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‘Beachfront development hurting us!’ – Levi Malone

- wants Government to discontinue the project along Fat Hogs Bay as it can result in property value reduction
A businessman is peeved that the government is pressing ahead with a beachfront development that could see the reduction of property values and a disruption of the traditional way of life for persons along the Fat Hogs Bay beach. Photo: VINO
This is an area that will be filled in when the development works are complete. Photo: VINO
This is an area that will be filled in when the development works are complete. Photo: VINO
Part of the property of the Malone family that could be affected by the project. Photo: VINO
Part of the property of the Malone family that could be affected by the project. Photo: VINO
FAT HOGS BAY, Tortola, VI - A businessman is peeved that the government is pressing ahead with a beachfront development that could see the reduction of property values and a disruption of traditional way of life for persons along the Fat Hogs Bay beach.

According to Tilford Levi Malone, a particular contractor brought a load of dirt and dumped it on the beach, making for an unsightly scene.

The man believes that what is being done changes the whole ecology of the beach front and as a result would affect the property values of not only his property but every single one along the beach.

Speaking to this news site on July 20, 2015, Malone called on the entire National Democratic Party government, especially Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering who is the Representative for the Seventh District and Honourable Marlon A. Penn who is the Representative for the Eighth District to come to the area, see what's taking place and stop the works. He singled out the three politicians as he said they have family ties to the people of the Fat Hog’s Bay area.

Property value reduction

"Who wants to come to the beach to see dirt?" asked the businessman. He is concerned that the property values in the area will be reduced as a result of the development works, which he said will also see a road along the beach, land locking him and others. He is also concerned that the road will bring the problem of noise nuisance from traversing vehicles.

The man said he was speaking on behalf of the many property owners in the area who feel affected by the development.

“I am appealing to the Government to stop this contractor from destroying our bay and destroying the ecology of the bay,” he said.

Malone further said that the works will cut into land left to families by William Malone, the man’s grandfather. According to him, the land gifted to the families measure 450 feet of beachfront and 300 feet on depth.

The man said that growing up, the area was special to him and others in the family as they used to visit to enjoy the sand and sea.

“If you put dirt you cannot recreate and let the kids loose to the water,” said the man. “Who are we building this country for?” he asked, adding that if it were white people, this would not have been done.

“My mother taught me to swim in what we called the 'white hole'. People used to walk and come down to Fat Hogs Bay and recreate on my grandfather’s land," he said.

Changing the ecology

Malone is also concerned about the potential for run off issues with the land as a result of all the earth moving works not only there but in other places especially in higher elevations. He believes all of the silt will run off and end up in the bay, changing its ecology in the process.

“This whole bay is impacted by what we are doing in the mountains and other areas,” said Malone. “What are we going to have? A cesspool?” he asked.

“If you put this amount of dirt so close to the water you will have run off. We already lost fishes because of the amount of dirt or silt in the water,” he said. “Come on man, restore our place. We need sand not dirt. Develop for the people. Nobody don’t go to no beach with dirt,” he said.

Efforts to reach Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering for a comment on the concerns raised proved futile.

