Payne’s Bay Landowners Commit to Building New Pedestrian Beach Access; Officials Urge Public Caution in Resolving Access Disputes

Landowners of the disputed area of Payne’s Bay, St James, have committed to building a new pedestrian beach access.

However, Senior Minister and St James Central Member of Parliament Kerrie Symmonds and Minister of the Environment Adrian Forde are asking Barbadians not to take matters into their own hands regarding cases of blocked beach access.

Forde was on the scene at Payne’s Bay last Wednesday afternoon where there was evidence someone had damaged the barrier preventing access to the beach across private land. He was accompanied by Permanent Secretary (PS) Yolande Howard.

“We understand beach access is part of our inherent right and no one under this administration will deny them that, but please do not take the law into your own hands and destroy persons’ properties,” Forde said.

“If there is a concern about any blockage or barrier that is put up, contact the authorities – the National Conservation Commission, Planning Development Department (PDD) or call me at my office or the PS. We are available to investigate these matters on behalf of the people of Barbados,” he added.

Symmonds said while it was wrong for anyone to block access to a beach, it was also wrong to vandalise private property.

“That, too, has to be seen as unacceptable. We have to strike a balance – people have to be given access to the beach . . . but it cannot be that we just break down people’s gates in order to gain that access because nobody is going to want to put up with that . . . regardless of who it is. It is a highly charged emotional issue in this country but we have to find mutually satisfactory ways to deal with it,” he said.

The ministers were referring to a long-standing issue which made headlines again last week when a popular beach access was blocked by the landowners. However, Forde said there was more in the mortar than the pestle.

“Apparently, there was an illegal bar set up on this property. After the owners managed to get the bar removed, the gate which was blocking the property from being abused was broken down and the wall damaged, and another person started a business there.

“The agent of the landowners told me it was never their intention to inhibit persons from using the property for pedestrian beach access. The reason why it was put up was to stop illegal activity,” he said.

Forde said the closest public access was nearby but was badly eroded where the sea came right up to the walkway and exposed tree roots. He added this was due to an illegal groyne built by another developer which was currently the subject of a PDD tribunal decision.