The Tribune

BY ANNELIA NIXON

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

AN OPPOSITION MP yesterday demanded written guarantees that properly licensed Cabbage Beach vendors will be allowed to return following proposed erosion control works as the Ministry of Tourism affirmed planned fencing and pilings are temporary and will not restrict public access.

Lincoln Deal, the Freetown MP, whose constituency includes Cabbage Beach, told Tribune that vendors want more than verbal assurances as they face potential displacement from one of the island’s busiest tourism beaches due to works connected to the Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences project.

“I had a meeting with the vendors,” Mr Deal said. “They wanted to meet with me just to discuss their concerns relative to this ongoing Cabbage Beach situation. Much of what they expressed to me had to do with assurances; more than just word of mouth.”

The Ministry of Tourism said the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) has advised that measures are needed to address “severe beach erosion” and support the protection and renourishment of the affected area.

It said fencing and pilings are expected to form part of the works, and will temporarily affect access to sections of the beachfront and the locations from which vendors currently operate.

“The recommended measures are intended to support public safety and protect the beach,” the ministry said in a statement. “They are not permanent and should never be interpreted as an effort to restrict the public’s right to access and enjoy Cabbage Beach.” 

The Ministry of Tourism added that it is working with licensed vendors, DEPP and other stakeholders to identify suitable temporary locations where affected vendors can continue operating safely while the work is carried out.

Its statement yesterday differs markedly from the one it issued when the outcry over the temporaty fence first erupted in late August. Back then, it accused the Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences developers of proceeding prematurely and moving ahead before an agreed site visit took place.

“The Ministry of Tourism remains uncompromising in its responsibility to ensure Bahamians continue to benefit economically from the country’s tourism product. We will have zero tolerance for the economic displacement of Bahamians whose livelihoods depend on participation in the tourism economy,” the Ministry of Tourism said then.

“We also remind the developers of their commitment to compensate affected vendors where appropriate, and to ensure Bahamians share in the economic opportunities and spin-off benefits generated by the development.” However, yesterday’s statement struck a far more conciliatory tone and almost represented a back pedal, with the Ministry of Tourism conceding the fencing and piling were needed to ensure public safety during construction.

Mr Deal, however, said the Government must provide certainty about what happens once construction is completed. “If you’re going to relocate a vendor, what assurance are they going to have in writing that at the end of this proposed development, their business will be able to return to Cabbage Beach uninterrupted and prioritised when the development is completed?” he said.

The MP added that many of the affected vendors have licences that remain valid through March 2027, and should not be placed at a disadvantage because of a temporary relocation.

In a statement, Mr Deal said the vendors deserve a written commitment outlining where they will operate, how long the relocation will last and confirming their right and priority to return to Cabbage Beach. “Temporary must have a defined beginning, a defined end and a clear path back,” he said.

Mr Deal also warned that moving vendors to another beach could have a significant economic impact because the replacement location may not generate the same level of customer traffic. He specifically raised concerns about a possible relocation to Goodman’s Bay, arguing that the beach already has vendors offering similar products and services.

“You are going to have a potentially crowding issue at that particular beach because you now have multiple vendors selling chairs, braiding, and all of those other things that they do on the Cabbage Beach side,” he said.

Mr Deal added that a change in location could mean a loss of customers and income because different beaches attract different types of visitors. “Those in the tourism industry understand the dynamics of the different beaches and what it offers, and the type of clientele that come there,” he said.

The MP also highlighted the personal and logistical consequences for vendors who have operated at Cabbage Beach for decades. Many, he said, are residents of the Freetown constituency and have worked on the beach from anywhere between 10 and 40 years.

“It is all they know,” Mr Deal said, adding that some vendors live in surrounding neighbourhoods and have relatively easy commutes to Cabbage Beach.

Moving them elsewhere could also create difficulties in transporting equipment and inventory, he added. Mr Deal said the vendors are not opposed to measures needed to address beach erosion or protect public safety, but want clarity on how the works will affect their businesses.

“They simply want to know what is happening, when it is happening, how long it will last and whether they will still have a place at Cabbage Beach when the work is finished,” he added.

The Ministry of Tourism said its priority is to “protect Cabbage Beach, preserve public access and treat the vendors whose livelihoods are connected to the beach with fairness and respect”. It said discussions with affected vendors will continue in an effort to reach a practical solution that considers the interests of all parties.

Meanwhile, advocacy group Dis We Beach said it hopes the ministry’s assurances that the works are temporary will translate into a solution that does not require licensed vendors to leave Cabbage Beach. The group noted that Cabbage Beach stretches approximately two miles, and said Access Industries, the Ocean Club owner and primary developer involved, controls two access points.

“Surely a solution can be found that allows any necessary environmental work to proceed while the vendors continue operating safely elsewhere on Cabbage Beach and the public retains meaningful access,” Dis We Beach said.

Mr Deal also called for written protections for public access, warning that a temporary construction fence must not become a permanent barrier. “Public access cannot simply exist in a statement or on a plan,” he said. “It must exist in reality. It must be practical, usable and protected.” 

Mr Deal proposed that the Government establish a written vendor protection and public access plan before any relocation takes place.

Such a plan, he said, should ensure existing licences are not prejudiced by temporary displacement, give current licensed vendors priority to return, address equipment and business continuity, and clearly establish how the beach will be accessed during and after construction.

“If the vendors are returning, put it in writing,” Mr Deal said. “If public access is being protected, put it in writing. Development must work with Bahamians, not around them.”