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Gran living in fear 'under construction site'
Gellispie Springer fears that a resort development on a cliff above her home at Upper Rock Dundo, St James is becoming dangerous. (Picture by Donnay Deane)
Published on: 11/12/2009.
CONSTRUCTION ON THE SITE of the $600 million Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts Ltd at Black Bess, St Peter, has taken a toll on 82-year-old Gellispie Springer.
Springer, who lives below the site at Upper Rock Dundo, St James, said her life has been disrupted by falling boulders and mould, loud noises from bulldozers and now a mass of water.
Whenever it rains, water gushes down the cliff above her and floods around her house and the road.
"If you see how the water rush down from there and flood my whole yard; I had to say Lord have mercy!" the elderly woman cried as she pointed to the cliff which is about 50 to 60 feet high.
"I have been living out here all my life and I never see nothing like this until all that work started out there. It got me real frighten," she stated.
A NATION team contacted director Mark King who responded: "I am not in the business of discussing with the newspaper any problems. If there is a problem we will deal with it."
Springer said that a representative of the company visited her on Monday evening and told her that a barrier would be constructed on the cliff to prevent the water from flowing onto her property. (MB)
49 comment found!
Checks and Balances in Government : 12/1/2009
It is time for Town and Country Planning to step up and do their jobs.
Stop eating popcorns in your office and help this poor old lady. One Government body failed now the next should act. Checks and Balances in Government
DT
this is bad. : 11/19/2009
they are raping the land and taking it right out from under the people...
Town and Country Planning : 11/18/2009
As a former Military personnel, on all occasions some one is resposable for giving the O.K.That some one happens to be the chief town and country planning Officer.The Buck Stops There.I would like to see Perminant Secretaries exercise a more Public and Civil duty to the Nation of Barbados.I know these gentle men can stop lots of ills that Ministries create.
: 11/18/2009
The Government is to blame why? because they have no proper rules and regulations set in place to protect people like Gellispie. How can a development be approved and not all the safety measures that should have been put in place is still lacking. God forbid that you get heavy rain fall causing a massive land slide because of this development what would happen to Gellispie and others this only happen recently in Spain. It is the usual Government and others only thinking short term that is massive developments and money please sit back and look on long term effects of developments etc.
SUPPORT GRANNY : 11/17/2009
Bajans wake up and protest!! These developers are just greedy bloodsuckers who couldn't care less bout granny or the future of our children. I hope someone in the legal profession tek up dis case pro bono!! We selling we soul to de devil in broad daylight.
GRANNY SPRINGER DESERVES BETTER : 11/17/2009
Well put,RB. A BAJAN IN NY, looks like "de cold gettin' tuh yuh." Where is your compassion for this elderly lady? People, politicians are politicians. Doesn't really matter which party is in power. They dance to the music of a different drum compared to the average man. You could count on one hand,those among them who regularly exhibit care, concern and compassion for the underprivileged in society. Oh yes, lip service is rendered often, but we all know the outcome most of the time. Remember Irish political philospher Edmund Burke's quote: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Wake up Bajans, our beloved country is being stolen from under our noses.
GRANNIE IN TURMOIL. : 11/17/2009
NOW THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MS ROSS WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THAT OTHER STORY WHERE THE EX COP (REST HIS SOUL) WAS MURDERED. THE ELDERLY IS NEGLETED, REJECTED, MISTREATED, AND FORGOTTEN!! HOW COULD THE GOVERMENT OF BARBADOS ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN TO THIS POOR SENIOR CITIZEN? ALL THIS NONSENCE AND STRESS SHE'S GOING THROUGH, CAN LEAD THIS POOR LADY TO AN EARLY GRAVE! AS CAN BOY SAID, IT SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY THIS ELDERLY LADY A MILLION OR TWO IN US DOLLARS, SO THAT SHE CAN MOVE TO HIGHER AND SAFER GROUNDS, TO LIVE OUT HER GOLDEN YEARS IN PEACE AND QUIET. ALSO MAKE SURE FOR ALL THE MILLIONS SHE WILL BE GETTING, SOMEONE IS ALSO LIVING WITH HER, TO PROTECT HER AND HER ASSETS. WE DON'T WANT HER LIVING ALONE! SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE A VOICE FOR THE ELDERLY, AND IT'S REALLY SICKENING TO READ THESE STORIES. TAKING BETTER CARE OF THE ELDERLY REALLY SHOULD BE THE NEXT TOPIC, AN TOP PRIORITY, AS I SEE THIS IS NOT OVER.
