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Leave Josiah's Bay beach alone - Naomi Frett-Patterson

- Removing rocks placed by VIP govt. will be a bad decision
Persons are appealing to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering not to trouble the structure of the beach. Photo: VINO
Concerns surround the removal of a stone breach which was erected at the beach approximately one year before the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) left office having lost the 2011 elections. Photo: VINO
Concerns surround the removal of a stone breach which was erected at the beach approximately one year before the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) left office having lost the 2011 elections. Photo: VINO
Many persons have resumed using the Josiah's Bay Beach since the breach was put in by the former VIP government. Photo: VINO
Many persons have resumed using the Josiah's Bay Beach since the breach was put in by the former VIP government. Photo: VINO
Surfers are even asking for the breach to be extended a few inches more as opposed to the NDP government being advised to remove those that are currently there. Photo: VINO
Surfers are even asking for the breach to be extended a few inches more as opposed to the NDP government being advised to remove those that are currently there. Photo: VINO
The current proposal, according to reports, is for rocks to be placed at the frontage of these bars which owners said is a very bad move. Photo: VINO
The current proposal, according to reports, is for rocks to be placed at the frontage of these bars which owners said is a very bad move. Photo: VINO
The section at Joshia's Bay Beach area that needs to be cleaned. Photo: VINO
The section at Joshia's Bay Beach area that needs to be cleaned. Photo: VINO
JOSIAH’S BAY, Tortola, VI – At a time when tourists and locals alike have resumed maximizing the use of the Josiah’s Bay beach persons are appealing to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering not to trouble the structure of the beach.

Several persons from the Josiah’s Bay area desperately sought the attention of Virgin Islands News Online including Ms Naomi Frett-Patterson to further help stretch the reaches of their voices as it relates to the beach.

As Dr the Hon Pickering nor could his Permanent Secretary Mr Ronald Berkeley-Smith not be reach at the time, the cries of those concerned were too loud to be left unattended. This news site will still be seeking a response from the relevant authorities for a later update.

Their concerns surround the removal of a stone breach which was erected at the beach approximately one year before the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) left office aft having lost the 2011 elections. Ms Frett-Patterson explained that the structure was put in place as the ground sea swells at that time used to be very aggressive and were responsible for drowning.

“I think our worst enemies of this Island are WE who belong to this Island. The best this beach has been in years is now because of those rocks,” she said.

The woman, who said that she was born in the area and spent the greater part of her life there, has experienced the sea at its best and worst as it relates to the activities of the beach. She said that recently Dr the Hon. Pickering along with a consultant visited the beach and was insisting that there is need for some restructuring of the beach which she and several others have seriously warned him against.

She further explained that prior to the rocks being placed were are currently there was a very bad undertow. “I can’t explain to you the technicalities but since they put those rocks there that undertow was cut off and people could now go where they couldn’t go before,” she said.

“I begged the Minister to get some other consultants to advise him. If those rocks weren’t an asset to the beach I would have been the first to say so. But I know they’re an asset, I have been here, and I know they’re an asset to the beach and its only selfishness and it’s not what is best for the country that this consultant is advising that those that rock be moved. It’s not what’s best for the Islands, its personal reasons and you could tell them I say that,” said the woman who expressed her deep love for the Island of Tortola and the people as well.

She said her care and concerns for the area are usually expressed in many other ways as many would attempted to do things at the beach that are unlawful and she would stop them without even going to the relevant authorities.

This news site was informed by reliable sources, another resident of the area that the present consultant was totally opposed to the Mr Hodges decision to design the beach the way it is. “This thing is not about the people but all about some few getting some money in their hands and more than that political mileage. It has nothing about what is best for the people and this Territory and that is a very sad state of affairs,” alleged one man.

Another concerned resident said that what needs to be done is cleaning up of another section that is currently is a very bad state with stagnant murky water. “I told the Minister, and not me alone several of us told him that all they need to is clean that area up and they would see the difference, but like we too small to advise them,” said one man.

The Drowning beach

Even as our reporter was on the way to the beach one person warned about going to swim at the Josiah’s Bay Beach referring to it as the ‘Drowning beach’.

They stated that people no longer go there to picnic or swim but this news site found the beach packed with persons swimming, surfing and having a good time.

“People are now coming back to the beach because they now seeing the benefits of those rocks which were placed there. Some of the surfers are even asking for it to be extended even a few more inches but that’s only for their benefit in surfing, now the Minister and his consultant telling me about they want to remove the rock, which is nonsense. This beach is at the best it’s has ever been in all its existence,” Ms Frett-Patterson said.

