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Excursion boat captain alleges he was asked to leave Oil Nut Bay area

- Oil Nut Bay says matter is sorted & the ‘parties’ are happy with outcome
A boat captain that provides excursions mainly in the Virgin Gorda area was allegedly asked to leave the Oil Nut Bay area. Photo: VINO/File
Oil Nut Bay has denied asking anyone to leave the area. Photo: VINO/File
Oil Nut Bay has denied asking anyone to leave the area. Photo: VINO/File
Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development and At Large Representative Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles has urged persons to be vigilant, regarding issues in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development and At Large Representative Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles has urged persons to be vigilant, regarding issues in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- A boat captain that provides excursions mainly in the Virgin Gorda area was allegedly asked to leave the Oil Nut Bay area. The matter, after being raised on Facebook by Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles, was reportedly subsequently ‘settled’ favourably for the parties involved.

“So boats are not allowed to Sail along Oil Nut Bay multiple times without being asked to leave the area? What is really going on in this little nation? Enquiring minds want to know,” Hon Flax-Charles had posted on her Facebook page on January 7, 2023.

The Facebook post attracted a number of comments and several revelations, including that owners of private islands were even telling local fishermen not to fish or set fish traps in the area. The issue of persons being denied access to beaches were also highlighted.

All beaches in the Virgin Islands are public.

Oil Nut Bay refutes allegation

Oil Nut Bay has; however, denied asking anyone to leave the area.

“I think we all know that the seabed belongs to the Crown. No individual has the authority to stop another from responsibly using that space,” Director of Governmental and Community Affairs and Human Resources at Oil Nut Bay, Mr Clyde Lettsome told Virgin Islands News Online.

Mr Lettsome also said: “The matter is sorted and the parties are happy with the outcome.”

Hon Flax-Charles also confirmed to our news centre that the matter was sorted and that “when a constituent reaches out to me, I have a responsibility to find out what’s going on,” adding that the public would never know there is an issue unless it is brought to the forefront.

“And that was what was done and the matter has been sorted. We just have to respect the right of every individual to make revenue and communication is key. And we all have to work together.”

‘We have to be more vigilant’- Hon Flax-Charles

Hon Flax-Charles added that the public needs to be better informed of laws and policies.

“We do have some serious challenges throughout the territory and it is a matter of communicating these things to the public. When I spoke in Standing Finance about us having more PR presence, that is what I was speaking into, making sure that the public is informed of what’s happening in the Territory, what laws have been passed, who the enforcers are, but as an elected representative I must reach out to any constituent or any resident in the territory that has a challenge, and that is what I did and the matter was resolved without much fanfare and I think we are going in the right direction. Communication by both parties is key,” Hon Flax-Charles said.

The legislator; however, appealed to persons in the VI need to me more vigilant.

“If you see something, say something. Persons do not speak up and when the few persons that speak up, they are either misquoted, they are bashed, they are ostracised, Hon Flax-Charles stated, while emphasising that if the matter did not come up the public would not have known about similar issues happening across the territory.

“And so a lot of times persons in authority have no idea that these issues are happening, because a lot of people don’t care to report it or are afraid to report it for whatever reason.

A similar issue was alleged against Oil Nut Bay in 2013; however, Oil Nut Bay had refuted the allegations.

See story below:

VG residents claim Oil Nut Bay Resort restricting access to bay

31 Responses to “Excursion boat captain alleges he was asked to leave Oil Nut Bay area”

  • FeltLikeChains (16/01/2023, 12:52) Like (5) Dislike (27) Reply

    Belongs to the CROWN, that is concerning something I hope ENDS sooner rather than later!!!!!

