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Address Sugar Mill beach access issue to prevent ‘unwarranted outcomes’- Hon Fahie

- writes to Minister for Natural Resources & Labour Hon Pickering to address the contentious issue
First District Representative Hon Andrew A. Fahie (right) has pleaded with the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), left, to immediately address the contentious issue of access to the beach near the Sugar Mill Hotel in Apple Bay on the West End of Tortola, Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
According to Mrs Myrtle L. Stoutt-Fraites, herself and family were on the Apple Bay beach on January 8, 2017when the owner/manager of Sugar Mill Hotel told them they could not sit on the chair, use the hammock and allegedly even asked the children to come out of the water. Photo: Facebook
According to Mrs Myrtle L. Stoutt-Fraites, herself and family were on the Apple Bay beach on January 8, 2017when the owner/manager of Sugar Mill Hotel told them they could not sit on the chair, use the hammock and allegedly even asked the children to come out of the water. Photo: Facebook
Apple Bay beach, which lies across from the Sugar Mill Hotel. Photo: sugarmillhotel.com
Apple Bay beach, which lies across from the Sugar Mill Hotel. Photo: sugarmillhotel.com
WEST END, Tortola, VI- First District Representative and Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie has urged the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) to immediately address the contentious issue of access to the beach near the Sugar Mill Hotel in Apple Bay on the West End of Tortola, Virgin Islands.

In a letter to the Minister, who is also the Deputy Premier, Hon Fahie contended there is need for urgent intervention to prevent “unwarranted outcomes.”

On January 11, 2017 this news site first and accurately reported that a Manager of the Sugar Mill Hotel was being accused of attempting to force a local family off the beach there but was met with strong resistance, which almost turned violent.

According to Mrs Myrtle L. Stoutt-Fraites, herself and family were on the beach on January 8, 2017when the owner/manager of Sugar Mill Hotel told them they could not sit on the chair, use the hammock and allegedly even asked the children to come out of the water.

The family reportedly refused to comply to the manager’s orders and consequently he allegedly took the hammock off the pole while one of them was still in it. “So, they got up off of that but we got up off of nothing else and did not leave that beach until 8:30 P.M.”

“The other thing he told us is that we must go to Cane Garden Bay and swim…” Mrs Stoutt-Fraites told Virgin Islands News Online.

‘Have this matter resolved’

Meanwhile, Hon Fahie forwarded to this news site a copy of letter he has dispatched to Minister with responsibility for beaches, Hon Pickering.

In the letter, Hon Fahie stated that he was writing in the capacity as the Representative requesting Hon Pickering’s “immediate intervention in the matter of the public's access to the beach across from the Sugar Mill Hotel being denied apparently by the owner and management of the said hotel.”

Entrance to beach allegedly being fenced

The District Representative also stated that he continues to get numerous complaints on the matter and stated that there now seems to be efforts by the management of the hotel to restrict access to the beach via land.

“Also the beach entrance seems to now be in the process of being fenced with my understanding being that a gate that will be locked, placed on the site. Needless to say that the public will now have no further access to the beach.”

Hon Fahie said he was appealing to the Minister to intervene forthwith to have this matter resolved in an amicable manner to all concerned.

“If not addressed in an urgent and amicable manner, may result in unwarranted outcomes. I look forward to your immediate action on behalf of the people of the First District and the entire BVI on this matter while keeping me as the represented fully informed at all stages. I await your response and action,” the letter sent to our newsroom today, January 13, 2017 stated.

This news site was unable to reach the Manager of Sugar Mill Hotel up to the time of publication.

See link to related story below:

http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/another-local-family-allegedly-ordered-off-beach

32 Responses to “Address Sugar Mill beach access issue to prevent ‘unwarranted outcomes’- Hon Fahie”

  • HELP! (13/01/2017, 12:18) Like (48) Dislike (1) Reply
    New Day, New Way, New Say...thank you Fahie for seeing the Light. There are just too much injustices in this little nature of secrets that need cleaning up. And the NDP has been No Help. In fact, they have made it worst.

