tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498961727602805543.post9089007737542311158..comments2024-02-18T04:34:40.897-04:00Comments on Living in Barbados: What world are we living in? Redux: Tensions of development.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498961727602805543.post-15309390405849842662008-05-05T14:06:00.000-04:002008-05-05T14:06:00.000-04:00Dennis,Interesting comments, while yes if you were...Dennis,<BR/><BR/>Interesting comments, while yes if you were to go into the Pine or other areas you would find poverty and other evidence of economic stress, the same could more than likely be said for many areas of Kingston and rural Jamaica or any Caribbean Island for that matter. <BR/><BR/>Much of Barbados' economic growth has come in the areas of the "heights and terraces", or in middle class areas. (If you doubt this, try to find a picture of the St. George valley from the 1970's). Many of the old plantations have converted their "rab lands" (not suitable for cultivation) into housing developments. One of the driving factors of this is the desire of Bajan's to own a piece of the rock. <BR/><BR/>While there are the Turtleback Ridges and Westmorelands, most of the developments are quite modest 5 to 7 thousand square foot lots and most of them are owned by Bajans. <BR/><BR/>Barbados is at a curious stage of its development. The influx of foreign capital has led to skyrocketing property values on the West Coast, and as supplies of that land have evaporated, the demand has spread inland (and also to nearby OECS countries that market themselves as better value than Barbados). <BR/><BR/>Policy makers face a dilemma that will requires a delicate solution. Much of the island's growth has been underpinned by the much maligned condo/townhouse development, how does a government apply the brakes to it, without killing it? I'm not sure that I know the answer. However it is clear that if the government of the day does nothing, then we run the risk of becoming aliens in our own land. <BR/><BR/>Interesting discussion. <BR/><BR/>MarginalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com