Hilaire admits agencies failed to inform public, condemns fence cutting at Reduit Beach
Minister of Tourism Ernest Hilaire has apologised to the public and to the developers of A’ila Resort, acknowledging that agencies such as the National Conservation Authority and Invest Saint Lucia failed to inform residents about restricted access to Reduit Beach during the beach park works. “The simple truth is that our agencies failed on this […] The article Hilaire admits agencies failed to inform public, condemns fence cutting at Reduit Beach is from St. Lucia Times.
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Minister of Tourism Ernest Hilaire has apologised to the public and to the developers of A’ila Resort, acknowledging that agencies such as the National Conservation Authority and Invest Saint Lucia failed to inform residents about restricted access to Reduit Beach during the beach park works.
“The simple truth is that our agencies failed on this occasion to really perform some of their basic functions,” he told Monday’s pre-cabinet press briefing.
According to Hilaire, construction of the beach park is now complete. The project was developed by A’ila Resort as part of an agreement with the government while the company builds its resort on nearby Mount Pimard.
The minister said beach improvement works are now underway and that the space is being customised to accommodate vendors, including Marie’s Fish Shack, a long-time fixture on the beach before the hotel development.
“To undertake the beach improvement works, there will be heavy equipment, sand, a lot will be going on; the developer has to protect the public, you don’t want anybody going there to get injured,” he said.
“It is the responsibility of the NCA and Invest [Saint Lucia] in this case to let the public know that the beach will be closed for two weeks for beach improvement works; they ought to do it. They’re supposed to do it. And they were told to do it.”
The issue drew attention last week when Marcellus Stiede, an independent candidate in December’s general election, posted video footage of himself on Reduit Beach next to a large fence restricting access to the beach park, expressing his disapproval of beachgoers being kept out.
In a subsequent video posted a day later, Stiede appeared at the same location with the fence removed and holding a wire cutter, telling the camera, “As promised, I removed up to the water line this morning, the fence is down, people can walk through, construction area can still continue.”
Following his apology, Hilaire deemed Stiede’s behaviour unacceptable. According to the minister, he had called Stiede to explain the situation prior to his decision to cut the fence.
“We have to apologise to the public that were inconvenienced but I cannot, under any circumstances, accept the behaviour of that individual,” Hilaire said.
Regarding possible legal action, Hilaire said he was unsure how the police would proceed.
Also speaking at the briefing, Gros Islet Parliamentary Representative Kenson Casimir told reporters he understood that people have varying perspectives on development and encouraged residents to express their views within the bounds of the law.
“What you are seeing in the community is just a mammoth amount of development – on our shores, the infrastructure, the people – and as a parliamentary representative, I really encourage free speech [and] free expression of thought … at the end of the day I don’t necessarily think it’s coming from a negative place…,” Casimir said.
The article Hilaire admits agencies failed to inform public, condemns fence cutting at Reduit Beach is from St. Lucia Times.