    One must learn from the past and do things different in the present and hopeful future. Make the Virgin Islands Great Again.
    • Wrong wrong wrong (13/01/2017, 14:25) Like (27) Dislike (39) Reply
      Mrs Myrtle L. Stoutt-Fraites is simply wrong. She is not entitled to cross the Sugar Mill land between the road and the high water mark on the beach, she is not entitled to go on the beach above the high water mark, she is not entitled to sit on the Sugat Mill chairs or hammocks. She is only entitled to use the part of the beach between the water and the hightide mark - that is a foot or so at low tide and none of the beach at high tide. However, she has to gain access from the sea and not over Suagr Mill land. Incidentally neither she nor her relatives planted any of the palm trees. Unfortunately not only was she wrong, but her reaction at the time and in the interview for this articles demonstrates her complete and uttter lack of class. Her behaviour was disgraceful and she should be ashamed or herself.
      • FYI (13/01/2017, 15:00) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
        the road doesn't belongs to sugar mill hotel
      • Dear Dennis (13/01/2017, 15:24) Like (27) Dislike (2) Reply
        There will be a land right of way to the beach from the public road so no, you don't have to access the beach from the sea. You can't commandeer a beach for yourself.
      • 1st District Resident (13/01/2017, 19:53) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
        The Manager and Triple Wrong need a law suit, then you will know what time it is.
      • @wrong wrong wrong (13/01/2017, 21:38) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply

        this is one fight you ain't going to win with your aggressive and bully style attitude.
        You might as well pack your bags and go back to England because your arrogant ways won't cut it here in the BVI.

      • Concerned (14/01/2017, 09:16) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        You damn fool you must be a nonbelonger!
      • Right Right Right... (14/01/2017, 19:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        I bet if she stripped nude, it would have been okay for her to stay there. So stop talk you sh!t- €OON!
    • Really (13/01/2017, 23:54) Like (1) Dislike (9) Reply
      Andrew surely has more important thing to worry about than this petty and childish nonsense
    • Jimbo (14/01/2017, 18:56) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      If Sugar Mill put there beach equipment there with the approval of the Government, the Government should make them move it. Sugar Mills guests can walk across the street and use the beach with everyone else. This Government need to re-think this mess they have allowed and DEAL WITH IT! Beaches for all the people.
  • aren't you the rep? (13/01/2017, 12:28) Like (12) Dislike (13) Reply
    Man Fraser dealt with a situation just like that at nanny cay all by himself
  • WeBornNLiveHere (13/01/2017, 12:28) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
    It might just be to late to Prevent the Gate. After all, the Doc has already told us,(Just prior to last election),
    who his friends are, and who he Really represents.

    I remember well the Opinion he expressed by the "Done Deal Doc", when the NDP guys made their first appearance after the lashing th VIP gave them in the 2007 3l3ction. (11 to 2).
    Pico basically said that he had pondered why the electorate had abandoned them like that and opined that "perhaps
    they were ahead of the people to Advanced for them"
  • Cmon son (13/01/2017, 14:12) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    You know what this JESUIT STAND. Who side you think Sambo here will protect? TIS GOOD! G t what you vote for.
  • Zoning (13/01/2017, 14:47) Like (31) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is the price we are now paying for selling out everything of value for 7 pieces of silver.

    We don't even have land easement requirement in placed to get to our Beaches.

    Back in the Days, it was Lambert and Smugglers Beaches when the owners in those areas wanted to lock us out from land access. Now today, still going on.

    Where is the Town and Country Planning Department in this Matter?

    People - It's Time to Stand-UP for our Rights! Or accept becoming mere Peasants in Our Own Land.


  • Beach party (13/01/2017, 15:31) Like (30) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yo Tola, Sugar Mill beach is the place to be bring the kids (safe swimming), cool boxes, BBQ, dogs (oh and your own hammock!), paaartey!
    • only (13/01/2017, 17:10) Like (13) Dislike (12) Reply
      @Beach Party, you are just trying to start more trouble. You are just doing that to be spiteful. Instead of trying to gather everyone up and have a meeting with the Hotel Owner, about what has happened, you are trying to incite trouble.
      • Agree (13/01/2017, 20:38) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
        @Only, I agree with you. Why not wait and see how Pickering is going to handle the problem. I do agree that Beach Party is trying to incite trouble. So, who want to join him can go right ahead and get caught up. I know how these Tolian as they call themselves work.
  • notes from the underground (13/01/2017, 15:41) Like (25) Dislike (4) Reply
    I have a simple suggestion. Why don't we mobilize, weather permitting, this Sunday and go to that beach en masse. Let's flood it with hundreds of VIslanders exercising their right to spend a day at the beach. Maybe someone from the Stoutt family can organize it on FB.
    • True (13/01/2017, 16:50) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
      thats a great idea as long as everyone brings their own food, drink and chairs and takes the rubbish away at the end of the day, should be a nice day. Mountains being made out of mole hills here.... Oil Nut Bay is where you all should be heading!
    • Count We In! (13/01/2017, 17:30) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      Family of Five. Stoutt Family - Leh we do tis ting- This Sundays. Organize on fb.
      • True Dat (13/01/2017, 19:32) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
        Waters too rough, I say let's do it on another weekend when the wind and rough seas have subsided. Tell True when we decide to go Sugar Mill Beach, he CAN go Oil Nut as he suggested.

        Further, we are used to beach parties long before "True" arrived. We know how to clean up after beach parties. Tola people always walk with our trash from our beaches. After all they are OURS and we have to protect them. Go SIDDUNG from airing your mouth.
    • not i (14/01/2017, 01:12) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      This is one VIslander that is not going to partake in the mess that you are trying/going to create.
  • pat (13/01/2017, 15:42) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    we with the people on this one
    • pat (14/01/2017, 19:18) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      see?... the real pat would have said yes, for access but get information from both sides.
  • VG 1 (13/01/2017, 17:36) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need to start keeping more picnics on OUR BEACHES, to see who is going to stop us....these islands belongs to us.
    • Online Now (13/01/2017, 18:28) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      ... or you could just go and enjoy them like everyone else ...
    • +++ (15/01/2017, 12:24) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      as long as you pick up your own trash and put it in a dumpster and not in the brush or down a bank.
  • VI Pride (13/01/2017, 18:39) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Government needs to be proactive and solve this vexing issue once
    and for all, not only with the beach by the hotel in question, BUT WITH EVERY BEACH IN THE BVI. Lets' take a page out of Barbados, for example and hopefully hold on to at least one shred of our Virgin Islands heritage. We have lost too much already.
  • ta ta (14/01/2017, 07:44) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    These south afracan
  • ASKING (14/01/2017, 19:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    She getting a baby?
  • Afu (14/01/2017, 19:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We BORN HEH! Abide by de rule dem heh, or go back weh you dus come from. If you were in BED-STUY BKLYN, or the SOUTH BRONX trying to put native poor people dem off deh property, they'd ship you back to all you country in a body bag.
  • Concerned (14/01/2017, 22:25) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The whole issue of BVI beaches should be be re-visited and seriously overhauled. Members of the public should never be denied access to, or the use of a beach .A beach should be defined as beginning from the lowest tide mark landwards to 30 feet or even up to where vegetation begins and seawards, no limit. An access road, with a modest amount of nearby parking if possible,should be available and owned by govt. even if this means compulsory acquisition .Foot access to the beach over adjacent land should be made a right regardless of who owns the adjacent property as it might not always be possible to provide a road directly to the beach. Adjacent property owners eg. hoteliers should not have tolerate any nuisance behaviour by beach users including partying, loud music, unauthorised use of hotel property among many others. All these points should be clearly pointed out in appropriate legislation. Without this there will be more confrontational incidences similar to, or much worse that the Sugar Mill one.


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