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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — There are no private beaches in Barbados, general manager of the National Conservation Commission (NCC), Keith Neblett, has made clear, emphasising that the public still had total access to the beaches across the island.
Commenting in relation to an ongoing dispute between the management of the Crane Beach Hotel and beach vendors, Neblett said: “Under the NCC Act Cap 393, beach is defined as the land adjoining the foreshore of Barbados and extending not beyond 33 meters beyond the landward limit of the foreshore.”
However, he noted, from “time to time” beaches got bigger and smaller based on the weather, resulting in changes to the high water mark. He explained that once the high water mark was established, the NCC Act defined 100 feet from the high water mark as beach.
However, he pointed out that, over the years, some beaches, including the Crane, which was once recognised for being one of the widest beaches in the world, had narrowed, making them smaller. As a result, Neblett indicated, the NCC was currently in the process of re-establishing what was a public beach.
He further noted that the NCC’s function was to control, maintain and develop the public parks, public gardens and beaches of Barbados. In doing so, he explained, the NCC also issued licences to vendors for a range of activities, such as clothing, jewellery, hair braiding, handicraft, water sports, arts and craft, souvenirs, wire craft, beach chair rentals and umbrellas.
“Over the years, the Commission has identified specific areas on the beach where the vendors can ply their trade… You will find instances where there is clothing and hair braiding, we have had vendors placed directly in front of hotels,” Neblett said.
In June last year, the Sandals resort public relations manager, David Hinds, denied that the all-inclusive resort was trying to privatise Dover Beach, despite signs barring non-guests from venturing onto some parts of the beach.
SEE VIDEO BELOW..
Commenting in relation to an ongoing dispute between the management of the Crane Beach Hotel and beach vendors, Neblett said: “Under the NCC Act Cap 393, beach is defined as the land adjoining the foreshore of Barbados and extending not beyond 33 meters beyond the landward limit of the foreshore.”
However, he noted, from “time to time” beaches got bigger and smaller based on the weather, resulting in changes to the high water mark. He explained that once the high water mark was established, the NCC Act defined 100 feet from the high water mark as beach.
However, he pointed out that, over the years, some beaches, including the Crane, which was once recognised for being one of the widest beaches in the world, had narrowed, making them smaller. As a result, Neblett indicated, the NCC was currently in the process of re-establishing what was a public beach.
He further noted that the NCC’s function was to control, maintain and develop the public parks, public gardens and beaches of Barbados. In doing so, he explained, the NCC also issued licences to vendors for a range of activities, such as clothing, jewellery, hair braiding, handicraft, water sports, arts and craft, souvenirs, wire craft, beach chair rentals and umbrellas.
“Over the years, the Commission has identified specific areas on the beach where the vendors can ply their trade… You will find instances where there is clothing and hair braiding, we have had vendors placed directly in front of hotels,” Neblett said.
In June last year, the Sandals resort public relations manager, David Hinds, denied that the all-inclusive resort was trying to privatise Dover Beach, despite signs barring non-guests from venturing onto some parts of the beach.
SEE VIDEO BELOW..
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