The Bat Cave Saga
Michael B: “The bat cave has been taken from me!”
By Terresa McCall
Reporter - SKNVibes.com
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Mr Michael B
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - Michael Bridgewater of the Big Banana Safari Tours was told to cease all operations at the “Bat Cave” after the surfacing of a number of unforeseen developments.
Several weeks ago, Bridgewater, following a brainstorming period, decided to take steps to transform the Bat Cave into another tourist attraction; a venture which he says, tourists, locals and the country on a whole could benefit from.
SKNVibes was somewhat surprised when news of the operations (clearing the area and preparing it for the next stage of development) being undertaken by Bridgewater were ceased. However, investigations into the matter yielded an explanation from Bridgewater.
Bridgewater explained to SKNVibes that he was first taken aback when approached by Acting Director of the Department of Physical Planning and Environment on the issue.
“A guy by the name of Randolph Edmead from the Planning Department came and told me that people are calling him by the office and telling him that I am breaking down the cave.
Then he sent three environmental inspectors to inspect what’s going on there. When they came they saw that I was just cleaning the area making sure not to disturb the bats in their natural habitat. Edmead told me to submit to him a proposal about what I am going to do with the cave. So on February 25 I did so and sent copies to Hilary Hazel, Danielle Taylor and Richard Skerritt with a sketch of what should be the finished product.”
The entrepreneur said he continued cleaning the area in accordance with his plan, but was somewhat discouraged when, as he was approached by a member of the Keys community and told that the community had had plans for the cave. ~~Adz:Right~~
“I continued cleaning the area and preparing the area for what I wanted it to be, and on Tuesday afternoon while I was there on site Dominic Stevens, President of the Keys Youth and Sports Club was in the area and indicated to me that he wanted to speak with me and that he would be returning. I took the initiative and went to his house and we spoke about what was transpiring. He told me that he just came from the Prime Minister’s Office, but he did not tell me what was discussed. He said that it was concerning the cave. He said he and the community members met and they had plans, ranging from as far back as three or four years ago, to do something with the cave…to have it cleaned.”
The Big Banana owner said he was compliant but requested that the money he had pumped into the project be returned. He explained that the response to that request was not favourable.
“I told him that that is fine but I am going to need back the money that I put into the project, and his response was, ‘nobody sent you there!’”.
The following day, Bridgewater explained, “I received a letter from Planning saying that I should cease all operations at the area immediately until approval has been granted by the Planning Department.
“Please note that this letter serves as an official notice for you to cease all activities in the area effective immediately until approval has been granted. The Department recognises the importance of these caves to our tourism industry. As a result, it is recommended that input should be sought from the Department of Physical Planning and Environment as well as the Ministry of Tourism before any further activity relating to these caves is conducted,” the letter said.
Bridgewater told SKNVibes that he is troubled over the outcome of the issue.
“I felt bad to know that I did not ask for any help; I took my personal money and did it. I did not go into this for any personal gain. I went into it so that tourists as well as the country can benefit from the initiative. I feel bad! I feel disappointed based on the fact that I have spent time and money to beautify the place, and I feel like the area will be overcome by bushes or it will be given away.”
SKNVibes, in pursuit of the other side of the story, contacted Dominic Stevens who explained that contrary to what Bridgewater purported, the cave was not taken from him. He explained however that the Keys community had plans for the said Bat Cave; plans which were halted…
“For over two years, the Keys Youth and Sports Club, along with the community, had a meeting concerning the development of the cave. We had ideas to clean the cave, beautify the area and transform it into a tourist attraction. The plan was to have a bar on one side and some sort of documentation on the other side so that persons who pass there would know the history of the area. The authorities said that the area is unsafe and we could not proceed.”
Stevens explained that the community decided to have the area cleaned and beautified until the complete plan has been approved. He also stated that since Bridgewater undertook to have the area transformed into a tourist attraction, “there are people in the community asking questions and raising concerns because they think that the cave was turned over to ‘Michael B’.
“This is not so”, he says and informed that a meeting is being planned for next Monday evening to which Bridgewater would be invited.
“We are prepared to collaborate with ‘Michael B’ if he is willing to collaborate with us and deal with the community.”
The Bat Cave located at Keys Village
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