RUDY BOYCE IN TEXAS.
GRAN LIVING IN FEAR : 11/17/2009
I have read all these blogs in this story has the writers stopped to think that
this starts with Town Planning department they are to be blamed for this. This lady
living there all her life at this stage has to complain, seek help from other sources
instead of contacting the right government office and more so where is the elected person for her area.
Born Bajan.
OverDevelopment in Barbados : 11/16/2009
Don't worry, tourism in B'dos will not always be around and it is already happening,it is being developed and tourist don't want to see the same thing they leave at home and go on a vacation and see the same thing. If this was a country with more vanilla people and least chocolate people that problem would not have happen. Who is Mark King anyway? What an arrogant piece of s----. That would never happen where he came from. The government of Barbados needs to stop looking to the mighty dollar and so much tourism look out for their bajan peoples, and put a cap on all these investors who are coming in and buying up everything they can in Barbados. 'Barrier', if he was going to put up any barrier he would have done so from the beginning, he doesn't care anything about the natives, just to make money. They are too many hotels, and developments in Barbados,they is no need for any more. Just now bajans are not going to be able to even walk around in they own country. Grandma get yourself a good lawyer who will fight for you as the government is not going too. I was really tick off when I read that article. Keep up the faith Ma Springer. No one fights for our causes anymore, everything is for the mighty dollar that why the world is in the state that it is in now.
A Very Upset Bajan
Does Justice Still Exist? : 11/16/2009
A barrier, I wonder if he meant a dam? He should construct a barrier on his mouth to stem the flow of arrogant and uncaring words. Granny should have gotten a lawyer. Maybe I watched too much TV or read too many comic books, because I feel this would have made an excellent "pro bono" case. Whatever happened to looking out and fighting for good causes.
construction site : 11/16/2009
Money wins out every time !!! No one cares about the natives. The developers are only concern about their businesses and vision to own BIM. Barbados is beautiful,tropical and is magnetic to those who can afford to buy the entire 166 sq ft of it ! No one in Gov't or anywhere else is hindering the developers. Apparently, they are given an open door to come, go and do as they please. As long as the tycoons with money keep waving it, bajans in Bim will suffer until someone put their feet down and demand respect for our island as well as our citizens.
Fear : 11/14/2009
I wonder if the developers are paying the government "impact fees" and if so how much. Since there are conducting business in a similar manner as it is conducted in America, whenever there is a construction project, the engineers must submit a plan and also an outline on what impact the project will have on the community. The building permit is not issued until the developer has paid or made arrangements to pay an impact fee for the project, and must have sewer, water,roads and drainage in place before building proceeds. At this point is seems that this was not done else Ms Springer would not be faced with the problems she has. I'll bet that if this was someone "big up" the case would have been different. It seems as though Bajan have a big mouth except when it comes to dealing with the government and the people/foreigners who come to take advantage of the country, while in the mean time greasing the pockets of the politicians.
Granny : 11/13/2009
Disenfranchised Bajan. Too late, the horses have already bolted. We are not only selling our lands but worse our souls along with them. I can see the Phoenix as relating to Belleville and Strathclyde in years not very far away.May God have mercy on us...just for the sake of a quick buck.
Grannie : 11/13/2009
To Bajan in New York. If this is not worth reporting, then what is ? For just one day, in thoughts, just switch places with Granny . What would you do? Keep quiet or report it. Surely not keep quiet, and if you do report it, then what is the Nation supposed to do with the report/story? Is no one supposed to know? then how will action be enforced . Give me a break. Nation, thank you for exposing the poor old ladie's plight. Bajan in New York,on second thoughts please stay where you are. Bajan in Mississauga.
Poor Granny : 11/12/2009
Slavery over, maybe, cash crop sugar days over, almost, how is it that we cannot or will not move beyond tourism. Have we no forward thinkers in this place or are the powerful just content to sit in parliament and in their offices, go overseas for medical treatment, go overseas and shop.... while leaving the country to stagnate waiting for a whoring tourist dollar. This is an insult to all the students graduating from school and university in this country and the region. When will we give them more to hope for than a small island whose well being can collapse on one bad robbery or shooting published "in the market place". My people I continue to be embarrassed by this lack of vision. The too numerous golf courses we have which are diverting water away from folk who have to visit other parishes to bathe sometimes; the fertilizer used to make the "greens", greener, polluting the water and causing algeaic blooms, and the poor old lady just waiting to be washed away by the newly changing landscape around here. This is real progress. I pray to God that somebody is looking out for her interests and the interests of all those whose lives are being derailed by diverted streams, nutrient rich with "green" fertilizer.
Grand living in fear : 11/12/2009
"A Bajan In New York" It might not be news worthy to you, but to us, concerned and caring Barbadians, it certainly is news worthy. Just for a few moments place yourself in that poor old lady's shoes and other similar cases. If nothing more, reporting it put pressure on the contractors and Town and Country Planning to find a speedy solution to the problem. Many promises are made in Barbados but few are kept, that is why these matters must be exposed to the wider community who can bring pressure to bear. The News Paper has acted very responsibly in reporting the matter.
Granma : 11/12/2009
Granma Sell the suckers your property for a million or 2 but make that USA dollars , Move because a good heavy rain , cold wash away that hill and bring the Hotel down on your head
Livid : 11/12/2009
Don't tell me that the people carrying out the construction on this hotel didn't see that it was impacting this senior's home. This is utterly ridiculous. She happened to be living there all her life and this to me looks like these folks just didn't care about her. Why is Mr. King so hostile to the Nation. Thank God for the news media. Without them reporting these ills in our society, many people would be suffering in silence.
Gran's life : 11/12/2009
What is poor granny to do against these powerful developers? She is a lone voice in the wilderness. The government and her district representative have got to take action and get this lady some comfort. God has brought her to this grand age, so she can spend her autumn in distress? I do not think so. My little homeland is going to the highest bidder, with no respect for the aged and their problems. Please take action before we are digging her out from under a pile of earth. Ego-Ottawa.
gran strong : 11/12/2009
If you live in st.george u will see water going up a hill believe me.So u can imagine when it starts coming down hill.Lets pray that gran be safe and get some sleep at nite not having to worry about those rocks tumbling down in her bed.
Gran living in fear 'under construction site' : 11/12/2009
Who the hell is Mark King, and what give him the right to come to our country and treat our people with disrespect. Wake up bajans, for godsake open your eyes, and stop taking the two pennies from these developers that do not give a damn about us. Can anyone imagine the treatment that is going to be meted out to the bajans when this resort or what ever he is building is competed? Bajans will not be able to walk with in an inch of where it is situated. Are you people so needy for money that you are willing to sell out your land? Where will you live? I am sure Mr. King and his cohorts are steaming mad because Ma Springer probably told them to "go to france" when they approach her about buying her land right from under her. We cannot continue to let this happen to our people, please do you people not want to continue to enjoy your beautiful country, free of choice to walk where ever and when ever you want? Ask your grand and great grand parents, about the days when black people was not allowed to walk through Strathclyde (not sure of the correct spelling) and Belvlle. Please, Please, we have no home here in the USA, Canada, or any of the other big countries, despite bajans calling themselves "bajan yankees, bajan canadians,or what ever other stupid names they call themselves, etc, we are still seen as foreingers, no matter, what station, or status in life we have achieved in these countries. The only place we have to call home is our own country BARBADOS. These investors do not respect us, they are envious of us, owing our own beautiful, beach front property.It galls all of them to see that the average bajan owns such fantastic views, and land. We are not use to living in condos, every man and woman jack in Barbados, always live in a house no matter the size, or the condition, these same developers will never, never, sell any of us one of these same condos being built. I can only hope and pray that the remainder of bajans that still have land left will think three times before selling to these developers, To the blogger "Future Barbados PM" I am praying that your dream will come true, and maybe, just maybe, the passion and love you seem to have for our country will come true, and they will still be some land left for you to enjoy and lead our country back to the promise land for its people.
