down” and take action to ensure that the shed attached to Braddy’s Bar does not fall into the sea again.

“People’s livelihoods depend on that. People’s social interaction depends on that. Those who are responsible have to do something about it. I have already visited the area with the former Minister for the Blue Economy [Kirk Humphrey].  I also visited the area with the Coastal Zone Management Unit. 

“Gabions are to be built. We visited, what is to be done is already known. Time is passing and somebody is – ‘poosharking’ is not the word that you use in this Honourable Chamber… People have to do what needs to be done to make sure that our coast is protected not just for visitors, but for the people who live in Six Men’s, for the people who earn their living in Six Men’s,” Jordan said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector, assured residents at Six Men’s who have been waiting since the 1970s to reach some resolution on land tenure, that the Mia Amor Mottley administration continues to explore all possible opportunities to make sure that the matter, currently in court, is resolved.

Noting that residents at that fishing village continue to raise concerns about the land ownership matter, Jordan said because the issue was in court, there are certain restrictions regarding any immediate action.

“But I want to give the assurance to the residents that this Barbados Labour Party has not forgotten them, and has not taken eyes off of the issue. We are still, under the leadership of the honourable Prime Minister, the Member for St Michael North East – she has commissioned one of us to continue exploring the solution to what has become an issue that is going on for far too long,” he said.

The Member of Parliament also called for the outstanding matter of the vending facility at Six Men’s to be rectified.

Jordan urged the BTII to commence work on the facility, considering that a new tourism development project would be taking place just a short distance away on land, part of which the Nikki Beach luxury club and entertainment occupies. 

On another note, Jordan extended gratitude to the BTII for the drainage and flood mitigation project carried out in Speightstown. He said since the completion of the project, the flooding issue at Gill’s Terrace and the immediate surrounding areas has been resolved.

“I must also commend the unselfishness of the Honourable Member of Parliament for St Michael South Central [Marsha Caddle] who while she was dealing with her pet project at Constitution River, was also dealing with my pet project at Speightstown, and so they were worked on simultaneously. And out of that flood mitigation project, we were able to get a small park which is just between the canal and Chefette Speightstown,” he said. (AH)