Just about a month after the news that a major multi-million dollar town centre is planned for Nestfield, St. Lucy, the Barbados Government has revealed that yet another major development is planned for the island’s northern most parish.
In fact, the Pickering Housing and Town Centre Development is expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.
According to Prime Minister David Thompson, the massive development project will also employ hundreds of people and stimulate the socio-economic development of the entire northern section of Barbados.
Prime Minister Thompson made the remarks, as he addressed persons gathered for a ground breaking ceremony to mark Phase 1 of the Pickering Housing and Town Centre Development.
At a time when foreign investment is desperately needed, this project will generate US $800 million, of which US $500 million will be from sales to non-residents. The project will employ some 600 persons at the peak of construction and provide sustainable employment opportunities for 300 persons to support residential and business aspects of the development,” the Prime Minister revealed.
Among other things, the project will feature a heritage site, 1200 residential homes, a commercial centre, fish farm, a civic complex, lakes, parks, an amphitheatre, a waste treatment plant, a school and gift shops.
The Prime Minister said the venture would comprise one of the largest residential projects to be undertaken on the island and that it was consistent with Government’s policy of ensuring that the tourism industry becomes everybody’s business.
Prime Minister Thompson noted that government would realise increasing revenue in the construction phase, from payroll taxes, property taxes, Value Added Tax (VAT), income tax and transport services.
“It will, therefore, capitalise on the enormous potential of this beautiful parish. It will involve the opening up of heritage sites and the careful enhancement of existing sites like River Bay, Cove Bay and Archers Bay. Major development will also take place at Harrison’s Point and North Point,” Mr. Thompson disclosed.
He further told the gathering that it would also result in the expansion of Speighstown, Six Men’s, Half Moon Fort and the surrounding areas.
“The ripple effect in my view of this project, will reach beyond the boundaries of St. Lucy, and affect all areas of the north of Barbados,” he said, stressing that the project was designed to ensure that St. Lucy ceases to be among the “Cinderella parishes” of Barbados.
He said ultimately it would lead to making life better for Barbadians everywhere and reducing traffic congestion in and around Bridgetown.
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In a land scarce country, how could Barbados even think about allowing a development of this magnitude to be built!?! St.Lucy should be one of the parishes of Barbados that is left for agricultural purposes ONLY! This little island is becoming too built up and way too crowded and this is all because of increasing development. Where are the nature preserves? Where is the promised agricultural protection act? Where are the national parks? All of this unchecked development is leading to horrendous and irreversible environmental disasters. Look at the limegrove development, it is killing the swamp it is built on! Look at the proposed Long Beach development, if permission is granted(GOD FORBID), it WILL kill the Chancery Lane Swamp!! Look at the Merricks development, it is going to rape a beautiful piece of land that should have been preserved as a parkland!!! Look at the Graeme Hall Saga, the only remaining mangrove swamp is dissappearing!!!! When will government wake up and realize that it needs to enact long standing environmental legislation and enforce already existing environmental legislation?