Granma vs the Loin : 11/12/2009
I just woke up & I like to put on the puter to see how youall fearing down there, but my friends this 1 take the cake. this lady live in this place for about 82 yrs, i'm sure she have made contributions to that great place. Now ,the elderly don't think like we younger generation about that kind of investment, & rightfully so, why should they. I sure that it's a better way the PR people could have handle this, before it got to the Nation & they didn't. Don't blame the Nation, if you don't want to read it, the Advocate is just fine. Mr. King, your words struck the wrong cord. You & your company disrupted this woman lifestyle, & if she didn't cry out, you wouldn't have done anything about it. I know your rep. visited her & hopefully the barrier will go & maybe you can do somthing more for her. This lady don't stand a chance if nobody step in on her behalf. Where is her family? The Gov, town & country planning only care about their investment. Development should take place but not @ the expence of human's life or lively hood. Thank you Nationnews, I need an update on this. Mr. king, I hope damage control is in progress different fr, the barriers going up. Ms.Springer, stand your ground. Somepeople don't care about youall but I got a Ma like you & I love her too death. I'll be watching this development.
Open your eyes! : 11/12/2009
First of all let me say I am this eldery woman's side...her problem needs to be rectified immediately and Town and Planning need to go visit the site and make sure that she is not in any danger from above!! Her safety is my number one concern, whether she is black or white, it doesn't matter! Secondly, when will Bajans realize that this construction that is going on creates jobs for people, and will bring more money into the island, that is provided of course government doesn't allow the money to go elsewhere. I agree we are a small island with limited amounts of land, and that remaining land must be managed very carefully. Tourism is our business, let's not forget that! If there is a demand for these types of properties then so be it! Furthermore, it is up to the land owners to do what they want with their land, any one of us in that position with that land may have sold it for a couple of million! Be honest people! Anyway, Town and Planning needs to make sure that this woman in no way will be affected by this construction, and they need to do it immediately, not just take Mr. King's word, they need to visit the site themselves!
hi : 11/12/2009
The contractor should stop talking and start acting to save the old lady. She could be his or her grandmother living in these conditions.
: 11/12/2009
To a Bajan in New York, perhaps you were away for too long and have no idea of the magnitude of indifference which is currently engulfing Barbados. You need to come home and get a first hand understanding and i can bet you anything, you'd run fater than AA can fly back to New York. Too many citizens rights (including alot of elderly) are being abused by money hungry, power hungry people wanting to get ahead. This is news, what is not news is the regular misuse of space about Rhianna, who by the way is busy enjoying the one life God lent her. Why shouldn't this old lady be happy and enjoy the evening of her days also? She should not have been tormented by this is the first place if all the engineering was done correctly. PW
This ain't right : 11/12/2009
Nobody seems to care about the small little man or as the really rich folks calls us "Useless eaters". Yes, that's the term they use, now this lady has to live in fear and it must be real stressful for her to get a good nights sleep while thinking that the whole place will come tumbling down on top of her. Nobody really cares, it's the green that has the most say in this calamity. Don't forget, we is de useless eaters. -------------- Another, next Bajan in AZ.