“I begging the minister, not for me alone but for all the people, this is a beautiful little island. This beach is at its best. Don’t let one selfish person spoil a good thing, just clean up that other part…the people are coming back to the beach because it is now safe,” she reiterated.

28 Responses to “Leave Josiah's Bay beach alone - Naomi Frett-Patterson”

  • ccc (17/02/2014, 08:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    bert getting hs way finally
  • concerned.... (17/02/2014, 08:22) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    who is the consultant?
  • SurferTalking (17/02/2014, 09:02) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    That beach is broad and the water seems safe right now NOT because of them stupid rocks they throw in there. It's because there has been NO GROUNDSEA this winter. If this had a been a usual winter season, she would see less than half the sand there is now, plenty more undertow and currents.
    Check ALL the beaches on the north side: all of them are the size they would be in summer, when the calm waters helps build up the sand and make them wide and broad. The beaches have been safe and quiet this winter NOT because of that foolish rock stone structure but because, for the first year anyone can remember, there has been none of the usual North swell.

    Surfers know it's a JOKE to start messing with the coastline. Whatever humans do, the ocean will come and wash it clean away. Humans don't 'design' coastlines. Nature does. This messing with the shore is pure ignorance, politics and money business. Give someone a contract to put stupid rocks in the sea, then give someone else a contract to remove them. Who gains? The contractors and the Minister. Who loses? The people of the BVI watching our natural legacy getting bought and sold and tampered with until we become what, a dead zone that no one wants to visit? Best thing you can do with the coastline is LEAVE IT ALONE. God and Nature got their own thing going on, and man in his ignorance will always lose the fight against the sea.
  • islander (17/02/2014, 09:34) Like (1) Dislike (15) Reply
    the lady is right.
  • ting teh talk (17/02/2014, 09:35) Like (6) Dislike (16) Reply
    NDP will do anything to make VIP look bad..Kedric removed the speedbumps from long look and Bull got ran down and died..Marlon removed the traffic calming device on beef island and malik got killed as a result of this.
    • Greg (17/02/2014, 09:49) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
      You stupid or something??? Bull got run down because of a lousy driver who would have run down anyone, speed bump or not. Malik got killed because of his own speeding and not wearing proper biking equipment. You all always blaming the wrong things for people's carelessness. So every time there is an accident it is governments fault? Stupid.
    • farmer (17/02/2014, 10:17) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      What a big JACK DONKEY you are dread !!
    • Correction (18/02/2014, 13:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Mark removed the traffic calming device not Marlon
  • james (17/02/2014, 09:58) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    What a bunch of crock and bull this is. Before those stupid rocks were placed there, many many people have been enjoying Josiah's Beach and the rocks were not even there. We used to picnic and catch fish for dinner.
    Those rocks are a disgrace that prevents the natural flow of the tide coming in and out and to clean the pond. I have lived here my entire life and have never seen the foolishness that has been allowed to destroy this area because of a of selfish business owner who doesn't even live on the beach and whose only concern is to make money. Sick of all of them especially the politicians who had a hand in this named H & P.
  • Sinister (17/02/2014, 10:17) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    It call a rip current, but there by the rock still have a rip current so i don't know what Naomi is talking about. This winter season haven't been active so the condition of the sea isn't as aggressive as it normally is. A day i came on to Josiah's just to catch a lifeguard going into the water for a kid about the age of 12 who seem to be in distress. I must say he handle the situation on point. The parents was great full by the looks of everything keep up the good work need more people like u.
  • chad (17/02/2014, 11:08) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    So what's Naomi's background as it relates to such areas? Is she more qualified than the consultant to determine what's best for the beach or she's local and whatever she wants should trump the 'outside' people? NO rocks can stop what a beach is, if there are rip currents rocks can't stop that. How can you want the rocks remain but want the stench removes when it appears the rocks are stopping flow? Nature should NOT be tampered with nor should politics be played with it. As usual this will end up in ignorance with nobody looking at what's really happening. There are some areas where people who are not really strong swimmers should swim. And, there are times of the year when NOBODY at all no matter their ability should be swimming. That's nature, there's nothing man can do about that. What's the reason for the Minister/Consultants removing the rocks? They're not just crazy and decide "Hey, let's move some rocks today, I'm bored!"....Funny if this was about someone commending the Minister for taking action we wouldn't have a news story. Because it's negative and will generate comments...keep up the good works guys.
  • Heaven gates (17/02/2014, 11:09) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its a blessing to have lifeguards on that beach keep up the good work guys
