Protestors vindicated, surveyors confirm gate was being erected outside resort

Canouan residents who had been protesting moves by developers to erect a gate in an area used by the public to access the beach feel vindicated now that land surveyors have determined that the construction had been taking place outside the resort’s boundaries.

Chief Surveyor Keith Francis told SEARCHLIGHT yesterday that the work being undertaken by Canouan Resorts Development (CRD) had gone beyond the resort’s boundaries by two feet on one side and 10 feet on the other. He said a decision on what will happen now will be made by Cabinet.

A gate being constructed by Canouan Resorts Development (CRD) in an area that provides access to several of the island’s beaches.

Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Ralph Gonsalves said on Tuesday at a press briefing that the protestors have the right to do so peacefully and in the framework of the law, while the developers also have the right to lawfully erect an electronic gate once it is within the boundaries of their property.

Protests broke out on the southern Grenadine isle when residents observed that a gate was being constructed by CRD in an area that provides access to several of the island’s beaches, including L’Ance Guyac and Godahl.

Access to the beaches is controlled by CRD and those wishing to visit the beaches must inform security personnel where they are going. At present, traffic wishing to go past the check point is controlled with the use of a hand operated boom. Members of the public are usually asked to park their vehicles in the resort and are given rides to the beach in the resort’s golf carts.

Debra Foyle-Snagg, the main organizer of the protests told SEARCHLIGHT on Monday that the proposed gate is creating anxiety among community members. She said as far as they are concerned, the boom is adequate and allows them to interact with security officers easily.

Debra Foyle-Snagg

However, yesterday, on a live Facebook broadcast, while celebrating victory in relation to the gate, Foyle-Snagg said they now want the boom to go.

“No boom! The boom is a hindrance in the way. … The boom has to come down. The people need freedom.”

Gonsalves, during Tuesday’s press briefing said the developers will clearly have control mechanisms within their developed areas to, for example, stop vehicles from speeding through the area. However, some people who tried to access the beach had reported that they had some challenges.

The Prime Minister said that all that is required is for the developers to have “a sensible conversation” with the people because you may have a legal right to do something in relation to your property, but any sensible investor has to be sensitive to peoples’ concerns and the environment in which that investor is doing business.

“Am I talking as though I am endorsing the protest? I ain’t saying that. I am simply saying what our laws is in relation to peaceful protest.

“We have the right to peaceful protest here as other people have it in Italy, France, London or New York…,” Gonsalves said.

“Every investor should consider it sensible that whatever maybe your legal right, it is always sensible to be sensitive to peoples’ concerns in the area in which you are doing business.

He noted also that certain planning laws in Canouan are different to laws on the mainland.

Government officials including Deputy Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel and Director of Grenadines Affairs Edwin Snagg visited the site yesterday.