Longstanding Barbados Labour Party (BLP) MP Cynthia Forde has promised to intervene in an ongoing dispute over the use of a popular public bath and recreational space at Porey Spring, St Thomas.
But the parliamentarian is adamant that residents pursue the proper legal channels before attempting to further develop the area for community enfranchisement.
In fact, Ms Forde recalled that more than two decades ago, the owner of the land had pledged to support community efforts to transform the areas around the spring.
“I do have a file from 2003 or 2005 where I met with someone who said they were the property owner and they were very willing for the residents who are now living on the … property, which was called Dr Moore’s Land,” Forde told Barbados TODAY.
She explained that a document in her possession explains the origin of the land surrounding the spring, a large portion of which is also occupied by new and longstanding residents.
“I have a document showing everything, but of course, no one interferes with the residents and some of them probably never paid rent before, so that never became an issue,” Forde explained.
“People remained there living in Porey Spring. People came in and put up houses and [the land owner]… was willing to ensure that those persons who were entitled, would get the house spots that their houses were on. But since then, there has been no communication, because it has never been a problem,” she added.
On Tuesday, Victor Bang Waithe, who spent the last 30 years beautifying the area, along with other residents, challenged an order from the Town and Country Planning Department to halt construction of a chattel structure. The structure was being erected for small business people to sell food, craft, and other items.
The residents were backed by former Alliance Party for Progress candidate Patsie Nurse, who charged that the supposed owner of the land had only come forward to oppose the developments many years after the land had been cleaned up.
During a telephone interview on Wednesday, the sitting MP recalled that in the mid 1990s, when a community independence project designated Porey Spring a “special area” and a number of benches were placed in the area to compliment Waithe’s work .A few years after becoming MP in 2001, Forde said she had spoken with the owner, but since then they had lost touch.
While Forde is familiar with Bang’s work beautifying the area, she said she had no idea about the challenges facing the community. She was also complimentary of a new mural drawn and other efforts to uplift the area.
“I think it is a creative project but I want to remind Barbadians that they have to follow the rules,” said Forde.
“If it is a problem where there has been no communication with the property owner, there has been none with the Town Planning department, then that is a matter that Town Planning will deal with. I am a political person, but I am a citizen first and if the residents who are there are coordinating, I love the creativity, it is beautiful, it is therapeutic and everything else that goes with it, but I would rather sit around the table and talk with them than to go to the media.
“I will make it my business to be there to help to guide the process or write a letter, call up whoever is in charge to say ‘this is what we are doing’. It is not something that you can settle in the media. I will see how I can sit around the table with the fellas, hear what the issues are, because it was not drawn to my attention before that there was an issue,” she added.
The St Thomas MP said the area, which was mainly used to provide water for people living in the village, especially when the water went out, had now evolved into a place frequented by those from near and far.
Forde said her vision for Porey Spring involved a joint project that includes the Rock Hall Freedom Village, Rock Hall Gully, St Thomas Parish Church, the old St Thomas Rectory, the District Hospital and an old slave hut nearby. She said the intention is for creatives, entrepreneurs and small business people to thrive.
“I really admire the area where ‘Bang’ has drawn this lovely mural on the walls and this lovely thing that they have put up where you can look and see the traffic and all that,” said Forde.
“It is extremely creative and they know that something like that I would buy into and support and help,” she added. kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb
