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A
New Colonialism?
by
Cecil Blazer Williams
Two
letters appeared in 'The News' newspaper for Friday, January 10,
2002, which have simply hit a raw nerve and made me very, very
angry.
Fencing
of beach
One
of the letters was captioned 'Who gave permission' and was written
by one Max. It stated in part: '..the present fencing of the beach
in Friendship by a German makes me wonder. How can anyone be given
permission to fence a beach below the high water mark, thus making
it impossible for anyone to pass? What is even more sickening
is that a senior Government employee on Bequia publicly supports
this situation…. I was told that the Planning Department was contacted
on several occasions in the early stages. Persons visited the
scene but the fencing continued. Not only this, but he was allowed
to destroy the grape trees along the beach that are over fifty
years old….' Now, how can we allow anyone to defy the laws of
the country and to treat Vincentians with contempt? Is the conduct
of this outlaw being supported by the Government through the 'Government
employee on Bequia'? What is the Government saying about this
matter?
Not
too long ago fishermen at Questrelles had their fishing nets destroyed
by an individual who seems to have virtually taken over the seafront
at Byahaut. I called on the relevant authorities to do something
about the matter, but their silence on this matter is deafening.
Are they afraid of these foreigners or are they in collusion with
them?
Not
a Colony
St.
Vincent and the Grenadines is no longer a colony. Our forefathers
were deprived of their freedom and even denied their humanity.
It is the responsibility of the Government and the people to ensure
that our freedom is protected and enhanced, not restricted and
destroyed. When the Government fails to act to preserve our patrimony,
the people must act in their own interest to deal with those who
threaten their freedom.
TALKING
POINT: What are your feelings on the construction of the fence
on the beach at Friendship Bay?
Jon
Walgren, visitor from Michigan, USA: The first day here while
walking down to the beach, I thought this was very strange. The
barbed wire bothered me. It's offensive and ugly and does not
leave you much room to walk on the beach. Otherwise, I love Bequia.
Kathleen
Walgren, visitor from Michigan, USA: It was the first thing I
noticed. It looks like a prison. The people on the beachfront
can't even relax on the beach. It is not in keeping with the openness
of the beach. It is unfortunate if he can do what he wants, that
he chooses to close off the beach and people want to pass.
William
Gooding-King, Forest Ranger: He should have stuck with the Government's
laws. When you put in a bound to the sea, every so often the bound
law changes. We did some surveys recently in December and I asked
the Surveyor the distance between high and low water mark. He
told me it was 30 feet but it is now 33 as the sea encroaches
every year.
Errol
Ollivierre, taxi driver: I think that the land is yours, and if
you have the right to fence, you fence to your boundary. If the
Government says it is the high water mark, then it is. You don't
have to bulldoze, you give him a time to move it and if he doesn't,
then you take action.
Winston
'African' Simmons: Simply ridiculous!
Extract
of article in The News Newspaper, 17 January 2003
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