est. 2007

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Former Barbados Government Rejected Blue Flag Membership

Blue Flag Image

We have received an email from a Barbadian who is very concerned the tap and marine water quality in and around Barbados may not be all that it is ‘cracked-up’ to be. We feel that this is a reasonable conclusion based on the information to follow on the blog. The Barbadian is very concerned that her children and those of other Barbadians who love to frolic in the water off our beautiful beaches maybe doing so at some risk.

The story begins about 3 years ago when the Barbados government was offered Euros 60,000, which included technical assistance, to undertake a study which would test not only our water quality but beach quality and other environmental factors. As BU understands it, the offer was unconditional with the process of testing estimated to last about one year. For some unexplained reason the former Owen Arthur government did not want the water quality statistics published or printed, and so the project was scrapped.

Here is a quote returned by the Blue Flag Coordinator in response to the query from the concerned Barbadian about the status of Blue Flag:

Thank you for your e-mail. The work with the Blue Flag Programme was initiated in Barbados. A feasibility study was produced and approved by the International Blue Flag Jury and pilot beaches were designated. Unfortunately thereafter the implementation process was not continued, mainly due to lack of support from the authorities and the legislation prohibiting posting of bathing water quality results in Barbados. So today no work is taking place regarding Blue Flag in Barbados.

Finn Bolding Thomsen
Blue Flag Coordinator

water-quality-information11.jpg

One key benefit to Barbados undertaking and achieving Blue Flag status is to join other Caribbean islands which have achieved the status. At the time Barbados refused to enter the Blue Flag Program the Dominican Republic was pursuing certification and the procedure would have been made available to Barbados because of a similar profile. Since then Dominican Republic is well underway to joining other leading Caribbean tourist destinations currently designated Blue Flag. BU readers should understand that the benefit of achieving Blue Flag status in a world where people are becoming increasingly environmentally aware should cause Barbados some concerns. Further, the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean islands which are in the tourism business, not unlike Barbados have attached importance to achieving the Blue Flag designation.

A visit to the Blue Flag website list over 3300 beaches and marinas which have been awarded Blue Flag status around the world.

36 countries are currently participating in the Blue Flag Programme: Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Malta and Tunisia are currently running the programme in the pilot phase.

The good news based on what we have been reading indicates that another lobby will be made to the Barbados government very shortly. Barbadians should be hopeful that the new government will be more responsive to participating in the Blue Flag Program. It is interesting to note that an effort will be made to bring Trinidad and St.Lucia on-board (Blue Flag) very soon.

38 responses to “Former Barbados Government Rejected Blue Flag Membership”

  1. Jinx Avatar
    Jinx

    Please tell Blue Flag that thier first stop should be at a little cess pool in Bathsheba which has been delivering all manner of bacteria from nearby piggeries, directly into the world famous Soup Bowl surfing spot!
    A surfer has already taken a sample of this back to America to be told by the lab that the bacteria contained therin was “WAY OFF THE CHARTS”!

  2. Loreto Avatar
    Loreto

    As the Blue Flag Co-ordinator for Barbados I would like to make some comments to the above Blog.
    Firstly, the BHTA as the Blue Flag representing agency applied to the EU ( CDE) and was awarded EURO$ 69,000. It was not unconditional but it was to enable the BHTA to run the Blue Flag Programme. Water Quality testing is carried out on a regular basis in Barbados by the EPD and others.
    A decision was taken many years ago by the then Cabinet not to issue water quality information due to the fact that a newspaper carried an “inflammatory” article about bathing water quality at the time.
    Water Quality is just one of the criteria of the Blue Flag Programme and in the case of Barbados, the ability to publish this information is the only thing standing between us and Blue Flag certification. The water Quality information required is as follows:
    1. Total Coliforms <500/100 ml,
    Fecal Coliforms <100/100 ml, and
    Fecal Streptococci <100/100 ml.
    2. Testing is required every two weeks all year long and should be taken in the area in which there is the highest concentration of bathers.
    3. 75% of the tests should be within the limits.
    4. Dispensation may be granted in the case of unusual climatic events
    5. Dispensation amy also be granted in the case of one major man-made event ( i.e. sewage treatment plant failure)

    The facilities on our beaches and our level of awareness are way above the standards in many of the islands.
    This programme is a community environmental Programme and must be managed by an NGO. However due to the fact that we require permission from the NCC to place information boards on the beaches we require Government approval.
    There is no doubt in the minds of those of us who work in tourism that this programme not only comliments the Green Globe Certification Programme which many of the hotels havbe implemented, but has in itself major spin offs for tourism. The Blue Flag is now a worldwide programme and most of our major markets have Blue Flag beaches and Marinas.
    I would like to thank the writer for raising the issue and should anyone require further information I may be contacted at loreto@casuarina.com.
    Loreto Duffy-Mayers

  3. David Avatar
    David

    Loreto we want to thank you for clarifying the inaccuracies in our report. We ‘pieced’ it together as best as we could given the info we received. We look forward to your feedback to keep the BU family in the loop.

    We detecte that you were somewhat vague on why the former cabinet would have denied the program given as you say the complementary nature of the Blue Flag Program to our tourist product. This kind of elucidation is required to expose why square pegs must be removed from decision making in Barbados. We don’t want to make this a political issue but as we have found increasingly since the inception of BU many NGOs like yours are being frustrated over the years by myopic thinking of some our politicians.

    Lets start to hold them to account.

  4. Loreto Avatar
    Loreto

    Hi again
    Yes I am vague about it because I never have been party to the real reasons behind this decision. I can only assume that it was felt the releasing water quality information would have been detrimental to our tourism product.
    However I do believe that we are entitled to environmental information both positive and negative for the health and safety of the community. Barbados is also a signatory to the Rio Declaration, principle 10 of which delares:
    “Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided”
    To get the Blue Flag Programme up and running we need to be able to produce a piece of paper on a noticeboard on each of the selected beaches which says that the results are within the critieria I listed above. A “smiley face” is used to indicate that the water quality meets the criteria. Should you wish to see some photos of the noticeboards and the info reuired on the beach I will be happy to post some if you will let me know how!
    Loreto

  5. David Avatar
    David

    Thanks again Loreto for your candour. Please email us any images or links by clicking top right hand corner of our webpage. So far what we are hearing makes us wonder which would be more damaging, hiding the fact that we need to improve our marine/water quality or some unworth health issue being highlighted by a visitor to the island.

  6. peltdownman Avatar
    peltdownman

    Is it true that those dealing with the coastal area and water quality are required to sign the Official Secrets Act?

  7. Inquiring Housewife Avatar
    Inquiring Housewife

    Mrs. Duffy-Mayers thanks so for your comments and your attempts at making our Barbados all that it can be. When my friends and I were speaking on this matter it was not dealing with tourist but the fact that between us we have 13 children who we take to the beach frequently. Once there we saw a couple take their dogs into the water to bathe them not more that 50 yards from where our kids were playing in the water. We complained but they got angry so we left with our kids. We are not saying that dogs cannot enjoy a seabath but there needs to be some regulations put in place. Since we have no such then anything goes and our water quality I am sure is compromised.

    The government is responsible for its people. If it did sign this Rio declaration then it is in violation of principle 10 as you highlighted. What recourse do we as citizens have in this case. Can we complain to the UN, do we lobby our government to do what it vowed to do?, remember a man is only as good as his word. I say we band behind people like Ms. Duffy and Sue Springer and make the government that we elected stand by its word and make us as safe as it possibly can. My children deserve no less.

  8. Inquiring Housewife Avatar
    Inquiring Housewife

    And as David rightly said this article was not written to have a political spin but to highlight a possible issue before it becomes one. I just wanted to ensure that we were doing all we can to next generation safe.

  9. Loreto Avatar
    Loreto

    I cannot answer Peltdownman’s question but I will certainly enquire.
    On the subject of dogs on the beach- it too is one of the Blue Flag criteria, that no animals should be on the beach. I imagine that will cause some criticism from those that walk their dogs on the beach and from those that bring horses to the beach.
    Horses are allowed on some of the beaches in Barbados but those beaches simply will not qualify for the Blue Flag. “Seeing Eye” dogs are allowed.
    However bear in mind that not all beaches are suitable for the Blue Flag Certification. One of the reasons why the Bahamas have not certified any of their beaches (only marinas) is that they want to maintain a “natural ” feel. Barbados has many beaches that would not want to have flags and facilities “imposed” on them.
    This programme is mainly suited to those beaches which enjoy a high usage such as Dover, Accra, Heywoods, Browne’s and those which have sensitive habitats such as Coconut Court, Maxwell ( Turtles) and Sandy Beach (Graeme Hall)
    Please also understand that although some beaches may have Blue Flag certification is does not mean that others have lesser water quality or that they are of a lesser standard. This is a point that a lot of people have misunderstood and used a criticism of the programme. Many people like to go to “unspoilt” beaches with no buildings , jet skis, or people!!
    See http://www.blueflag.org for the full list of criteria.

  10. Bajan overseas Avatar
    Bajan overseas

    I live on another Caribbean island and if I go to the beach early some mornings I have to dodge horse droppings as people will go riding early. The first few times I saw it I stopped going to the beach for months at a time. Then an old man told me there was nothing to worry about as the sea purges itself and all that stuff is washed out and ‘dealt with’. I have visions of sea animals out there like living garbage processors now. Seriously though how true is this belief that the motion of the ocean acts as a cleansing agent and how long does it take to wash the wastes that have been dumped in by seabathers and other animals using the waters? Further, does Blue Flag also test rivers and ponds and is there any comparison made between the fresh water situations and seawater? And apart from the posting of the results of tests, are there any other recommendations or penalties if water is tested to have high levels of pollution?

  11. Loreto Avatar
    Loreto

    In answer to Peltdown’s question -all Goverment employees are bound by the Official Secret’s act

  12. Loreto Avatar
    Loreto

    BF deals strictly with beaches and marinas. They do not do testing, the NGO ‘s running the programmes in the individual member sountries do the testing and send the results to BF. It is not a “Watchdog” as such and the only penalty they may apply for non-conformance with the criteria is to remove the Blue Flag.
    I do not believe in the thoery that the ocean can purge itself indefinitely – the levels of pollution in some of the world’s oceans should be proof of that!!

  13. Sundowner Avatar
    Sundowner

    The beaches as well as the bathing areas need attention, I’ve had beach worm twice in the space of a few months and the only beach I walked was Cattlewash.
    I wouldn’t swim in the High Rock area of Bathsheba any more, I know about the pig…. that washes down the gully by the side of Bonito bar after heavy rain, I’m amazed they haven’t complained about it!
    The tap water can be bad in this area as well, tonight it stinks, I went to do my washing and stopped.We filter all drinking water and what we use for ice, the difference in the taste is amazing.
    Blue flags beaches are a great idea if it can be workable, but how are you going to keep dogs off the beaches????? half of them don’t have owners anyway. I have no problem with dogs in the sea where I’m bathing, its humans that usually pass water in the sea, not dogs!

  14. David Avatar
    David

    Sadly Barbados and Barbadians have never shown the inclination or the will to be proactive when dealing with matters of the environment. We have seen it manifested in our decision to create Greenland in the heart of the Scotland District. We see it in how ordinary Barbadians dispose their garbage, for example placing decaying/vegetable matter in garbage for days before garbage pick-up, how we dispose of dead animals etc.

    Do Barbadians understand the implication of mistreating what nature has given us. We don’t think so. We would love to be proved wrong!!

  15. Sundowner Avatar
    Sundowner

    Driving to work yesterday I slowed down for an old lady crossing the road with a bag of garbage, as I passed her I looked in the wing mirror to see her throw it over a wall into the pasture. Tonight on my way home I saw illegal cock-fighting taking place, this was daylight 5pm at the side of a fairly busy road! yes the police were called, don’t know whether they did anything though.

  16. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    Jinx:

    Get off the pot or have shit. There are no PIGGERIES at Barthsheba near the so-called “Soup Bowl”, which in fact is named Cleavers. There are mainly bayhouses on that stretch of beach. The locals living in the hills have been there before running water, electricity or surfers appeared on the scene. Any bacteria deposited in the area are done by the surfers who use the gullies as their bathrooms.

    If you want to be constructive, get the government to install a bathroom or at Go Huts for the surfers.

  17. no name Avatar
    no name

    Pat,

    I do not know about “piggeries” at Bathsheba but there is a serious problem with sewage.

    Go and look for yourself.

    While you are at it, check how many houses have septic tanks.

  18. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    Sundowner, beach worms live in the “dead” sand above the high water line. You never lie on, or play in that sand. You can walk on it if there are no abraisons on the soles of the feet.

    In Hawaii, the sand above the high water line is removed on a regular basis and replaced with fresh sand. Down there you are warned but they call the critters lice.

  19. Sundowner Avatar
    Sundowner

    Pat- I’m well aware that beach worms live in dead sand, here they don’t remove dead sand and the sea rarely washes the top of the beach. Soup Bowl is called Soup Bowl not Cleavers to the knowledge of anyone in my family who have lived on Cleavers Hill/Bathsheba area for the last 75 years or so…..and there are several piggery’s in the area, two on Cleavers Hill, one that is causing the problem down the gully by the Bonito Bar, after heavy rain, who said anything about bacteria by Soup Bowl?

  20. jinx Avatar
    jinx

    Pat,

    I would suggest you go sit in that little cesspool opposite the Bonito Bar in Bathsheba during the dry season . A sample bottle would be handy to have as well.
    Residents have been complaining to the Ministry of Health about the awfull smell coming from one of the PIGGERIES in the area for a few years now ,with one resident packing her bags back to Cananda after NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT….
    I believe some folks may have started out with one or two pigs in the backyard. Now however, there are much more than a few pigs.

  21. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    Sundowner:

    My family have been there for over one hundred years. Before there were roads just the train line. That area of the sea was never called Soup Bowl until they started to surf and the name came from the trophy – The Soup Bowl. Any of the old folks down there can tell you that.

    I spent may long summer days picking whelks on ginger shoal and gutter shoal, if you know where those are. We swam in the ‘yellow heads’ and Scots Pond.

    Jynx:

    The Bonita Bar is not near Cleavers, where they do the surfing, but I guess the tide can carry it down, although in High Rock it tends to go up and out (south), while at Cleavers it goes down and out (north).

    As far as I know, all the houses around us have septic tanks and have had for years. I see no-one with outhouses, and I see no sewer mains leading to the sea. A problem can arise however, if they are not sucking well and sewerage come out through the overflow pipe. The ones near us were lined with limestone more than 60 years ago and they still work well.

  22. Jinx Avatar
    Jinx

    Pat,

    The issue is simply this.
    The “run off” from yes the PIGGERIES are heading down hill towards the beach.
    One place i know where this toxic waste (possibly amongst other things) is located, is opposite the Bonito Bar at the bottom of Cleavers Hill , in Bathsheba and practically on the beach. The surf spot Soup Bowl is to the left of this …. It matters not about names and who has lived there the longest.

    Need i say more?

  23. Sundowner Avatar
    Sundowner

    Jinx
    What happened to the samples that were taken for the Lab’ here?

  24. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    “The surf spot Soup Bowl is to the left of this …. It matters not about names and who has lived there the longest.”

    Tell that to Sundowner. Just dont argue with an ole fogey like me.

    ( By the way, my family has been in that area since the 18th century, according to Historian Hughes. )

  25. Sundowner Avatar
    Sundowner

    The problem with the run off from the pigs on Cleavers Hill is that it comes through the gully at the side of the Bonito Bar, which goes under the road into the sea where many people swim every day, especially family’s from all over the Island at the weekends, the beach can be packed.
    There was recently an outbreak of gastro’ on the Island, advice was given on TV & Radio regarding personal hygiene but unfortunately there’s a lot of bacteria out there none of us know anything about.
    I know a sample from this run off was taken to Lab’s here, as well as in the US, but what happened to the results?
    No one really seems to care, I was told by one business person not to mention it because of the Tourists……….but we don’t want to put them at risk any more than ourselves. Its really time we cleaned up our act here, Bathsheba after a Bank Holiday can be disgusting, skips/garbage cans are available , but some people still leave their garbage where they sat, not realizing they are destroying what they came here to see!

    Sorry, getting carried away, but I get so damn angry about all this!

    (Pat.
    Congrats for your family being around so long.)

  26. Green Monkey Avatar
    Green Monkey

    but some people still leave their garbage where they sat, not realizing they are destroying what they came here to see!

    They’re just too damn selfish to give a sh*t

  27. Sea Bather Avatar
    Sea Bather

    Does anyone know if Barbados has a higher cancer rate per capita than any other Caribbean island. Seems to me that people in their 40’s and 50’s in this island are dying of all kinds of cancer at a disturbingly high rate. Some friends and I were discussing this and it appears to be reaching epidemic proportions. What is causing it? Around 1995 there was a study done by water engineers connected to UNDP and it was apparently discovered that the sea water in Barbados was so polluted that if it was anywhere else in the world, the beaches would be closed. Perhaps someone should check with the African gentleman connected with the Water Authority.

  28. Natural Mystic Avatar
    Natural Mystic

    Let us assume that the genetic incidence of mutation is relatively constant. Therefore the incidence of cancer in Barbados would remain constant witout added factors. Then the alternative ‘factors’ influencing indicate something environmental:
    1) Diet- food, water, drug;
    2) External environmental- respiratory, cellphone, other.

    Contaminated seawater would normally result in outbreaks of things like gastro due bacteria like E. Coli; but not cancer. Why not look at waste management as an asset? Soakaways that should be septic tanks could be made into biogas generators to save money. Just go up to Morgan Lewis and the know-how will surely impart? It is not supposed to be legal for raw sewage to run off a property.

    The single most important thing you can do, aside from a very scrupulous diet and careful choices of foods witout preservatives, is to install a WATER FILTER for cooking and drinking for your family.

    Cancer is on the rise one agrees, but these two are certainly non-related parties in this case?

  29. Natural Mystic Avatar
    Natural Mystic

    Can we have a report as to the gastro in surfers at Parlor and Soup Bowl? Has there ever been any incidence of this?

  30. John Avatar
    John

    I understand that it is ear infections, not gastro, which result from bathing in the sea where there are high levels of faecal coliform.

  31. Natural Mystic Avatar
    Natural Mystic

    I surfed there for many years, but never had one. Not for a while though.

    Parlor is the best- nice meaty Hawaiian type wave often when conditions are light elsewhere.

    Another thought to add: in the rainy season no one goes in to surf when the runoff from as far as Horse Hill washes all kinds of things down to the sea. That side of the island is clay soil, so there is minimal absorption. Water has to runoff from the hills to the sea. I would not surf in that muddy soup..would you?

    Possible to contract ear infections in non-polluted pristine areas if you don’t wash out the salt? Not sure.

    Best perscription: 1 part alcohol to one part vinegar; in a bind just use rum? I wash out my own ears with shower water every time and have never had an infection.

  32. John Avatar
    John

    .. even the surfers are against sewage, Google SAS, Surfers against Sewage …..

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfers_Against_Sewage

    It is a world wide problem, not only limited to Barbados.

    I found out about SAS for the first time a couple of years ago when I say the logo and name on a surfer’s tee shirt.

  33. Sundowner Avatar
    Sundowner

    Surfers Against Sewage is a wonderful organisation, I remember being at a surfing festival in Polzeath, Cornwall, UK, years ago and they arrived with an inflatable – excuse my language – turd! They did a lot of good work and got councils to agree for treated sewage not to be released into the sea within certain months of the year and states of the tide.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    Caribbean Urged to Protect Environment

    Bridgetown, Barbados, Apr 8 (Prensa Latina) Caribbean countries must adopt aggressive new strategies to achieve sustainable tourism and protect their marine product, according to a noted regional biologist.

    Otherwise, the region risks losing precious natural resources, says James Azueta one of the region’s foremost experts in the field, reports the local media.

    Azueta, who serves as ecosystems management unit coordinator for the Belize Fisheries Department, will present a special workshop on strategies for the management of marine sites and attractions during the 10th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands from April 28 – May 1, 2008.

    According to Azueta, the concept of protected areas is not new to the Caribbean region, with various categories such as nature preserves and national monuments having existed for more than 200 years.

    However, the management of such marine areas depends almost entirely on external financing. A relatively low management success rate can be attributed in part to neglect or deprioritizing of the marine environment by international environmental donor agencies.

    “We will therefore look at ways countries can address these challenges and develop new strategies for preservation and sustainability.”

    Azueta speaks from more than 23 years experience in the protection and management of Belize’s coastal and marine resources. He joined the Belize Fisheries Department in 1985 and has direct responsibility for the management of the marine reserves under the jurisdiction of the Fisheries Department.

    The Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development will provide information on the development and implementation of responsible tourism.

    Media, travel agents and key members of the Caribbean tourism industry will attend the conference, organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), in collaboration with the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board and the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA).

    Source:

  35. Kelly Avatar
    Kelly

    For this very reason all my vacation dollars go to Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe. I feel so much safer here.

  36. Jono Avatar
    Jono

    Its amazing how off track these discussions get! On monday 6th of September, a water test was done on accra beach and when the results came back the traces of fecal coli (human sewage) were almost ten times the accepted level. the EDP was contacted and the party told that this is privileged information and not to be released! I just wish I had some physical evidence, its appears to be a bit of a cover up…. a third party who works for a similiar government branch has confirmed this to me but also said that the worst affected beaches are along the west coast!

  37. Debbie Marshall Avatar
    Debbie Marshall

    I’d like to address the issue of tap water.

    Over the past 5 years or so we have been getting brown/rusty water now and then in my neighourhood. The BWA would come periodically and ‘blow’ the well: release all the rusty water into the road (terrible wastage) and we would have clean water again for a few months. Recently, as in over the past 6 months, we have been having dirty water every day. I called the BWA and was told to speak to Mr. Alex Ifill, a Water Quality Engineer. I tried for a week but he is never where he is supposed to be so I e-mailed a letter to the BWA and was pleasantly surprised to get a phone call from them about 3 days later. They acknowledged the problem and said they have to change the main in the area. They’ve known this for some time and will probably get to it ‘soon’. I asked for a qualification of ‘soon’ and was told maybe before Christmas. I didn’t ask what year, but I should have. Meanwhile all my white sheets, towels and clothes have rusty orange stains on them because even if the water is clear when I put them in the machine, the water in the rinse is sometimes dirty. I have to buy yet another filter for the pool because everytime I top up the pool water – you guessed it – I don’t know until it is too late if the water is dirty or not. (Many times it starts out clean and then gets dirty.) Today I had to waste about 3 minutes of water in the shower because when I turned it on it was rusty. And even when it looks clean, you can still smell the rustiness of it.

    I have no expectations that the BWA will remedy this situation because I am using – and paying for – more water; washing the same clothes 2 and 3 times and waiting till the water runs clear to bathe. It’s a win win situation for them. I am also using more electricity.

    Any ideas??

  38. TECHNICIAN Avatar
    TECHNICIAN

    One only has to snorkel or scuba around Barbados to see the damage done. Half a mile off of Batts Rock there are about 6 pvc pipes about 1foot in diameter that lets out what I was told is sewage. Needless to say, the surrounding reef is a shell of it’s former self. I couldnt even bring myself to spear the few chubs I saw as they were small.
    Btw, this was a few years ago, haven’t scuba dived there since but a reef hardly ever recovers.

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