~ Government has to respond ~
CAY BAY--The Bell family, Roderick Halley of the Seaside Nature Park and principals of the Indigo Bay property have laid out a number of conditions that they would like government to honour before they can allow traffic through the Cay Bay pass. The area has been identified by government as an alternate route to alleviate the traffic quagmire that currently exists in Cole Bay due to the closure of the Welfare road.
Government met with representatives of the Bell family, Halley and Steve Smith of Indigo Bay on Thursday, August 25, to ascertain what it would take to get their cooperation. Government was represented by Head of the Department of New Works Kurt Ruan and Assistant to Minister Theo Heyliger Maurice Lake.
According to information received from government and confirmed by Halley, most of his "demands" are focused on improvement of surrounding infrastructure in Cay Bay which if not done before the road is opened, could lead to unfortunate consequences.
Halley requested government to add six speed bumps in Cay Bay and fix the existing two at the entrance of Cay Bay. In an invited comment, Halley told The Daily Herald that with a possible new traffic situation additional speed bumps are a necessity with two schools in the area and SOL trucks that move aviation fuel during the course of the day.
He also explained that GEBE workers are quite active in the area, some with ear plugs, and might not hear oncoming vehicles. The speed bumps he said, is all for safety. He also called for signs indicating school crossings.
Halley also wants government to clean the drains in Cay Bay, fix the sidewalks and streetlights and erect a barbed wire fence along the road from the GEBE power plant to the top of Indigo Bay. The cleaning of the drains, he said, is essential considering Cay Bay is without proper drainage and is plagued by sewage water running in the street.
To avoid the sewage water, pedestrians usually walk in the road to their destination. If government decides to open the road, Halley said, pedestrians would be in a dangerous situation with the absence of sidewalks. Halley also contends that with new traffic comes new litter and the area should be cleaned daily.
Halley indicated that the aforementioned fence should be at least four feet high. Government estimates that the distance would be about 600 feet long to protect Halley's horses. Halley also wants traffic signs erected stating animals crossing road with a clear speed limit posted on the traffic signs.
In terms of compensation, Halley stressed that he does not want a single cent from government. He said while he wants to help the community and the traffic situation, he is still a businessman with a lease and obligations to fulfil. In this context, he wants the Bell family, from whom he leases his property, to be compensated.
He explained that once his property is fenced off, the animals under his care will not be able to cross the road and graze in the pasture. Therefore, feeding of these animals will be an extra burden on him and should also be compensated by government. He estimates that it would take ten bales of hay a day to compensate. The hay, he said, can be acquired from the Bartlett family in Cole Bay. Halley has 55 horses, 4 cows and 1200 goats and sheep under his care. Halley also asked government to ensure that the entire road way will be lit to avoid accidents especially in the Indigo Bay area.
Steve Smith of Indigo Bay indicated that he would need at least two weeks to prepare the road for use, in particular with the weather as unpredictable as it has been lately.
"Indigo needs to ensure everyone involved that it realizes safety will be first and I could not open up the area they needed until both GEBE and Indigo completed some work. This would typically take two weeks, but weather will be a major factor and I could not predict when GEBE will finish," Smith said.
"If I was to continue being productive (on the Indigo project), I would have to re-prioritize some of the upcoming work. I would need to focus my attention away from the road area and spend time down by the beach where we are still waiting for a permit. If I did not get a permit and allowed government to use the largest part of the property, my ability to work would be impossible and I would not be able to get ready for the selling season," Smith said, adding, that he does not know where government is at this point with deciding on the road.
He told the government representatives that the safety of the road must be considered while other areas will have to be barricaded so that motorists do not trespass on other areas of the property.
This newspaper understands that the Government is expected to make a decision on the listed conditions this week. "As soon as they are ready, we'll be ready," Halley said.
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