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Patsy Lake dismisses illegal building claims

- suggests jealousy may be the cause of uproar over extension project
Prominent local businesswoman Mrs Patsy Lake has disputed claims that she has breached the law in any way while doing a temporary extension to an already existing property located at Botanic Station. Photo: VINO/File
Virgin Islands News Online was shown the plan drawn up by SA Architects which Mrs Lake said was also approved by the Town and Country Planning Department for the already existing structure. Photo: VINO
Virgin Islands News Online was shown the plan drawn up by SA Architects which Mrs Lake said was also approved by the Town and Country Planning Department for the already existing structure. Photo: VINO
An anonymous accuser alleged that Mrs Lake is currently 'renovating a wooden structure which houses 8 persons and [is] now adding on an additional 10 to 15 feet and her foundation is 1 ½ to 2 feet from the neighbour’s bound'. Photo: provided
An anonymous accuser alleged that Mrs Lake is currently 'renovating a wooden structure which houses 8 persons and [is] now adding on an additional 10 to 15 feet and her foundation is 1 ½ to 2 feet from the neighbour’s bound'. Photo: provided
An anonymous accuser alleged that Mrs Lake is currently 'renovating a wooden structure which houses 8 persons and [is] now adding on an additional 10 to 15 feet and her foundation is 1 ½ to 2 feet from the neighbour’s bound'. Photo: provided
An anonymous accuser alleged that Mrs Lake is currently 'renovating a wooden structure which houses 8 persons and [is] now adding on an additional 10 to 15 feet and her foundation is 1 ½ to 2 feet from the neighbour’s bound'. Photo: provided
Mrs Lake chalked up the anonymous accusations to jealousy and expressed that she is very much a law abiding citizen. She added that there were no strings pulled and no favouritism sought to execute what she described as a very simple renovation project. Photo: VINO
Mrs Lake chalked up the anonymous accusations to jealousy and expressed that she is very much a law abiding citizen. She added that there were no strings pulled and no favouritism sought to execute what she described as a very simple renovation project. Photo: VINO
Mrs Lake chalked up the anonymous accusations to jealousy and expressed that she is very much a law abiding citizen. She added that there were no strings pulled and no favouritism sought to execute what she described as a very simple renovation project. Photo: VINO
Mrs Lake chalked up the anonymous accusations to jealousy and expressed that she is very much a law abiding citizen. She added that there were no strings pulled and no favouritism sought to execute what she described as a very simple renovation project. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Prominent local businesswoman Mrs Patsy Lake has disputed claims that she has breached the law in any way while doing a temporary extension to an already existing property located at Botanic Station.

“What I’m trying to do is to produce somewhere where they [workers] don’t have to pay $300 and $400 per month rent,” Mrs Lake said while speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online.

The response comes in the wake of accusations that Mrs Lake is allegdly currently “renovating a wooden structure which houses 8 persons and [is] now adding on an additional 10 to 15 feet and her foundation is 1 ½ to 2 feet from the neighbour’s bound…”

An anonymous accuser further questioned how many more will be housed in the new extension and alleged that despite their complaints to various authorities, including Town and Country Planning Department, Public Works Department and Ministry of Communications and Works, the construction continued. Efforts to reach relevant officials at Town and Country Planning Department for comment were unsuccessful up to post time.

“I will like to know if Mrs. Patsy Lake is above the law,” the accuser asked, “and if it’s her right to breach Government policies without consequences?”

However, Mrs Lake chalked up the anonymous accusations which were first made public on another news site to jealousy and expressed that she is very much a law abiding citizen. She added that there were no strings pulled and no favouritism sought to execute what she described as a very simple renovation project. “All of that was totally uncalled for,” Mrs Lake stated.

Virgin Islands News Online was shown the plan drawn up by SA Architects which Mrs Lake said was also approved by the Town and Country Planning Department for the already existing structure.

She further disputed claims that the foundation was too close to the neighbour’s property. “I’m nowhere near to them,” she stated.

One woman allegedly told Lake’s foreman, “Jesus Christ, Patsy Lake building again? She ain’t tired?” This prompted the businesswoman to say that she was using her own funds and own property to do the construction.

Mrs Lake related that the extension work was being done simply in order for her employees to be able to live at a higher standard and alleged that neighbouring properties that had similar extensions done had no Town and Country Planning in attendance and did not face similar scrutiny.

In response, she said a sign will be erected shortly which will read “God bless the haters”.

The accuser further alleged that the three agencies denied that plans were submitted ahead of the construction but noted these were granted subsequent to enquiries made. “Where is the Government in the sunshine to prove to the people what is done for one will be done for all?” they questioned.

