The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The One & Only Ocean Club’s owner yesterday said it has invested more than $20 million to-date in upgrades to the property, and maintained that plans to develop the controversial Cabbage Beach ‘access’ area have only been postponed as an act of goodwill.

Access Industries said plans for its six-acre parcel of land adjacent to the RIU Paradise Island resort have repeatedly been postponed as a courtesy to the Government, so it can find an alternative access point for Cabbage Beach vendors.

Attorneys the representing Cabbage Beach Vendors Association told Tribune Business yesterday they hope that the Government can come up with a positive resolution for their clients.

Access Industries, meanwhile, says it has postponed the termination of Cabbage Beach vendor licenses, and the development of its six-acre plot, five times over the past two years to provide time for the Government to find a solution.

The company has plans to develop a beach experience – dining, dancing, 100-150 beach chairs and music – an experience that will be enjoyed by Bahamians as well as the One & Only Ocean Club’s guests.

The Cabbage Beach easement, adjacent to the RIU Paradise Island Hotel, has been in use for decades by the public and vendors that work on the beach.

However, for at least the last 20 years, the property itself has been owned and operated by private companies. In 2014, the ownership of the Cabbage Beach property was transferred from Atlantis to a subsidiary of Access Industries.

Prior to the sale of the property, Atlantis had allowed access to the beach via private property. However, the company had petitioned the Government on several occasions to address the unregulated vendors operating there.

Obie Ferguson, who together with Halson Moultrie represents the Vendors Association, yesterday said their clients still have access, but acknowledged that he was anticipating word from the Government on what solution it had devised.

The vendors last December filed an injunction in the Supreme Court to prevent Access Industries from restricting access via the easement.

Subsequently, a 30-day injunction was put in place. Further applications were made to get that injunction extended, but that was eventually denied.

On February 29, it was agreed with the Government that the access would remain open until March 31 to allow additional time to find an alternative solution.