  • confused (17/02/2014, 11:41) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm looking at the picture and scratching my head. How can boulders in the corner of the Beach guard against rip currents and undertow when ground seas come up? That makes no sense at all looking at the picture or even visiting the beach. Someone please explain. Aren't undercurrents self-explanatory, i.e. 'under' the water? lmao.
    • craziness (17/02/2014, 13:05) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Undercurrents are sort of a myth. What you get on all these north facing beaches is rip currents. When the ground sea is up, the waves push in a lot of water and that water needs to escape somewhere. It does that by finding the path of least resistance, so usually it rushes along the shoreline for a while before turning out to sea. This is what people get caught in, they panic and drown.
      Those rocks at Josiah's Bay can no way "stop" the currents from happening. It's just that there has been no ground sea this year, as part of the weird weather all over the world. What this lady is doing is simply showing ignorance of the way beaches, coastlines and the ocean work. Do not listen to her for advice.
      And besides, she's a squatter on that land, so she shouldn't have any say at all about what happens down there.
      • who know (17/02/2014, 19:07) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        U are so right . She need to mind her business . Always talking was she don't know!
  • family (17/02/2014, 14:34) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    That trouble tree she think Josiah's Bay land is hers
    She'll paid for that land she's presently on
  • Fat Head (17/02/2014, 15:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The man has no time for this he has to finish his airport
  • shaw (17/02/2014, 17:33) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    poor development and placement of buildings recently caused fish to die in the inlet. Bulldozers and trucks closed off any flow of water and any potential salt pond. And yet the developer left the section of the beach littered with concrete blocks and building material. They should be fined and forced to come back and clean up the area they ruined. Then there should be a review of building practices in general and enforced!! we are killing the place one cut at a time. Why are the rocks being removed now that they are there? makes sense as a kind of breakwater...
  • Thing to talk (17/02/2014, 19:12) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    You can see this woman ain't good in her head! Lol....
  • cay (17/02/2014, 21:41) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    Give um hell ms Frett
  • What? (17/02/2014, 23:12) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Anybody even under the influence can look at that picture and see that those rocks have little or no impact on the wave/surf/undercurrent actions on that beach. Why were they put there in the first place? I don't see the reason. How moving them will cause any damage when majority of the beach is open? You put rocks on one far end and it stops the waves from crashing on the beach and stops the undertow? WTF??? What's the reason for Doc and the consultants wanting to remove the rocks? That's the big question. Some people need to stop talking above their pay grade. There's a reason why musicians don't construct houses.
  • hound (19/02/2014, 15:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Glad they are removing the rock they put there. The area needs to be left natural and the access of water to the important salt pond allowed. In addition to removing the rocks it would enhance the natural area if the building the other side of the pond entrance is removed and the structures that they put there are taken from the entrance to the pond. Josiahs has suffered terribly over the years since the late 80's with excessive sand mining, removal of foreshore vegetation, illegal building of the apartments and the wooden restaurant.
    Enable it to enhance itself. Its a high energy beach - a popular surf site and NOT an area that is safe for people who do not understand surf, undertow, and swells. This year there have hardly been any swells which is why the beach has "appeared safe". You can't fight nature - learn to let nature enhance your life.
    • Greg (19/02/2014, 18:17) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ hound..You started your comment well, but you failed when you said the house should be removed. Can anyone remove your house. This house is not interfering with the beach or pond. Do your research. Those square concrete culverts were constructed because a government agency made them build them, and then didn't use them. Not their fault and the same agency should have them removed.
  • Josiah's Bay Resident (20/02/2014, 15:26) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I remember as a young boy going in the pond and catching Bass and crabs, known back then as Sherigo. Lol is that how you spell that? Now, once a healthy pond alive with fishes and crabs are now Dead. Some Genious put a pile of rocks which block the sea from feeding the pond, and now all this bull sh##t talk about keeping Josiah Bay natural. The Minister for NRL is a Joke. He needs to be a clown in Barnum and Bailey Circus.
    • Colin (21/02/2014, 07:43) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      It was Naomi along with Hodge and Wheately who put those rocks there. Those are the culprits that should be interviewed and she there like she don't know what is going on.


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