Carrot Bay residents upset at not being able to develop properties
This and several other concerns were voiced at a community meeting held at the Abraham Leonard Community Centre in Carrot Bay last evening November 19, 2013. The hall of the community centre was filled with residents who were determined to hear what the government officials had to say on the CBCDP and at the same time voice their concerns on the topic.
Residents were also concerned about the fact that they were allegedly being deprived from freely developing their lands by government because of the pending CBCDP. “We done can’t get access to our lands up there, they got a big buffer area up there what they said they can’t develop, then why don’t the government buy the area and done because we who own the land up there the land is no good to us….. I got property up there and for me to get there I need a helicopter.”
The meeting was called by the Town and Country Planning Department of the Virgin Islands and facilitated by Chief Planner Mr Gregory W. Adams. He was supported by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Premier Ms Rosalie Adams and Physical Planner II Mr Dyland J. Penn. According to Mr Adams, the meeting responded to instructions directly from Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith following the submission of a petition signed by a large number of land owners and concerned persons.
He explained that the project, though previously put to the community, was put on hold and was never sent to cabinet but had to be dusted off and brought back to the people as there were concerns.
Several vocal community members expressed the view that they were being deprived of their rights to develop their properties, that government should facilitate ways for persons to develop their inherited properties, address issues surrounding erosions, matters of sewerage, many matters surrounding the cutting and development of proposed access road and developmental works to the lower flat of the area.
While the government team tried as much to effectively respond to questions, they were not successful in doing so as for the greater part most of the questions were “out of their level”.
Ms Adams re-enforced Mr Adams’ position that the meeting was primarily to seek suggestions from the community members as to what adjustments they needed to be done to the proposed plan consequent of the petition that was submitted.
Those present insisted that there needed to be additional meetings to properly and effectively ventilate the concerns surrounding the proposed project. They also expressed the view that the project is very ambitious and may take many years to get off the ground if it ever does.
They were assured that further consultative meeting will be forthcoming.
According to the Town and Country Planning Department, the preparation of the Carrot Bay Development Plan is in keeping with the Physical Planning Act to bring about orderly and coordinated physical development of Carrot Bay and its environs; to conserve community resources; to guide the pattern, intensity and timing of the use of land; and to promote the health, safety, economic well-being and general welfare of the people in the community.
The purpose of the meeting last evening was to update residents on the findings of the draft plan and report for the Carrot Bay Community Development Plan 2010 – 2020 and policy decisions regarding land subdivisions.
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17 Responses to “Carrot Bay residents upset at not being able to develop properties”
Unfortunately, it is no longer the way it was way back when. there are other pressures on a community and territory to do smart growth protecting historic preservation and environment. Not everyone can just do what they want anymore. they are part of something bigger.
It's your rep who started this mess with the area filled in where the village is held yearly so HUSH.