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Beach vendors' fury as owners move to close off their access

Thu, Jun 17th 2021, 08:28 AM
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CABBAGE Beach vendors were irate and shocked yesterday to see the Paradise Island beach entrance locked and their items relocated when they showed up on site in preparation for their return to work next month.

The angry group took action and eventually opened the locked gates. Persons were seen taking the moved possessions from across the street back onto the beach.
#Some claimed their items had been damaged by whoever moved them off the beach. They questioned where Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was, noting that he protested against a similar situation while in opposition in 2016.
#When contacted yesterday, Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar said he was “blindsided” by the move.
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VENDORS returning their belongings to the beach yesterday after they were removed and the access closed. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
#He said he personally called the entity that owns the property — Access Industries — and was told the company plans to develop a condo-hotel on the land, hence the reason for the area being closed off.
#“I was not aware that what happened today was going to happen,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “The first time I heard about it this morning (Wednesday) was when people started sending me messages and pictures and videos about what had happened.
#“. . . I wasn’t aware that this sudden move was about to occur. So I did what everybody else did, which was to call the number that was on the sign and spoke to the gentleman and he said ‘Well, we’re intending to redevelop the land, it is private property and as a result we very politely moved all of the items that were used by the Cabbage Beach vendors and put them across the street where we will provide security for them for the next three days for the vendors to come and pick it up.’
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LINCOLN Bain of Bahamian Evolution with Cabbage Beach vendors.
#“I indicated to him that yes it might be private property but the vendors who have operated there for decades believe that they have an inalienable right to operate their business there as they have always done in the past and I indicated that when they bought the property, these persons were operating on the land so they should have indicated what their intention was to either accommodate or not accommodate these vendors.”
#He said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis also did not know about the situation beforehand.
#When asked what yesterday’s development means for the beach vendors who were expecting to return to work in July, Mr D’Agular said that depends.

The angry group took action and eventually opened the locked gates. Persons were seen taking the moved possessions from across the street back onto the beach.

Some claimed their items had been damaged by whoever moved them off the beach. They questioned where Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was, noting that he protested against a similar situation while in opposition in 2016.

When contacted yesterday, Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar said he was “blindsided” by the move.

He said he personally called the entity that owns the property — Access Industries — and was told the company plans to develop a condo-hotel on the land, hence the reason for the area being closed off.

“I was not aware that what happened today was going to happen,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “The first time I heard about it this morning (Wednesday) was when people started sending me messages and pictures and videos about what had happened.

“. . . I wasn’t aware that this sudden move was about to occur. So I did what everybody else did, which was to call the number that was on the sign and spoke to the gentleman and he said ‘Well, we’re intending to redevelop the land, it is private property and as a result we very politely moved all of the items that were used by the Cabbage Beach vendors and put them across the street where we will provide security for them for the next three days for the vendors to come and pick it up.’

“I indicated to him that yes it might be private property but the vendors who have operated there for decades believe that they have an inalienable right to operate their business there as they have always done in the past and I indicated that when they bought the property, these persons were operating on the land so they should have indicated what their intention was to either accommodate or not accommodate these vendors.”

He said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis also did not know about the situation beforehand.

When asked what yesterday’s development means for the beach vendors who were expecting to return to work in July, Mr D’Agular said that depends.

 

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