Discussions in Parliament on management of the country’s beaches (see Thursday newspaper) were interesting. The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI issues usually five-year rental agreements and building permits for structures there, while businesses or vendors operating at beaches require licenses from the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT).
One of the main issues is keeping the beaches public. They are assumed to be owned by the country, according to the Civil Code.
It also stipulates that the restricting of access must be be regulated by National Decree, prompting questions exactly what that means from among others VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs. To – based on the principle of reasonability – answer one he asked: it should never have to be only through a restaurant, hotel or any other private enterprise.
That is just not a comfortable situation for neither personnel and patrons nor beach-goers. Government has an implied responsibility to help ensure some type of free, unhindered access in at least one location per beach.
TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten said a moratorium on beach-related commercial activities has been in force since March 2016. However, the example of a new bar recently built along Simpson Bay Beach with a VROMI construction permit but apparently not having requested a TEATT beach activities licence shows the lack of a coordinated approach that was often mentioned during the meeting.
The reality is that much of the beach-front land has already been developed. Unless there are plans to demolish existing properties, the focus should be on preserving what’s left, but with a high sense of urgency.
