Give us an ease!

Out of concern for her sick mother, Karen Husbands posted signs on the erected fencing. (Pictures by Maria Bradshaw.)

FENCED OFF: Karen Husbands stands between the fenced property which they used as an access path for over 30 years.

The alternative path the residents would now have to utilize.

By Maria Bradshaw | Fri, January 27, 2012 - 12:05 AM

Nine families living at Sutherland No. 2, St Lucy, are crying out for a suitable path to their homes.

This after a landlord put a fence around her property, effectively blocking what for over 30 years was the most convenient and shortest access for those families.

Karen Husbands, 36, whose, aunts, uncles and cousins occupy most of the houses in the close-knit district, pointed out that while there were other tracks around their homes that they could use, they were small and rocky, whereas the one which was fenced in was the closest to the main road and the only one vehicles could use.

“We have four people living out here who use ambulances on a regular basis, including my mother, who is immobile because of a stroke. The ambulance usually reverses through that track and the workers would walk to the houses to pick up the people. What is going to happen now?” she cried.

Husbands said she did not know why the landlord, who did not live in the area, had suddenly decided to fence the property, which she said had been unoccupied for several years.

The young woman maintained that the residents were not angry that the landlord had fenced her property but they were pleading with her to give them five feet to use.

“We know that it is her land and she has a right to fence it, but we are asking her to at least leave five feet of space.

That is a path that we have been using for over 30 years. Vehicles would drive through there and we would walk from our homes to collect furniture and building materials and it was still a long walk but the closest point to our homes. I think it is a little inhumane for her to fence off all the land when she knows that it is our main access.”

Husbands, who has lived in the area all her life, posted notices on the erected fence, expressing how she felt about the path being enclosed and how it would affect the residents.

“I want people to see what we are going through. If it wasn’t for my mother I would not care what happened because I can walk through the tracks – but my mum is very ill,” she said.

Veronica Husbands also expressed concern about the lack of a satisfactory access to her home.

She is a diabetic, who has been forced to use crutches due to an injury to her foot, while her husband suffers from epilepsy.

“I don’t know what will happen if an ambulance has to come out here. I am very worried about my husband,” she stated.

The residents said they have contacted parliamentary representative Denis Kellman and were hoping that he could intervene in the situation.

When contacted, 77-year-old landowner Gloria Austin said it was not her responsibility to provide an access for the residents.

“That is my property, and my plot don’t have no road on it. If they want to pass they have to look for a road,” she said, pointing out that she fenced the property because people were dumping garbage on her land.

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Posted by J. Payne 3 months, 3 weeks ago: The Barbados law is the problem. If you’re being nice and you let people walk on your land (as a favour) they always want to think they own it. Esp. if you let them do it for “30 years” as this article says. Therefore, when a landlord owns land, they must be proactive and not allow anybody to do anything with their land.
Barbados has these communist laws, where after a private individual shells out good hard-earned money to get that land, the government creates laws for others to come and take away that land. The families should have been greatful they had that access for the “30 years.” But I agree with the landlord. If she allows you all to continue walking on it not only will wunna continue to think wunna own the rights to that land, but wunna will try to claim even more grandfathered rights to that road. If you want the road see if the landlord will be willing to sell you the effected piece. Nine families should be able to come up with that amount.