The promised happy ending for beach chair vendor at Bathsheba, St Joseph, who was forced by the National Conservation Commission (NCC) to relocate his business, has failed to materialise.
This morning Chawn Morris told Barbados TODAY that even though he has been relocated to the high traffic Batts Rock Beach, the viability of his business would require a further injection of capital, in addition to the $15,000 already lost in the Bathsheba enterprise.
“It seems like the NCC just wants to give you permission to put the chairs on the beach then on evenings you must pick them up and take them home. This does not make any sense whatsoever because it is impossible for me to take my chairs and equipment home every day. I need a place to store them,” said Morris, who revealed that the business is now on hold until he is able to afford a mobile storage facility, which could be transported to his home on evenings.
“I have permission for Batts Rock, but the truth is that I can’t really do anything with it right now until I buy a trailer or something that I can take home after work,” he explained. “Right now, I already lost a lot down Bathsheba and I have to wait until I get more money to see if I could try something down there [Batts Rock Beach],” he said.
Last month, Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod, who holds responsibility for the NCC, intervened into the matter and promised then that Morris will have the opportunity to ply his trade in a more “lucrative’ spot, a solution he said would be to the mutual benefit of all involved.
“I can give the assurance that this thing will be settled to the satisfaction of all parties, including the young man. I will also say that the transition will take place without any additional expense to him [Morris].”
The Minister explained that while Morris was given permission to operate the chair rental business, he was not allowed to put up any structures on the beach. He noted that only the Town and Country Planning office can give permission to build such structures.
When the story broke last month, critics of the NCC’s action declared the issue as an example of yet another proverbial poor black man being oppressed. This morning Morris remains convinced that the odds were stacked against him.
“It seems like only one set of people are supposed to make a living in Barbados. Some people can get away with what they like but the minute that somebody like me tries to make an honest dollar, there is some sort of problem,” he claimed. He had earlier said that the pressure to move his fledgling business first began when some frequent beach users deemed the project a distraction from the natural aesthetics of the beach, which has become famous for its surfing.
colvillemounsey@barbadostoday.bb
Jesus is Lord
Yuh mean the Restaurant can set up on Batts Rock Beach and not take home their tackling on evenings but Morris has to take home his
What is this ??????
Is is Racism ??
Is Classism ????
prejudice against people belonging to a particular social class
Is Morris too Black ???
What is it Really
Who Bathsheba belongs to ???
Do these things only happen when BLP in Power ???
Put on a red T-shirt my boy, and sing like a parrot BLP songs, and your fortunes will turn around. Why do you think Patrick King and all the others left the DLP and joined the BLP. Every single one of those former DLP members saw greater financial rewards being offered up by the BLP, than by the Dems, so they fled and getting through. Real bonafide turncoats who have no principles.
i am not surprised. you really thought he was looking out for you? look at Mullins, St Peter, etc and IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO YOU WHAT IS WHAT.
I never really understood the real reason why this man had had to move in the first place, but you, you just cant disadvantage ppl like this, i had spoken to this chat long before he was uprooted, i just got a feeling that some rich white person gine coe in and start up the same business with out any fuss or delay,
Gabby should sing out bout this like he do when Crane block another man. Batsheba like it belong to certain people.
He should speak to Jules at La Cabane who would probably able to help him store his chairs as it would also be beneficial to both of them. That would also shut a lot of hateful racist people up
chawn
listen to jerry above!
also there is the $5000 government loan
contact the NCC minister and ur MP and let them help you in accessing the loan.
you have a lemon but don’t give up MAKE LEMONADE.
let us hear how you are doing from time to time
seems to me at both batsheba and batts rock the problem is storage for the chairs at the end of day.
You got screwed over.
The solution which is no solution.
Chawn you are the wrong colour. If you were WHITE OR INDIAN mountains would have been moved to accommodate you.
chawn
you don’t know any one with an open back truck that can drop you down on morning and pick you up at night? don’t mind if you have to pay them a berry until you can get your own storage.
don’t listen to DEM yardfowls.
I going down Batts Rock with my Camera crew and do a Documentary for BBC on this Saga
Title Foreigner can set up Restaurant on Beach
with no problem, play Loud music and disturb Residents
Poor Black Boy want to make an Honest Living renting Beach Chairs Minister run him from down Bathsheba
Send him up Batts Rock but he got take home his Chairs every evening
I want the Rest of the World see what a Caring Government we have in Barbados Remember Mia Cares
“I can give the assurance that this thing will be settled to the satisfaction of all parties, including the young man. I will also say that the transition will take place without any additional expense to him [Morris].”…..
Really…Then, Mr. Minister why is it that Chawn has to wait until he can come up with more funds to operate on Batts Rock and have some place to store his chairs…This is not good enough, the only person this is beneficial to is the Restaurant owner at Bathsheba. Stupes!!You need to help fix this Mr. Prescod
sometimes i have to wonder if bajans really understand whats happening to them in they country. different players but the same game. but one good day the chickens are going to come home to roost.
No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor we won’t bow;
Neither can be bought nor sold
We all defend the right; Jah – Jah children must unite:
Your life is worth much more than gold.