by Rick Lowe
The Tribune headline – Minister: south-west coastline of Grand Bahama is ‘no build zone’ – really caught our attention this morning.
Now we realize that Mr. Gibson is doing what he believes is best for the people from Williams Town to West End, but does the government really have the power to tell people they cannot build on their own property?
The government has the coercive power to do what ever it pleases, but if someone chooses to build on their property, the only thing the government should be able to do is enforce building codes. To disallow one the right to use their property as they see fit is taking things a bit too far.
The government is not a baby-sitting service for adults wishing to build on their property that overlooks the beautiful waters of The Bahamas. That is a privilege they should not be denied by any well-meaning bureaucrat.
Should someone decide to build in a precarious location that is their personal decision and they would have to face the consequences of their actions in the event of another natural disaster. By the same token, they would not have a claim against the state if they lose their house again either.
We believe you have made the wrong decision Mr. Gibson.
Arrogance leads most politicians once elected, to believe they know better than the public what is good for the public. The unfortunate events of Wilma in Grand Bahama has shown, once again that an ability to get elected does not necessarily correspond to an ability to function with the input of all concerned with a given situation or problem. I suppose if a dock were needed in that area (no build zone), its possible destruction would prevent it from being built? If so then most endevours of man should not have been attempted. I agree that it is the intrinsic responsibility of each of us to care for ourselves and our property,to the best of our own wisdom and ability And also to render assistance to our fellow man when obviously required. Each of us in life, make desisions that we and sometimes others will have to live with.Our government seems willing to make a lot of bad desisions that we will have to live with.
Our government also seems to be willing to turn its back on thousands of years worth of accumulated “conventional wisdom”to the great detriment of the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.