BARBADOS (Naked Departure) — OBSTRUCTED WATERCOURSE — Naked, this dangerous situation started, when a Foreign White land owner engaged the service of heavy equipment to prepare a site for building in Chapel Gap, Payne’s Bay, St. James.
To get to the site, an excavator was used to remove a part of the clearly define watercourse lower right and left edges and made a pathway across the watercourse.
Boulders from excavation were utilized to create a new lower left edge, but it was extended 4+Ft farther into the watercourse to the boundary line of my upper land lot, in the middle and along the watercourse. The new boulders edge was elevated 3+Ft at lowest to 5+Ft at highest from the watercourse floor, thereby creating an obstruction, to wit, a yard/garden-cum private botch road. The lower right edge was not replaced.
I live next to said watercourse from 1982, sensing the danger said obstruction can caused, I reported this encroachment to the Drainage Unit, an Official, Mr. Dawe visited the site on 20 January, 2003.
Mr. Dawe agreed obstruction pose a risk, was against the law and that Drainage Unit would take action to have the obstruction removed.
After a year of excuses such as, ” we don’t have a Truck, Tractor or Bobcat to remove the boulders” coming from Drainage Unit Officials, Mr. Yearwood, Mr. Dawe and Mr. Inniss, but no activity to remove the obstruction.
I was advised to speak to Mr. Philip Tudor of MTW, I informed Mr. Tudor on 23 January 2004 of the obstruction situation, he said it was illegal, made promises of a site visit to verify and take action to have the boulders removed, he repeated those promises in 4 follow-up conversations we had between 23 January and 18 October 2004, but he reneged on all.
My first appeal to the CTO of MTW, Mr. Frank Thornhill on 23 April 2004 overlapped the conversations to Mr. Tudor, I rehashed what I told Mr.Tudor to Mr. Thornhill, adding that the obstruction was rerouting flooding flow from the original course, to my home, eroding my back yard in the process.
CTO Thornhill agreed said obstruction was illegal, his made promises of taking action somewhat align, with that of Mr. Tudor, but Mr. Thornhill irresponsible actions exceeds that of Mr. Tudor, because he has the authority to carry out “The Prevention of Floods Act Cap 235”, to deal with said illegal obstruction.
Mr. Thornhill’s unjust inactions allowed the illegal obstruction to exist and developed to a dangerous situation, that rerouted flooding flow to my home and the environs of Clarke’s Road, St. James, causing damages to properties.
An opportunity to rectify the Flooding situation came when BWA pipe laying project was days away from reaching the watercourse, Mr. Blades of BWA listen to my concerns and said he will request instructions from CTO Thornhill.
I was told by Mr. Blades that CTO Thornhill rebuffed his suggestion, because of Mr. Blades limitation and contractor Arthur apparent shortcuts, the open pathway in the watercourse lower right edge become a road across the watercourse to join said road in the middle and along the watercourse.
I asked the then MP for St James Central Mr. Kerrie Symmonds to intervene, he arranged an on site meeting on the 25 April 2006, it was attended by BWA,officials Mr. Marville, Miller, Blades, Drayton, from Drainage Unit Mr.Yearwood and myself, no Official from MTW.
To the apparent dangerous situation, it was decided and agreed to by BWA and Drainage officials, to retract the pipes, remediate the watercourse by making it deeper, relay the pipes, and replace the watercourse lower left and right edges.
Charles Marville of BWA reneged on the promised agreement month after month, from April 2006 up to after the 2008 General Election, when he boldly told me, that Mr. Symmonds can say what he like, but he can’t come to BWA and do it, the flooding situation continued and worsened.
Mr. Clarke the land owner at the back in preparation to build, used an excavator to remove the upper part of the watercourse left edge, the space is now driveway and garden, the watercourse upper right ridge was destroyed by the back and forth movements of said excavator and was not restored.
On 4 August 2015 in conversation with CTO Thornhill, after making another appeal, he revealed that he as CTO will not commit MTW to any remedial work in said watercourse. I indicated that he and other official of MTW have already recklessly committed egregious actions, pertaining to said watercourse.
Leading up to the 2013 General Election, MTW workmen, task and instructed, not to remedy the private botch road obstruction, but to maintained by paving.
Evidently to satisfy a preconceived idea, or intent of former DLP MP for St. James Central, Mr. George Hutson, who I saw test driving on the newly paved said road in and along the watercourse, that now allowed vehicles to proceed across a completely flatten watercourse, a dangerous situation that aimed flooding at the Clarke’s Road area, worsen.
From 23 April 2004, to December 2016, clearly reasonably shown. The CTO of MTW, Mr. Frank Thornhill, breach his duty and the authority he holds for the prevention of floods, such as this callously created obstruction.
CTO Thornhill showed an obvious bias against who he perceived as a Black, lower working-class Barbadian, by extension all the Black residents of Clarke’s Road, St James, must suffered the results of a created dangerous situation.
The apparent action of CTO Thornhill showed his approval of the callous infringements, first instance, a wealthy White Foreign woman, then a Mr. Clarke who recklessly added to the callous actions.
In an effort to garner help, this situation was put to DLP Minister Kellman, in a facebook chat
On 6 December 2016, he stated, “if you send the pictures, I will send them to the DOERS of MTW”, Minister Kellman offer, correlated to the paving of said botch road. MTW Technocrats should and must do their duties justly.
Sharon Deane of MTW, advised me on the 9 March, 2016, that she spoken to Mr. Thornhill and he assured her that he will take care of the matter. As yet, for us the Black, lower working-class households, who resides in Clarke’s Road, St James I hope it is not the kind of assurance CTO Thornhill given to me on 23 April 2004. Regards, Mr. Blackman
Dangerous Situation of an Obstructed Watercourse in Clarke’s Road, St. James BARBADOS (Naked Departure) -- OBSTRUCTED WATERCOURSE -- Naked, this dangerous situation started, when a Foreign White land owner engaged the service of heavy equipment to prepare a site for building in Chapel Gap, Payne's Bay, St.