Grand ma : 11/12/2009
Grand ma we bajans overseas are on your side. Mr Prime Minster we want you to know that people are not going to come into Barbados and treat or people like crap,we are not going to stand for it.Why are we building so meany hotels.People don't have jobs and they are not travling. Who is this Mr King is he a barbadian. Owen Arthur is not going to come out for any one maybe this is one of his projects.He sold out everything in Barbados.When I read the paper and see the cost of land in Barbados you have to be a millionaire to buy just a spot.Water would brake down a wall were is he going to lead to water to. It is still going into grand ma house.I want to come back to Barbados to live but every day I see reasons why I should not come back.May God help us.
: 11/12/2009
How can the government allow these thing to happen to the folks whose blood and sweat help build this wonderful Island? It seems as though the government only cares about tourists (building of all these new hotels and resorts) and the rich folks (building the gated communities) who are buying up the Island.
Gran Living In Fear : 11/12/2009
Is it that there is no news to report in Barbados? Recently the Nation news reporting skills are leaving me wondering if this is now a gossip newspaper. Why a story like this should be a news highlight on the internet is beyond my imagination. Nation, get with it and have your jounalist do some more research before they print these news stories. This article clearly states that the contractor has contacted the lady and a plan is in progress, so why was this story printed? Look for real issues that will affect us all and print them, after you've investigated the issue and prove it to be true.
: 11/12/2009
I hope Ms Springer is not in a location where a boulder might fall on her. where is Town and County Planning? who gave this building permission? Where is Owen Arthur? constituency rep for St. Peter, I hope that you would come to this elderly lady's aid and make her welfare one of your top priorities. You still seem to have alot of clout. Where are the Attorneys? Where is Welfare Department and National Assistance Board? This lady needs an advocate. Somebody needs to ensure that Mark King et al do it right the first time around. don't accept his cockey answer. Retired
Can We All Just Get Along? : 11/12/2009
Also some remedial work to Ms. Springer's house and yard for the damage and incovenience caused would be a nice gesture.
'under construction site' : 11/12/2009
Oh my goodness gran-ma where have you been? did you not know that we the old and poor people of this country have to move out off the way. Soon the middle class of Barbados will be victimize as this island is [slowly] no Rapidly, becoming a playground for the super rich. Where are the Industrial jobs? you have to go to Asia to find them. We are only good enough to be of service to these investors. We cannot even afford to play on they golf courses, caddy maybe.If we had the money they will not greet us with open arms. We will be met with the same attitude your paper was met with by the Director. Time to put a stop to this Fire sale of our Country.
Fear under construction : 11/12/2009
What a piss poor statement form Mark King. That womans property and the effect that construction would have on said property should've been taken into consideration. He needs a dose of reality. If he were in the USA he and the construction co would have a suiting pending against them, and all work would cease, furthermore they would have to accomodate the property owner in a hotel until the flooding and any other dangerous situation was complete. Bajan living in USA
Granny : 11/12/2009
I find that people in B/dos only have alot of lip service... the journalist would investigate the story, let it hit the papers and not follow up with further investigations to see if the situation was rectified. Why should this elderly lady have to live out her years in fear of her life from construction. The only time something would be highlighted again is if there was a horrific end to this lady's life... remember Carew. The life and peaceful surroundings of the locals in not worth anything, when it comes to progress for the need of the tourism dollar and the "foreigners" that building big. Someone needs to intervene before something tragic happens to Ms. Springer or others in the surrounding area.
CONSTRUCTION : 11/12/2009
Mark King - "I'm not in the business of discussing problems with the newspapers" Are you in the business of disrupting people's lives? Especially an 80yr old woman who probably had to fight all kinds of battles in her early years to make way for one like you so you can be in the position you're in. Progress and economic prosperity should not come at the expense of disrupting the elderly. Not sure how old you are Mr King but we all get a turn...it's called Kharma. What goes around comes around. So, do the right thing. UPSET CANADIAN.
