Smith-Berkeley: Eight to ten vendors operate at Smugglers Cove illegally
A long standing issue among vendors on Smugglers Cove Beach regarding vending spots and who was entitled to operate at which location had escalated on February 4, 2012 when an argument between two vendors on the matter turned into altercation and resulted in both vendors being charged.
Virgin Islands News Online had visited the beach after the scene and had spoken to most of the vendors who had expressed concerned over the fact that they did not have an authority to govern their operations and felt with some kind of management they can all operate peacefully while providing a needed service to tourists who use the beach.
During the recent SFC deliberations, Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Mr. Ronald Smith-Berkeley explained that he had received a telephone call and was informed that one person had been hospitalized and one person was taken to jail following an altercation at Smugglers Cove. The PS said, when he arrived on the scene he found out that a fight had occurred between two of the many illegal vendors over a particular space on the beach which was cleared by one vendor to operate and another had tried to occupy the space.
The PS stated that, “about eight to ten vendors operate at the beach illegally”. Mr. Smith-Berkeley told the SFC that since he took up office he had met with them at least three times regarding their operations and all the issues on the beach and the way they behaved and hustled the tourists, but nothing had changed.
Progress being made, Fahie & Christian
The Member for the first district Honourable Andrew A. Fahie thanked the Minister of Natural Resources and Labour and the PS for working diligently to resolve and improve the situation at Smugglers Cove. Fahie said “based on the discussions a solution would be forthcoming”.
The former Minister for Education and Culture and fourth term member of the House of Assembly told the 2012 SFC that “prior to the unfortunate incident that occurred at Smugglers Cove the plans were already being worked on to ease the burdens in the Smugglers Cove area…”
Meanwhile, Territorial At Large Member Archibald C. Christian told the Committee that the unfortunate situation that occurred at Smugglers Cove was a lesson for the Territory to learn going forward with respect to all government properties. The freshman member said, he was of the opinion that, “some persons in the Territory felt that they could do what they wanted on government’s property……” Honorable Christian told the Committee, “the beaches should be protected for all to enjoy.”
In February following the altercation, Virgin Islands News Online was also informed that a solution was forthcoming to address the vending issues.
Hon. Fahie had told this news site when contacted about the issue that since late 2011, he had been in discussion with the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering and they have come up with a tentative solution to the problem that the Minister will be taking forward so that there can be some discussions on it among the vendors.
However, he was unable to outline the actual recommendations given that it was yet to reach the vendors.
Six vendors had spoken to this news site at that time, and while many were reluctant to publish their names they had one thing in common, they wanted a system to guide and manage their operations on the beach.
“I recommend that we need some kind of beach authority like St. Thomas’ Megan’s Bay Authority which will help to control the operations on the beach and keep it secured,” one vendor had said.
Another vendor Esther Mathews said she has been on the beach for 12 years and said first it was very quiet until recently when the fighting and quarrels began and saw the need as well for proper management. “I think they (Government) can have a meeting with us and talk to everyone to behave ourselves. It was never like this and I think it will affect the tourists and our business.”
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