31 Responses to “‘Beachfront development hurting us!’ – Levi Malone”

  • Hmph (21/07/2015, 08:53) Like (21) Dislike (13) Reply
    He probably aint getting the amount of money he asked for so now he making a fuss. Shut your mouth man, the place looking so nasty, Let the gov't make it attractive to passersby.
    • malone (21/07/2015, 11:28) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
      This headline is totally wrong it should be " THE MALONE FAMILY REQUESTED SAND TO REPLACE THE SAND ON THE BAY NOT : DIRT". Pump back in the SAND restoration mean restoring back to normal. The proper land fill should be SAND SAND SAND.
  • i was hacked (21/07/2015, 08:57) Like (27) Dislike (19) Reply
    U complain about the steps to development, how about u wait and see the final product. OLD people always complaining about PROGRESS, u cant hold on to the past, u cant stifle development because YOU want things to remain the same as when u were a little boy. We’re in 2015 not 1915.
    • For true? (21/07/2015, 09:20) Like (23) Dislike (2) Reply
      And it is only WHEN YOU GET OLD you would have realised the value of the spoken words now. Beautify the please YES, by destroying the ecology? NO! For example, move the old cars, cut down the bush, get whatever skill is needed to tidy up the beach front, etc, etc. Plain and simple as that.
      • i was hacked (21/07/2015, 10:01) Like (15) Dislike (11) Reply
        If you're building a house don't u dig up the land and cut down trees? should people complain about the process also? we go to st.maarten and say "why tola cant have a boardwalk" then we complain about development.
        the BVI is way behind in tourism because THERE IS NOTHING TO DO and NO WHERE for tourist to go when the come here. This is about survival not personal wants and gains. The bVI needs this.
        • dog (21/07/2015, 10:38) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
          you want to be like St Maarten? BVI has many (repeat) visitors because they DON'T want to look at boardwalks or hotels cutting of the water view from the road or land.
          • i was hacked (21/07/2015, 11:55) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
            have u ever googled and read some of the comments from people that visited?
            what if we didnt want roads cut and paved to drive instead we keep using horse and donkey? what if we didnt want electricity poles and wire ran because we think lantern is better? I'm sorry if u think having nothing to see and no place to go is the best tourist product. But just like how u say there are repeat visitors, there are the ones that say it boring and i'm never coming back. Plus this is not just for tourist, it's for residents. U can take your family for recreation OUTSIDE not pen up in SAVE THE SEED. Let your kids ride bikes and run up and down. instead of these fat lil children who only want tablets to play on instead of going outside.
          • Peng (21/07/2015, 13:43) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
            Repeat revenue not enough. We need new streams of revenue plain and simple. We are behind the entire Caribbean. No wonder everybody in BVI afraid of Cuba opening up but yet will not upgrade the tourism produce Some of u ppl simple backward, greedy as u never want thing to change. Keep making a killing as u always do. When does costs for a waterfront property anywhere in the world lose value??? Pure ignorance talk. Try go and come again Malone!!!!
            • malone (21/07/2015, 15:33) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
              Cost for a waterfront property anywhere in the world loose value??? When the "SAND" is replaced With "DIRT" and Rocks.
    • malone (21/07/2015, 15:46) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      U can't wait to see the final product when SAND is replaced by DIRT it can't work.
  • political snitch (21/07/2015, 09:04) Like (24) Dislike (16) Reply
    By voting for the NDP overwhelmingly that gives them the right to do what they want, when they want without explanation it seems.
  • ????? (21/07/2015, 09:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is that Moses tomb that i am seeing in the photo?????
  • red man (21/07/2015, 09:16) Like (10) Dislike (19) Reply
    You think the ndp care hell no!
  • vi (21/07/2015, 10:13) Like (21) Dislike (9) Reply
    I have to stop and wonder if people in this country don't have any vision at all? Every project the VIP or NDP present to move us forward there is always some who wants to make an issue out of it. This guy can't even see beach front property will add value to his home.
    • Guest (21/07/2015, 11:17) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
      I was thinking of the same thing. How could developing a beach front decrease a value of the property around it. This person is very short sighted when it comes to that.
      • tretretrete (21/07/2015, 11:46) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
        I guess we ignored where the guy mentioned that they will establish a road that will leave the properties landlocked? that's not beachfront my dear people
  • Another way. (21/07/2015, 10:53) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    You and all your families and friends voted for him. Why didn`t you call a meeting with him and his people and sort it out, (Hoping that he listens, far as I can see he and Ronno got a listening problem. The know it all couple) try that first, before taking it to the media.? My issue is that, the one set of people getting all these contracts. I want to give Mark great kudos for delivering on his road projects--looking good.
  • Fat Hogs Bay (21/07/2015, 10:53) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    "brought a load of dirt and dumped it on the beach, making for an unsightly scene." Is this guy for real? What beach? there is no beach there, it is a dirty murky sewerage filled mess. I don't understand why these people don't stop complaining about every little thing, Govt please proceed and make the community look better it is literally a dump as it is and needs improving.
  • pete (21/07/2015, 11:30) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Here is another example of development moving forward without a public meeting or notification. Who owns the land? If it is being reclaimed, who has the rights? Who is dumping? What department gave the builder permission? Building without a master plan is why things get ugly and unlawful. Government ignores this.

