Minister blasts property owner for ‘harassing’ VG beachgoers
Following several reports of harassment of beachgoers at a Virgin Gorda-based beach, Natural Resources Minister Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull has issued a public reminder that all beaches in the territory are public.
According to Turnbull, an owner at Little Trunk Bay Estate has created his own rules for beach access.
“It is alleged and reports have been made that he is attempting to restrict access to the beach, harassing beach users by attempting to police their time spent at the beach, using obscenities towards persons who would confront him or ignore him while trying to access the beach, and erected illegal signage to restrict parking,” Turnbull said while speaking in the House of Assembly on Thursday.
He added: “Not only is this behaviour illegal but it propagates attitudes about ownership, race and status that we cannot allow. The people of this territory have rights that we must protect … We do not tolerate discrimination.”
Turnbull said he along with Territorial At-Large Representative Shereen Flax-Charles and Ninth District Representative Vincent Wheatley visited the area recently to address the matter.
Wheatley, who complained recently that some persons trying to privatise beaches in the his constituency, joined with Turnbull to condemn the reported incidents.
“It is alleged and reports have been made that he is attempting to restrict access to the beach, harassing beach users by attempting to police their time spent at the beach, using obscenities towards persons who would confront him or ignore him while trying to access the beach, and erected illegal signage to restrict parking,” Turnbull said while speaking in the House of Assembly on Thursday.
He added: “Not only is this behaviour illegal but it propagates attitudes about ownership, race and status that we cannot allow. The people of this territory have rights that we must protect … We do not tolerate discrimination.”
Turnbull said he along with Territorial At-Large Representative Shereen Flax-Charles and Ninth District Representative Vincent Wheatley visited the area recently to address the matter.
Wheatley, who complained recently that some persons trying to privatise beaches in the his constituency, joined with Turnbull to condemn the reported incidents.
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