The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FRED Smith, QC, believes that two of his neighbours at Smith’s Point have been “put up” to bringing a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against him concerning a groyne constructed at his Grand Bahama property in an attempt to paint him as a “hypocrite or an environmental terrorist”.

Mr Smith, a partner in the law firm of Callenders & Co, is legal director of Save the Bays (STB), an environmental organisation involved in a battle with billionaire fashion designer Peter Nygard over development activities at his Lyford Cay home. STB is challenging the legality of the construction of a groyne and the dredging of the seabed at Nygard Cay.

Fred Mather and Michael Grant of Smith’s Point filed an action on June 9 claiming that a 15ft high groyne constructed by Mr Smith at his property extending some 200ft into the sea has caused environmental damage to their neighbouring properties, and has prevented them and their families accessing a portion of beach they once enjoyed prior to its existence.

Mr Smith denied the claims and said he would be defending the action brought against him.

He also denies preventing access to the beach to the residents of Smith’s Point, or that the “jetty” built at his property has caused any environmental damage.

“I have never prevented any of the residents from Smith’s Point access all the way to the jetty to fish, to spear the stingrays, to net their pilchards, and to fish off the rocks,” he told The Tribune. “At no time have I ever prevented access to the beach.”

In the writ, the men claim that Mr Smith has got private security guards and large guard dogs to further prevent them from attempting to access the beach beyond the groyne.

Mr Smith, however, explained that the reason he now has hired security guards on his property since March is for his protection because of alleged threats of harm, harassment and aggression.

“I have had to hire security in Nassau when I travel there, and also in Freeport. The suggestion that I have vicious dogs that attack the people from Smith’s Point is (not true),” he said. “My dogs have never attacked anybody; my dogs are not loose running around and I have a fenced in yard, and this is a complete fabrication on their part.”

Mr Smith indicated that he has lived in peace and harmony with his neighbours and wondered why it has taken both Mr Mather and Mr Grant 20 years to bring a case against him. He claimed it is a “scheme” by his opponents to “harass” him.

The QC said that he plans to go and talk with his neighbours in Smith’s Point to “peacefully” resolve the issue. “I don’t want to fight with my neighbours; I have never fought with my neighbours. I helped them with medical bills, school fees and clean up campaigns. I even helped them on the issue of erosion at Smith’s Point,” he added.

“The mischief in this can be seen by the fact that government hasn’t tried to fool with me. I got all the necessary permits from the Grand Bahama Port Authority so this attempt to paint me as a hypocrite or an environmental terrorist or anything else, is pure harassment ... I am sorry that my neighbours have been put up to this. I never had issues with my neighbours and I don’t want to have issues.”

Mr Smith said allegations that he has caused the erosion at Smith’s Point is nonsense.

“With global warming, everywhere along the coast of Grand Bahama, the sea level has been rising and causing erosion. Everywhere the sea level is rising; you can’t up and blame me for the coastal erosion at Smith’s Point. It has been going on 30 years, and getting worse and worse,” he said.