BVI News

Persons trying to privatise Virgin Gorda’s beaches — Wheatley

Wheatley

Ninth District Representative Vincent Wheatley has argued that there are some persons trying to privatise beaches in the BVI and said this was not the way to go.

The territory’s beaches are, by statute, to be reasonably accessible to members of the public both by land and sea at all times.

According to the Physical Planning Act, 2004 at least one public landward access should be made to every beach in the territory.

It continues: “In cases where this is not possible, traditional public use of a private landward access through an existing private development shall be sufficient to establish a public way over that access, for the purpose of access to the beach by the public.”

Wheatley said the laws make it very clear how beaches are to be treated in the territory, yet things appear to be otherwise, particularly in Virgin Gorda, which is located in his constituency.

“I think persons should make themselves familiar with [the laws] because I’m seeing a little trend,” Wheatley said. “Persons are trying to, for lack of a better word, privatise certain beaches, particularly in Virgin Gorda. I think it’s not the way we ought to go.”

Wheatley said persons should refrain from complicating beach use since beaches are public and persons should have access to them.

“We know we are tourism [destination] in the Ninth District and we respect persons who are wanting that feeling to feel like the beach is private, so we will not go and interfere on certain beaches, and the properties understand that,” Wheatley argued.

He continued: “But when you’re going to deliberately and intentionally try to prevent access to beaches, I think that’s problematic. It’s something we ought to refrain from doing.”

Wheatley said it was understandable that persons sometimes advertise beach access as part of the territory’s tourism product and in their marketing deals when selling properties.

However, he said it was not expected that those persons who live close to beaches should feel or act like living close to a beach somehow meant it is now a private beach.

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26 Comments

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  1. Feo Gomez says:

    If its a local indigenous BVI islander then state your reason. If its a colonizer then you know what to do.

    Like 7
    Dislike 9
  2. No parking says:

    at Little Valley Trunk because the president of the homeowners association has placed stones in the only available space. Also placed an illegal sign made to look like NationalParks that says NO RENTAL CARS to intimidate tourist from parking there. There are several stories of being rudely confronted by this man for parking there. Crooks Bay homeowners have also eliminated what used to be the parking space with stones and landscaping. Little Leverick, same thing. Little Dix Bay, good luck getting past security at the front gate.

    Like 24
    Dislike 1
  3. Beach Use Tyrant says:

    There is a real issue at Little Trunk Bay with a rude and aggressive non-belonger claiming that he controls who is allowed to use the public beach. He even bullies the other home owners in the area. Nasty

    Like 24
    Dislike 1
  4. PR Navy says:

    No problema!! We just drive our large power yachts right up to a BVI beach, drop an anchor in the dry sand then move off the beach to drop a 2nd anchor and spend a few weeks to a month in the BVI. We always tow a 20-30 ft. tender so we don’t have to move the mother yacht too often. Usually our amigos on similar yachts arrive, skip the anchor process and just tie up to the anchored yacht. Adios!

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
  5. Don't forget... says:

    Oil Nut Bay with their “swim” buoys from beach to reef, blocking entire bay.

    Like 13
  6. ReX FeRaL says:

    Keep the heat on. A lot of these white people coming here do not like us anyway, we are not suppose to have anything

    Like 22
    Dislike 15
  7. @ Beach Use Tyrant says:

    Do your hands not work?

    Like 5
    Dislike 2
  8. BuzzBvi says:

    Little Dix and Oil Nut have had our beaches roped off from intruders for a very long time.

    Like 11
    Dislike 3
  9. Smh says:

    You were the MINISTER. what did you do.

    Like 31
    Dislike 2
  10. Fact says:

    Says the same man that was trying to stop locals for going to The Baths

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  11. @ SMH says:

    that chicken hawk was scooping the other Caribbean brothers and sisters for the few cents they worked for honestly and hard for to rip them off by double taxing them, using money
    gram as a front , and he was partying with those employers who was also ripping off his government and the same employees ( that’s an evil man

    Like 12
    Dislike 2
  12. Anonymous says:

    Weak leadership at best. Just look at thosetip toeing being used to people who are breaking VI Laws.