    What does the environmental impact assessment say? Where is town and country to monitor? Where is Conservation and Fisheries to investigate? Why are these vulnerable places not protected or at least planned for? We are losing parts of Nanny Cay, Trellis Bay and Beef Island, Josiahs bay, Brewers. And the character of Smugglers Cove to vendors for the cruise ship passengers. It is our natural resources that bring people. Not boardwalks and hotels to look like St Maarten or St thomas. Where are our Urban Planners?, preservationists?, historians? our educated instead of greedy? The shallow reefs and coral being filled will affect the whole environment. I agree with the caller. Building on the waterside also deprives visitors of the water view.
    • dog (22/07/2015, 22:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      do we know who is building and who gave permission as you say?
      Only one month at getting back in and NDP has Brandywine amusement park, and Fat Hog development already under way. Just wait for the rest of the building around without telling anyone. The environment will suffer and visitors will leave because of the crowds. 700 people on Brandywine? really?
  • DunDeal (21/07/2015, 11:56) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    I agree with Pete.
    Why does the BVI have NO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN?
    How the heck can we as a territory know what projects are right and wrong when they just appear to us a "done deals', with powerful local contractors and banks the only ones who knew anything about them before?
    This territory needs a massive national debate about the way we want the islands to be in 10-25 years so we can then vote on governments and policies that will get us there.
    Right now it is piecemeal and always predetermined by small groups of private, backroom, masonic, rotarian etc. cliques who may fool themselves that they have our best interest at heart but definitely sprinkle a large amount of their own business or private interest into the deals they cooking up.
    Pickering is the worst offender. He seems to think he is destined to be a great leader so everything he does is great for 'his' people. Like Kim Il Jong and others - he is deluded about his own wisdom.
    Please - a national development plan: now!
  • HMMM (21/07/2015, 11:58) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    bla bla next cartoon please
  • Young Entrepreneur (21/07/2015, 16:37) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Give the property to me since in Ur eyes it will decrease in value.. Who wouldn't love a beach view ?. . When the minister ain doing nothing ayo complain when he do ayo still complain! Sick of ayo. . people always say east look ghetto .. Accept the works and shut up!
  • race (21/07/2015, 22:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    “Who are we building this country for?” he asked, adding that if it were white people, this would not have been done".

    Mr. Malone, you seem to be attributing undeserved wisdom to the same people who worked your grandfather or one of his near ancestors for free. Some of them (but not all, I admit) would not give you the time of day. But now look at the worldwide backlash and racial violence many of them are facing. You won't see it on CNN, but it is a grave situation. They don't seem so wise to me.

    Or if I interpret your response differently, you are saying we would build the territory better if white people were the beneficiaries.

    Either way you are too experienced to be saying such nonsense. I only see your greed speaking.
    • lover of all (22/07/2015, 07:50) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      CNN only reports US news, the situation in the States is out of control, that doesn't mean that Europe is the same way
  • egg face (21/07/2015, 22:14) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    LIKE BRANDYWINE BAY THE NDP WILL NOT LISTEN
  • 11 to 2 (22/07/2015, 06:52) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    You allll need to back off the ndp they won
    • dog (22/07/2015, 22:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      all the more reason to make them responsible and accountable for the permanent changes to the coast line and people's lands and lives. Mandate doesn't mean bulldoze everything in site. Where are the public meetings? More than one announcement but one that is part of planning?
  • Billfargo (25/07/2015, 00:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All I have to say is: Remember Fountain Valley in St. Croix. When all of the tourists stop coming and the people don't have any money, and everyone start to migrate to over there, then the place will return to it natural state.


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