by RICKY JORDAN

THE SALE of Chefette Holetown has effectively sounded the death knell for one of Barbados' last remaining "windows to the sea".

Along the West Coast, few glimpses of the ocean are to be found at Mullins in St Peter, and Lower Carlton, St Alban's, Paynes Bay and Fitts Village in St James; other inviting views beckon at Spring Garden, the Wharf Road, Upper Bay Street, St Michael, and Hastings Rocks, Graeme Hall and Oistins in Christ Church.

However, based on the word of experts and others who have passionately advocated the preservation of such sites, no one would be surprised if these were closed in the future as well.

Desecration

The destruction, some call it desecration, of scenic Paradise Beach, St Michael, to make way for the multimillion-dollar Four Seasons Resort immediately springs to mind, causing former Acting Chief Town Planner Richard Gill to express more than a hint of disappointment at the way that project was handled.

"There were other ways to develop that property and protect a significant number of trees. Removing all the trees and clearing the site is good building practice because it is faster and cheaper, but environmental concerns dictate that is not the way to go on a site with mature vegetation.

"A site like that may justify removing half of the trees, but not all. I personally was disappointed," said Gill, who is part of a team working on developing an area next door at Prospect, St James.

"Windows to the sea" advocate Father Andrew Hatch recalls the days when Batts Rock, alongside Paradise, was one of the most beautiful windows before houses fronted the road and long before the Four Seasons came.

Hatch helped to form a national "windows" committee in the 70s and, as head of Christian Action for Development in the Caribbean (CADEC), published a book featuring a survey by British engineer Captain Maurice Hutt on these sites.

"We did not recommend the expropriation of land on the coasts," he stressed, "but that Government should buy a lot or two every year. This was about 35 years ago."

The retired Anglican priest also noted that the 55 000-square-foot Chefette site, recently sold to a British investor for more than $40 million, was owned by a Holetown magistrate and would have fetched a few hundred thousand at most around that time.

Condominiums

But this is the 21st century, one building official said, adding that the Chefette site would house several condominiums.

"We can't stick our heads in the sand and pretend the Chefette Holetown site won't be developed. It was sold for over $40 million, so somebody must seek to make a return on it," the official added.

But Andrew Bynoe, businessman and former "windows" activist, believes the sale may be a "favour".

"I've always felt Chefette to be out of place in that area. To take that commercial entity to one of the most expensive real estate areas in the world – yes, in the world – did nothing for the surroundings. So whoever has bought it has probably done the West Coast a favour and will maintain a standard for which the coast is known," he told the SUNDAY SUN.

And it's not that his passion for "windows" has diminished, but in Bynoe's view, the horse has bolted.

"When Government had the opportunity to create windows to the sea, it didn't. When Reverend Hatch and I fought for a window along Paynes Bay, that was an ideal opportunity. It's now too late," he said.

What Hatch is concerned about is the rising discontent among Barbadians as they see their birthright transformed into playgrounds for the rich and famous.

"It's unbelievable that this country could be so blind! We warned them at the time that an antipathy would develop where people felt unfaired by tourism," he said.

A miracle

"I don't understand how the Town and Country Planning Department accedes to such requests," he added. "I concede it's nothing short of a miracle that former Prime Minister Owen Arthur was able to reduce unemployment – he couldn't have done it without investment in condominiums and so on – but it went too fast and too far.

"Huge condominiums are ruining the West Coast, so I'm hoping that the new administration will halt the mad rush.

"The resentment is building up, and the excuse that developers provide access to the sea is absolutely insulting," was how Hatch put it.

Bynoe believes that the few windows left ought to be part of a future development structure geared to giving Bajans easy access to the beaches.

"We can't undo what has been done, but going forward we should keep beaches accessible for Bajans," he said.

Tempting prices

Gill, meanwhile, is convinced that while land is fetching tempting prices, Government agencies must exercise control.

Hatch hopes that community groups would agitate to preserve their own windows, including residents in Navy Gardens and Hastings where the site of the former Ocean View Hotel presents a magnificent view.

"Mark my words, the paling will come down and a hotel will be up in a flash," Hatch said.

While Coastal Zone Management Unit director Dr Leo Brewster did not attribute the destruction of the island's coasts totally to construction, he said two months ago that hard coral along the coasts' bank reefs was showing signs of stress.

Could this be a window to what further development will cause?