    Don’t think they’ll ever stop either.

    Our laws are not respected by the WS, hencen we may must be demanding of those people.

  13. Lubell says:

    @Smh Jeeze! Typical response, these things are wrong and everyone living in the BVI knows it, but let the Minister call for people to sign a petition or God forbid a demonstration to protest. He would be out there fighting the battle by himself because no one wants to offend, be the truth-sayer or get involve. You would then say “that is what we put him in there for” It is not his battle alone it is the fight of all of us. This is a situation that also affects our mass sailing tourism product and sooner or later those visitors are going to start saying why go the BVI when you can’t even enjoy the beaches because they are all private. Can our tourism survive on only the high rollers who visit during the peak season and don’t really move around the BVI?

  14. Vincenzo says:

    What you mea what I did when I was minister of Natural Resources?!? I ensured my wealthy D9 friends were taken care of and I got my lions share! I assisted in the farmers and fishermen stimulus amongst other non-controversial activities! I enjoyed- no endured many late night dinner parties and travelled far and wide on behalf of my constituents.

    I give myself an A+ and ask questions he right honorable CSC who gave me that passing grade!

    Over and out…drops ?….keep calm and carry on…

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  15. hello says:

    If your not of Taino descent you are not indigenous.Stop being delusional.

    .

    Like 5
    Dislike 5
  16. Attention!!!! says:

    The horses are on the track. Talking season start now. All so-called and wannabees will have something to say each and everyday now but ask them what they have been doing while they sat in Government, it would be amazing to hear. Representative for the ninth, Where is the Beach Policy you were working on Months if not years ago? People of the Virgin Islands don’t be fooled by idle talks. All these Politicians have their scripts thinking they will fool you, the Voters. Be smart, Be courageous and Be wise. My dear people, the Ship is sinking in BVI waters. Swim as if your life depends on it. People of the Virgin Islands, these Politricksters are taking us for fools but I say, NOT SO. Teach all of them a lesson and “DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!!

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  17. I don't want to die while swimming says:

    Swim bouys protect swimmers from getting killed. Let’s list the beaches that protect recreation so that we have the full picture:

    Brandywine Bay
    Bitter End
    Scrub island
    Cooper island
    Peter island
    Norman island
    Little dix bay
    National parks trust
    Nanny Cay

    It’s kind of like sidewalks- without them we all walk directly in the danger zone.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  18. Rent your own national park says:

    I keep getting told that prickly pear national park aka sandbox – has been rented for the day by cruise ships and super yacht owners. Is that what you are talking about Mr Wheatley because if so I agree it is wrong to turn away residents so you can make a private profit.

  19. Heartless & Fake says:

    This Former minister was so disappointing. He was my friend as he became minister he started passing friends and family straight, not even hello, won’t return phone calls. He is not real..

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  20. Deh Watcha says:

    “From long bay, to smugglers cove, sell fo ah penny,
    Who sell little dix done broke areadyyy.

    From necker island to scrub it went the same wayyyy , lesson wasn’t learnt them sell oil nut bayyyyy

    Money talks, common sense ??????

    Deh BVI for saaale

  21. WEW says:

    Just trying to keep the beaches from getting trashed. Like Long Bay Beef island

  22. B Nuckols says:

    Bravo!

  23. Richgdgy says:

    Where would the BVI be without the WHITE people that don’t like you guys.stop the BS Nucklehead!

  24. Dr. says:

    Dr. Pickering doing this for years. Whatever you do please keep that A hole out government.

  25. Yes says:

    These people want to come from where they come from
    And come here to rule our beautiful beaches how rude You own the property not the beaches you big dummies

  26. sailBVI says:

    Little Dix Bay, Oil Nut Bay built beautiful resorts. Now, they think they can circumvent the BVI laws and think they NOW own the beaches. Everyone should get in their little dingies and drive right up the beach. They have a lot of nerve.

    Check out Oil Nut Bay, they have buoys along the entrance so small boats can’t get into the lagoon. In the lagoon, we found nylon chords attached to cement blocks to catch your prop.

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