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Devastated beach in front of the old Kings Beach Hotel
with the groynes responsible for the destruction in background
Tourism and environmental officials in Barbados may continue to ignore this blog and its concerns about the state of the beaches in the Mullins Bay area, but they cannot continue to ignore forever the fact that tourists have begun to notice. Visitors to the area have begun to document and vent their feelings on the Internet about the destruction they have seen caused by private sector greed facilitated by government policy (or lack of it). The photo above was taken by a British visitor who stayed in Road View last week who was shocked by the devastation groynes installed by the developer of the St. Peter's Bay condo project and authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Unit have caused in the area. This photo and others were posted on the Internet on a site sharing information on Barbados with other potential visitors to the island. Word is getting out that Mullins Bay is a disaster zone. Pretty soon you are not going to be able to sell holidays, let alone condos or villas, in an area where people do not want to stay unless government does something about a situation that is getting worse by the day.
We are still feeling the effects of the global economic recession here in Barbados with lower visitor numbers projected for the coming months and delays in tourism related construction across the country. It has been announced that the condos at St. Peter's Bay are to start going on sale this coming December which means that in these economic times they are probably going to be priced nowhere near their original askings - of course, that's if they really want to, need to, or indeed, can, sell them now. As this blog has pointed out this project has already been a big disaster environmentally and socially; destroying beaches, uprooting a community and forcing other neighbors to spend money they do not have on sea defenses, etc. So, if it turns out to be also an economic disaster for the developers and the government, they have only themselves to blame, and few if any tears in the community.
Another photo by British visitor of the area around the bend from Kings Beach
showing beach narrowed by encroaching shoreline and half million dollars
worth of rock revetments and other sea defenses.
I indeed was very shocked to see the condition of the beach caused by the positioning of these groynes. The beach outside the property where I stayed in Road View was almost non-exsistent as you can see from my photograph.
ReplyDeleteAt low tides I was just about able to walk along to Kings Beach. As I turned the bend I could not believe the destruction of those beautiful Palm Trees. It was enough to bring a tear to anyones eye. People who know that area and beach from a few years back would be as shocked as I was.
So, what do we have there now - a monstrosity of a building called St.Peters Condos which would look more appropriate on one of the Spanish Costas.
Lesley (Long standing British visitor & Photographer)
I totally agree with all that Lesley says and am horrified by the ecological damage this unsightly development (and others)have caused. This is nothing short of a travesty.
ReplyDeleteWhy all these high rise boxes and developments for the tourist? Does Barbados not realise that many tourist, including me, do NOT want to stay in these places let alone buy one.
I think it's a fairly well known fact that bookings are very much down and there are many vacant rooms to let and empty plane seats including bookings for the coming "Peak Season".
There are many beautiful Caribbean islands for vacationers to chose from and thankfully they don't have buildings such as St. Peters Condos (and others!!).
Gem (Another long standing, long stay British visitor)
Barbados is ruining its coastline, and its appeal to tourists by building such monstrosities as St Peter's Bay. The surplus of properties on the island is driving the price of property down which is a shame.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone noticed a high incidence of the stinging fish which replicates a stone on the West Coast? I have seen a lot of these on the beach near Royal Pavillion.
What has caused this?
The government will no doubt ignore the fact that tourism is down not only because the island is becoming spoiled by tasteless construction but because they ignore the fact that tourists are being abused verbally and physically on the beaches by arrogant young men, especially on Paynes Bay, also Barbados disgusts many tourists because of the way dogs are locked up 24/7 and beaten for no reason. Consequently the dogs bark constantly. Tourists come to Barbados to relax not listen to demented animals. Many guests refuse to return to Barbados because of these problems. In the UK the talk is of how Barbados is out of fashion and people are going to St Barts as an alternative.
However, I love Barbados and I hope it manages to retain its beautiful beaches which are its prime attraction for many visitors.