Six Men’s beach blues

THE GROYNES that were placed in the sea behind the homes of residents of Six Men’s, St Peter. (Maria Bradshaw)

By Maria Bradshaw | Fri, May 18, 2012 - 12:00 AM

SOME RESIDENTS living at Six Men’s, St Peter, are very upset because they can no longer access the beach, which is virtually in their backyards.

The residents complained that about three weeks ago, without warning, several huge boulders were dropped along the coastline by operators of the upscale Port Ferdinand marina project.

“We were able to open the gates to our backyards and just walk into the sea, and a group of people would come out here every morning to take a sea bath, but, as you can see, that is no longer possible. We now have to walk up the beach,” said one man who has lived all his life in the area.

He accused the contractors of the project of “disrespecting” the residents who live just next door to the marina.

“I think they should have had some decency to come out and tell us what is going on. I had to go out there and ask a question, and I was told that they had received permission from Government to do it. This is total disrespect,” he added.

He also complained about the dust that resulted from the work being done, pointing out that it was affecting his health. “When the truck comes out to wet the road, they only water around the roundabout, but the dust is all out here,” he pointed out.

Julie Collymore and her family also complained about the lack of access to the beach and the dust.

Pointing to dusty windows, doors and patio furniture, Collymore said she and the children and other adults who live in the house were now suffering from various allergies.

Her eyes red and tear-filled, Collymore charged that the water truck was only “sprinkling” the dusty road and doing it only about once a day.

“We have to keep the doors and windows closed because of all of the dust, and the children are always sick,” she stated.

Of the boulders, Philip Tempro, chief executive officer of the Port Ferdinand project, explained that they had to be used as part of the expansive project.

“We were told by Government that as part of our planning permission we had to put in the groynes. It was mandatory”.

He stated that the groynes would actually protect the seven houses along that road in case of any natural disaster such as a hurricane.

“It was part of Government’s mandate to inform the residents of that,” Tempro stated, adding that permission was granted by the Coastal Zone Management Unit.

He said the process should be completed next week and also promised to investigate the dust situation.