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Number of
substantive responses = 31
77% support
unrestricted public access to all beaches
- public
beach access is a right of all islanders
- there
needs to be access to the beach and along the beach, as discussed
in an ongoing controversy in Bequia
- legislation
and development plans should reflect that beaches are important
public resources (equivalent to public parks) and need to protected
and shared
- fully
utilise the media and petitions to solve beach access problems
- even non-violent
actions opposing beach access restrictions may result in court
cases
- beach
fences have had to physically removed in some islands (e.g.
Barbuda, Grenada)
10% support
unrestricted public access to most beaches
- in some
islands it may be acceptable for some upscale tourism resorts
to restrict public beach access
- such restrictions
should be a collective decision involving all people living
in the island
- public
access to entire islands may be restricted
3% support
unrestricted public access for recreational purposes (not fishing)
to all beaches
- in some
Pacific islands traditional land tenure customs exist which
may restrict outsiders from enjoying recreation and fishing
at some beaches
10% discussed
other issues
- land ownership
by foreigners
- wise practices
in very remote islands
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