27 Responses to “Patsy Lake dismisses illegal building claims”

  • long look me come from (12/04/2014, 10:30) Like (8) Dislike (34) Reply
    Mrs. Lake the devil cannot keep you down keep your head up you are one of we
  • INJUSTICE (12/04/2014, 12:05) Like (27) Dislike (5) Reply
    Another squatter house to house the under paid before they get send home.
    • @ INJUSTICE (12/04/2014, 13:08) Like (3) Dislike (24) Reply
      you chatting crap when the house was approved by the TCP...you all just to dam hateful and jealous
    • Renee (13/04/2014, 09:24) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      What about the law stating that a 12 foot setback from the next owners property is supposed to be in effect?
  • well sa (12/04/2014, 12:09) Like (30) Dislike (3) Reply
    Slum housing!
    • Local (12/04/2014, 13:59) Like (2) Dislike (23) Reply
      Yea the same slum house you left in your country.....go home well sa you all to bad kinded
  • farmer brown (12/04/2014, 12:20) Like (5) Dislike (22) Reply
    thanks for setting the record stright Patsy!!!
  • will vi (12/04/2014, 13:00) Like (3) Dislike (20) Reply
    I always love mrs parsy make up on her face keep it up
  • Liat 521 (12/04/2014, 13:36) Like (5) Dislike (29) Reply
    Leave the women alone she has the right to make it in her homeland
  • wise up (12/04/2014, 14:46) Like (10) Dislike (25) Reply
    when the whites come here and do what the they want NO one says anything; when the citzens try to make a living its a big f@c$ing issue....what a place,,,ok run go talk that,,,the whites come here and stop us for using our own beaches( just an example)!!!!!
    • hellboy (12/04/2014, 18:01) Like (7) Dislike (11) Reply
      LISTEN CLOWN HERE BELONGS TO THE UK AND THE LAST TIME I CHECK THEY ARE WHITE SO IF YOU DON'T
      LIKE IT GO independent !!!!!
      • wise up (13/04/2014, 08:41) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
        hellboy!!!education is a must; hint NOT all whites are from the UK..just a hint, OK !!!!! you sound like one of those low life whites from the UK !!! just saying, now run go talk that with your non-blacks.....
        • hellboy (14/04/2014, 16:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          I'M 100% BLACKMAN . YEAH !!!!!!!!!!

          SO STOP BLAMING THE WHITEMEN.
  • Look a Thing (12/04/2014, 17:52) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
    I bet that building looks nothing like what's in the picture when it's finished! Don't be fooled people the slum will continue. So I get paid $500 and then someone goes with $300-$400 what a thing!
  • just asking (12/04/2014, 18:13) Like (5) Dislike (14) Reply
    Why they always harrasing our national hero
  • Sparrow (13/04/2014, 05:45) Like (9) Dislike (14) Reply
    I commend Patsy Lake for her ambitious entrepreneurial attitude. She is showing others what they need to do to be successful in the Virgin Islands, There are opportunities for everyone and she is using hers. After all Patsy fought with Noel LLoyd for us to own Wickams Key when it was leased to Bates for ninety nine years.
    We need to cheer our comrades when they are successful. It is time we look inside for investment and don't wait for a Angel to come with a bag full of dirty money to invest. Go Patsy Go Patsy. Continue the good works.
    • pat (13/04/2014, 11:57) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      the issue is not development itself, it is being a part of a society with rules and regulations so everyone's rights can be respected. Though I appreciate her standing up with Wickams Cay, it does not give her unbridled permission to do what ever she wants, when and where she wants. That is not how the law works and she has been far from respectful. Even government, when Town and Country put a stop order on her Cutlass building, (and it doesn't have any parking, included in legislation for new development), the stay was overridden by preferential treatment. It has nothing to do with being "jealous". It has everything to do with being a law-abiding citizen who sets a good example and who respects the process of law. She whines to get her way and is never been held accountable for any violations. THAT is what the issue is.
  • now (13/04/2014, 13:00) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Success is measured by how you treat people.
  • GmbH (13/04/2014, 13:02) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    I guess that if nobody will rent her commercial premises, then they can also become slum dwellings
  • dog (14/04/2014, 22:10) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    so where is town and country in all this? yes they signed a paper March 11th but when did the developing start? If they were just signing papers for protocol- they are equally as violating and exploitive as the applicant. -- meaning that some people are more important than others and do not have to follow the rules--
    This should be easy. LOOK AT THE LAW AND HOW IT WAS WRITTEN. IF SHE IS IN VIOLATON, UPHOLD THE LAW!!
  • Iwan2cblass (15/04/2014, 13:24) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Getting Town and Country Planning approval is not a green light to build on your property. You still have to submit construction ready drawings to the public works department in order to get a construction / building permit. Our so called "national hero" may or may not have approval from PWD but from the image above the stamp on the drawings says "Planning Authority" not "Building Authority." They are two different entities. If she does not have approval then she is breaking the law. We all know this is the same lady who decided to break ground on her "office building" in Pasea Estate without approval from any government entity over a long public holiday and by the time T&CP and PWD realized what was going on there was a big hole in the hill. Now who in their right mind has a high mack, bulldozers and dump trucks working on a religious public holiday disturbing her tax paying fellow BVIslander neighbors? Only this woman.............. I know because I live there and saw the foolishness with my own eyes. Don't get me wrong she has done well for herself and her family but she has a mentality that "no one can tell me what to do with my land." She is not alone in that belief. A lot of BVIslanders feel that way. Hopefully a government official with a pair can stand up to her.
  • shaw (15/04/2014, 19:23) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    so true. So who is enforcing the laws? no one. There is a law on the books that no bill boards allowed in Road Town but we have the electronic advertising bill board opposite the ferry, we have Clarence Thomas advertising bathroom fixtures on the road. What if everyone put up a large sign. The place would look junky/ tacky. Yet no one enforces the law.


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