St Lawrence residents worried about land loss

By Shamar Blunt

A plan to acquire and develop 18 parcels of land in the St Lawrence, Christ Church area has triggered concern among residents of that community and surrounding districts who are worried about how it will affect their homes and businesses.

Spokesperson for the St Lawrence, Dover and Maxwell Association Adrian Donovan told Barbados TODAY the situation has prompted a town hall meeting for Saturday, which Member of Parliament for Christ Church South Ralph Thorne has confirmed he will attend.

The meeting follows a land acquisition notice published in the newspaper last week.

That Government notice, issued under the Land Acquisition Act, Cap 228, stated that the parcels of land situated in Bath Village, St Lawrence Gap and Dover were needed for “public purposes, namely road improvement, car parking, environmental improvement and tourism development”.

The mentioned properties included Josef’s Restaurant, Southwinds Hotel and Beach Club, Investment Integrity Corporation, Sea Life Barbados Ltd, and several other commercial and residential spaces.

“Over the past couple of days, we have been [hearing] about the possibility of an acquisition by the Government of some lands within this Christ Church community…. There have been a number of commentators who have taken to the social media expressing their disgust but as was done in the past, and we will continue to do, we always keep the residents informed….

“We are having a town hall meeting for the residents in those affected areas and by a wider margin, the whole of Christ Church,” Donovan told Barbados TODAY.

He insisted that before any large-scale development is contemplated, several steps must be taken by the so far unnamed developer, including meeting with residents and conducting a social impact study.

Responding on his Facebook page on Sunday to a post about the proposed land acquisition, Thorne said he understood the concerns but stressed that the so far unnamed property developer would have to provide the public with more details.

“It is always a very serious matter when lands are identified for acquisition by the Government. I fully understand the trauma of being asked to sacrifice your private property and I can assure you that the law does not condone sacrifice in any arbitrary manner,” the MP stated.

“Apart from property owners, those who reside, work, recreate or do commerce in the area are all affected and must have an interest in knowing what is the proposed development. Thus far, the notice speaks with generality and you will have the right to more specific information from the developer. You may be aware that the developer is obliged to come to the public and to give information as to the more detailed nature of the project and to engage public inquiry.”

Thorne said people who have an interest – residentially, commercially or otherwise – may exercise their constitutional rights to congregate and speak on the proposal prior to the developer’s meeting.

“The voice of the citizen is as sacred as the vote and you must never be timid in the exercise of your rights. You elected me to serve you and it is my duty to ensure that your voice is heard in representation of your rights and legitimate interests,” he added.

The parliamentary representative, who is also a Queen’s Counsel, encouraged full attendance and participation at the meeting which he said, at the time of his Facebook post, was being organised “for all persons with direct or indirect interests to exercise genuine community engagement on this very serious matter”.

When contacted by Barbados TODAY, Thorne said he did not have any information to add.

The town hall meeting is slated for 5 p.m. on Friday, September 30 at the St Lawrence Primary School.

Donovan said it is also expected to be streamed online.

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb