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The
Friendship Bay, Bequia, beach access protest by Arnulf (Arnie)
Kemper, January 2003
Friendship
Bay without the fence
High water on January 5th 2003
The prologue:
We came to Bequia for the first time for holidays, three years
ago, because of the wonderful island, with beautiful beaches,
and friendly people, as advertised in the brochures. And we found
it. We are staying here now the third time for half a year. But
now we can't believe what happens: the wonderful, natural beach
of Friendship Bay is being fenced.
The facts:
An individual has built a 7 feet high, massive wire netting fence
with two rows of barbed wire on top around his property in Friendship
Bay. He is also building a 10 feet high, 500 feet long, solid
wire netting fence on the beach. So far he has finished up to
300 feet till January 5th, 2003.
The arguments
for the fence: He has to protect himself against the sheep,
the goats, the locals, and the tourists.
The questions:
Who has approved this? Is it in the interest of the government
to make people disappointed, angry, and staying away from Bequia?
Is this country no more dependent on taxes and tourists? Can only
one man destroy the charisma of this island?
The epilogue:
All people walking on the beach can't believe this terrible event,
and have signed a protest letter against the fence built below
the high waterline. In less than four hours (on 5th January 2003)
more then fifty persons, locals, residents, and long time tourists
have signed. And it's going on. By 19th January, 2003, the letter
of protest had been delivered to the appropriate authorities.
Outcome:
Yet to be seen.
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