SHAME!!!!! : 11/12/2009
WHAT A DAMN SHAME!!!!!!!!! How it is that the government of Barbados does NOT put the interest of its people first but will do anything for BIG, GREEDY developers!!!???!!?? Continuous development or OVERDEVELOPMENT of my island seems to be a common scene!!! This NEEDS to STOP IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!! Barbados will suffer a GREAT lose when all the toursits dont come back to because they dont like what they see!!!! Barbados is a beautiful island that needs to be preserved and protected. There is a NEEED for MORE National Parks and Green Spaces!!!!!!!! It is a shame how there is a lack of Recreational and Open areas in Barbados. SUSTAINABLE development is the way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHat happened to creating a GREEN ECONOMY!!!???!! God, Save Barbados from all who try to destroy it!!!!!!!!!!
NO MORE HOTELS ARE NEEDED : 11/12/2009
Barbados does not need any more hotels. The existing hotels are having problems filling their rooms. It seems that any and everybody who wants to open a hotel can come to Barbados and do so, even though there is no need for any more. Between the construction of numerous homes for foreigners and the construction of an excessive number of hotels, I'm afraid there won't be much land left for future generations of Bajans to live on. It is a shame that at a time when Ms. Springer should be enjoying her golden years, she has to live in fear under the construction site for an unnecessary hotel.
Gran living in fear 'under construction site' : 11/12/2009
Please treat this elderly lady with compassion. Close your eyes and picture her as your mother in such a situation. Would you not try to ameliorate her situation? Is big business so inconsiderate?
Unpleasant : 11/12/2009
This poor old lady had to tolerate a threat to her life. Let us hope that she is lucky. The dismissive statement by Director Mark King shows the lack of respect for the press that pervades Barbadian society. I am sure that when they have their Grand opening they will want Free PRESS coverage.
: 11/12/2009
the start of the end! Continue selling out the rights of Barbadians, you who were elected to represent the citizens of Barbados. Surely, your time too will come. I have been away from Bim for sometime and was hoping to retire there but it does not appear there will be any place left for me. BajanInKuwait
Gran living in fear 'under construction site' : 11/12/2009
The small man (Springer) being squeeze by the big fish. I am sure she was never consulted about how the run off will affect her. She has been living in the same area 82 years. Same thing that happen to Carew in St. James area.
shame : 11/12/2009
Wow i would be afraid as well,,.that looks like it will fall on her house..then we would have another arch hall scene..
: 11/12/2009
Not everything has to involve the Nation News. Time we start solving problems without the media, and the one sided press. 246
Granny : 11/12/2009
Barbados government does not care about anyone when it comes to the big shots from overseas. What about the poor people of barbados especially this little old lady. If in the USA or where ever else, something would have been done before it reach this far. Barbados cannot see that they are being used by the big rich man. Shame on you guys. American
Living in fear : 11/12/2009
Greed has replace concern for this old lady who has lived there all her life without fear. They are going to build a wall to prevent the water from coming down the hill to prevent this from happening. You cannot stop water from flowing to it's lowest level wall or no wall. this is a joke. I think they hope that the lady will get frustrated and move. At this lady's age why disrupt her life at this stage.
: 11/12/2009
nobody cares about the small black man
: 11/12/2009
What an arrogant response. I would have a reporter do some digging around that company.
PR! : 11/12/2009
Mr Mark King, you better get a PR consultant quick!!! Perhaps a good lawyer too.
Arrogance : 11/12/2009
The main thrust of this story is obviously the plight of one of our elders, but the arrogant tone of the director adds to my disgust. Unless Barbadians make it abundantly clear to these developers that they will not sit idly by and allow their rights to be trampled on, they will continue in their loutish behavior. As the developments move further and further inland, I wonder what will be left of the dignity of those who stand in the way of 'progress'.
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