Prime Minister Gaston Browne has acknowledged ongoing concerns around beach access in Antigua and Barbuda but criticised the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) for what he described as hypocritical and politically damaging behaviour.
Speaking on his Browne and Browne radio show, the Prime Minister said that while challenges with beach access exist in some areas, many of the issues date back decades and are not the result of recent government policy.
“I accept that there’s a challenge with beach access in many instances,” Browne said. “That’s an issue we’re going to have to try and recalibrate and resolve.”
However, he argued that the UPP is wrongly attempting to lay the blame solely at the feet of his administration, despite being in office for over a decade themselves in the past.
“When you look at Emerald Cove, that place has been fenced since the VC Bird administration,” he said. “The UPP was in government for ten and a quarter years. They did nothing about it. But now, they want to act like it’s a problem created by the current administration.”
Browne criticised the opposition’s approach to recent disputes over access points, saying their confrontational tactics with developers were counterproductive and alienating investors.
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How can I as prime minister go recalibrate beach access when I recently went to parliament and gave PLH buffer zone and policing against black people entry to the beach in Barbuda where even council members were arrested, and also in YEDA buffer zone agreement at crabbs that dictated fishermen can’t even fish in the sea water around crabbs, a fisherman from seaton village suffered police harassment while he fish,the police came out on the sea to tell him it’s YEDA fish and sea water.
Our founding fathers worked tirelessly in order to ensure that all citizens have access to our beaches. So why are we still fighting for beach access today? By God’s Grace, that must be maintained, preserved and protected. Whilst we encourage and welcome foreign investors, we can never compromise our rights to our beaches. There is always a right and proper way to do things but we can never let investors drag us out over what is rightly and truly ours. It’s time we read some of them the riot act!
@Oops
You obviously enjoy stirring the pot by stroking the passions of the too-many reactionary carefully recruited mainly from among the islands’ poor, black and un(der)-educated residents ( not necessarily nationals). The current Prime Minister WILL address ALL of our woes, you included, due course and time.
Mill Reef Club set the precedent since the 1960’s under the Vere Bird Snr and his ALP watch. Every consecutive ruling arm of the government has done absolutely nothing, to address the issues except bark like dogs when they’re in opposition and give lip service when they’re in power!
Beggars can’t be choosers! The only shit that will change is the fresh shit which politicians spew from their mouth.
Please tell pixie to fix all saints road!!!
I just came from office that road.
I think I lost my baby.
F I x the damn road!!
Geeeeez!!!
This is one of the instances where I disagree with the PM. The law is clear and it’s high time for government to show intestinal fortitude and ensure that the law is fully enforced. Stop selling property on the beach. Ensure that there is a road between any hotel and the beach for any new developments and write to all of the principles of properties where beach access has been restricted to ensure locals have access to ALL beaches. Also do not blame the opposition nor the previous ALP administration. They aren’t in power. Focus on the task at hand.