    • Comment (16/01/2023, 14:15) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
      Honourable, please check out 'Frenchman's Reef Hotel'. The management and foreign residences are trying to deny the public access to the beachfront and shoreline. This was never the case with the last property owners.
      • Query (16/01/2023, 21:06) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
        Isn't Frenchman's Reef Hotel located in the USVI?
        • @Query (17/01/2023, 09:07) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
          No, the VI at the west end of Tortola.
          • @ Query (18/01/2023, 12:01) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
            You are correct!
            Frenchmans Reef Hotel is in St Thomas USVI.
            Frenchmans Cay Resort is located in the BVI.
            Two separate entities and location.
      • True (17/01/2023, 09:28) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        This issue is at the Frenchman's Cay Resort in the BVI. Honourable as you suggest, we are voicing our concerns hopefully you will act on this issue as well.
  • 2023 (16/01/2023, 13:28) Like (14) Dislike (4) Reply
    it have worst to get: weak political leadership will be the downfall of my country
    • Yes (16/01/2023, 14:16) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Yes you on point
    • Arrion (16/01/2023, 17:25) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
      NO WATER AND BEACHES ARE PRIVATELY OWNED! Don't let some people who buy the land make you think all of it is theirs. It is theirs up to the watermark, anything inland past the watermark is what they own nothing else. They have been trying to scare people away for years, but I know my rights, and if I hear of landowners trying to control anything else except for what is theirs, I will challenge them to call the officials. They had put boulders on the beach on Well Bay East End some years ago so no one could walk past a certain point just because they had some little villa and didn't want their guests to see or hear anyone, as though they had their own private little beach area, and we made sure that was quickly rectified. My friend, who is a school teacher here, was reading her book on a beach (I don't remember which one since it was a while ago) and a man came down from some long stairsteps he had built to tell her she was on private property. She quickly informed him she was sitting on crown land, and he quickly went back up his stairsteps and never came back to bother her. When you know your rights, enforce them. I will sit on any beach peacefully to read my book or sunbathe, before the watermark, and dare them to call the police. I will put them on blast and take pictures so fast, they will be the ones embarrassed, not me, plus they can be charged with harassment if you want to go a step further.
  • Black Lives Matter (16/01/2023, 13:35) Like (19) Dislike (12) Reply
    Clyde is the house nugger smh
  • what (16/01/2023, 13:53) Like (26) Dislike (8) Reply
    Wait what he position is at Oil Nut??? Governmental and Community affairs? why would such a position be needed for a villa resort? pay attention people!
  • Seek permission... (16/01/2023, 13:56) Like (40) Dislike (10) Reply
    Nothing wrong with sailing the waters but when you going to pull up at the people dock then you must seek permission..Show some respect, don't br rude when you are wrong. Be nice
    • @Seek permission (16/01/2023, 14:22) Like (20) Dislike (7) Reply
      We need to stop allowing persons to build a dock on public beaches if they do not which to allow the public to dock up on it without permission. These lands belong to the 'public', the citizen of the VI. We need to change some laws around. Seek permission in your country!
  • A-Mazing (16/01/2023, 14:36) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    what a suitcase full of cash can do....Right Mr J?
  • well meh boi (16/01/2023, 14:46) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    This been happening for many years now
  • Bvi man (16/01/2023, 14:52) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
    The land was own by blacks.Why did they sell the land?Now look what’s happening.
  • alicia (16/01/2023, 15:13) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Pirates at Norman Island is no different . If you take a cooler to the beach they will tell you it is a private beach
    • Greg (17/01/2023, 18:39) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ alicia, so stop listening to those idiots and tell them to F_ _K off. They cannot make you move or force you to buy from them. The more you allow them to get away with, the more you are giving up your rights and allowing them to treat you with disrespect. We will NOT be run out of our own land.
  • stop (16/01/2023, 15:20) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
    It needs to stop. Nothing happening for years does not mean it can't change.. our problem is investors wants all for peanut cents and they pocket the dollars. We to silly and don't do proper homework before these so call investors take over our space and territory. Stop seeing money and start seeing our generations and its indigenous people. Shame on our previous and present leaders you all better read through the eyes of these investors. Stop been fooled by money.
  • Hmm (16/01/2023, 16:02) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    What a plot them a plot gainst I and I, inhuman they see I????
  • WIRE FLOAT LINE (16/01/2023, 16:14) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Look in the top photo, there is a floatline that is wire run across the entrance of the bay so boats cant come!
    I am sure last time i went Oil nut that floatline was run from right by the dock to the reef, now it looks like a piece of the bay open to anchor in...
    Lets go pack our coolers and have a Beach BBQ!

  • Nice (16/01/2023, 17:50) Like (7) Dislike (12) Reply
    THE GUY WITH THE HELICOPTER AT LITTLE BAY AS WELL. THINKS HE OWNS THE BEACH. THE WHITES DONT LIKE TO SOCIALISE WITH COLOUR PEOPLE. THE WORST ARE THOSE WHO LIVE AMOUNG US FOR DECADES AND EVEN HAVE BELONGERSHIP. THE PARENTS AT CERTAIN SCHOOL DONT ALLOWED THEM KIDS TO SOCIALISE WITH LOCAL KIDS.
    SO WE CAN PRETEND ALL WE WANT THAT WE DONT HAVE A RECIAL ISSUE BUT WE ARE THE CAPITAL PER CAPITA FOR THESE KIND OF THINGS
  • Big Problem (16/01/2023, 18:54) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    the problem with the resorts here and private islands they all seem to think the can block off the beaches by designating large swim areas ( marked my buoys) which you are not allowed to cross to access the beaches.. if government are allowing them to do this then government needs to properly review the areas and make sure that we can access the beach. peter island was very bad at this, from memory oil nut bay is fully blocked off by " swim area" markers. Pirates Bite also. this needs to be sorted out. sometimes the swim area is so far off the beaches that you cant even anchor outside and swim in to the beach and this is done on purpose. do these places lease the seabed for swim areas, i would really like to know. natural resources and national parks should have the answer
  • bvi (16/01/2023, 23:15) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The only problem BVI have is tremendously weak leadership. We need people with presence, verifiable track records, good standing, high standards, educated, experienced, vested in these islands, selfless, respectful, respected, with political economic and socioeconomic understanding, who are able to be planted on any podium worldwide and can command respect.
    The electorate is becoming more illiterate with each ceremony. The political candidates think politics is about sitting on corners in slippers and shorts, dressing up in blinding colors with faux leather, gotti jewelry and stiletto clad arm pieces, being loud, puffed up, and rawest colloquial mouthpieces to get points across and gain political mileage.
    No one respects these politicians and therefore will not listen to them.
    The place literally gone to the dogs or at least to who can shake the biggest bottle.
  • Outsider (17/01/2023, 06:27) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ big problems ask dr air miles and the previour primer. Them fully was in bed with the owners and collected plenty cardboafd boxes of money. Them sell us out for a penny. But we will go to war with the owners foe we place!
  • guy hill (17/01/2023, 06:43) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    What you allow is what will continue.
  • Non-Belonger (17/01/2023, 10:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

    How does David Johnson keep getting away with this??
    Let me tell you! B****s to people in the BVI government. Just see who is supporting this nonsense, those are the ones Mr Johnson gave land or money too.
    We need to wake up. These people that are not from here are taking our access to the water away. The entire North Sound will be off limits if we don't build public access into Town & County Plans.
    The public docks in Gun Creek? 3rd World Mess! The BVI needs to invest in marine interests. Forget the airport. This is our Dimond!

  • TamTam (17/01/2023, 15:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why is it that locals ( that are non elected) applications for seabed lease is ignored or convenient lost or misplaced?
    To whom do you appeal/ complain?
  • Horse path iam (18/01/2023, 02:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Really, in 2023 this crap is still continuing. Are you serious?
  • RedStorm (20/01/2023, 17:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lets get it on the books , HOA need to be alert by this ( ALL BEACHES IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS) and so this nonsense can be stop, everyone will know their place. Silliness to this day. I recall going to a luxury island years ago, only to be told I cannot take a picnic basket. I had to buy a burger for 8$ and a drink for 5$, it was the first and last time that island see me.


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