Is the fate of the Barbados coastline being determined by the level of property development occurring on the island’s coastline?
It is true that Barbados can boast of millions of dollars being poured into real estate development of all kinds over the last ten years, with their being all types of accommodation available from luxury to cozy. Now investors and visitors can enjoy some of the best in amenities in some of the most amazing properties. However, the Barbados Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), the government body with lead responsibility for ensuring the country’s coastline is secure, has been at the core of property development on the shoreline of Barbados maintaining certain rules and regulations are observed by property development firms.
But Barbadians have often complained that all the real estate development that exists with the many multi-storey condominium and townhouse structures are blocking out the windows to the sea from inland. Moreover, the development that has taken shape leaves ownership in the hands of few, most of whom are not Barbadians on the South and West coast.
But now, ecologists and other environmental specialists are sounding warnings about the impact that these sometimes massive structures could have on the island.
It has been explained by those parties that coastal development may not spell good results for the country down the road. Ecologists and coastal engineers are pointing to the fact that climate change has become a crucial issue for the island which has already vulnerable shores.
Local media reported Coastal Engineer Antonio Rowe from CZMU at a recent lecture, as he discussed the issue, noting that with each increase in the sea-level the area more inland was affected, especially crucial for the south coast, where the beaches are relatively flat. However, he noted that some of the recent incidents of extreme beach erosion and damage to properties had been caused by drastic fluctuations in sea-level rise, which had affected the island, mainly the west coast. Rowe stressed that the problem was significant because most of Barbados’ essential services, including government offices, health facilities, fire and police stations, and others, were located on the shoreline.
But the Town and Country Planning Office also plays a pivotal role in the whole issue. It is this government body that is responsible for giving building permission and setting the parameters under which builders construct these structures. One of the most imposing properties on the West Coast is The Sands, of which there is little knowledge, but many people on the local front have commented that the building appears to large for the land area it covers. The Town and Country Planning Office also monitors these structures as they are being built to ensure that they are keeping up the code and the regulations which were given with the building permission.
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As with anything else there has to be a balance – it is kind of a chicken and egg situation. If there is no beautiful coastline, then there is no incentive for investors, whether local or from outside of Barbados, to build properties, villas, hotels etc.
The relevant experts (technocrats) who have the responsibility to ensure that Barbados’ coastlines are not abused will have to do their jobs to ensure that that “reasonable” development can take place without the coastline being compromised, whether onshore or offshore.