NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper yesterday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding Bahamians’ right to access the nation’s beaches, as former Prime Minister Hubert Minnis warned that long-established public access points across New Providence are steadily being restricted and risk disappearing without urgent intervention.
“I want to reaffirm the government’s acknowledgement and support of the right of beach access for Bahamians all across the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The Goodman’s Bay is managed by Beaches and Parks, and we have already had the conversation of no further expansion.” Cooper told Parliament on Wednesday
He emphasised that the vendors operating at the site are Bahamians, but expansion has been halted to protect residents’ use of the beach.
“The beach chairs and umbrellas that are operated at that site are operated by Bahamian vendors who are seeking to benefit as a result of the growth in tourism. I agree that there has to be balance, and therefore we have asked them not to expand those enterprises further to ensure that local Bahamians would have an opportunity to comfortably access public beach at Goodman’s Bay.”
He continued: “I think this is a balance that has to be undertaken with growth. We must ensure that we continue to maintain access for the Bahamian people. So this is something that I fundamentally agree with, and I want to thank the Member for Killarney for raising the issue.”
Dr Minnis noted that his administration completed a full master plan of beach access points in New Providence and urged the government to act on it.
“During my tenure, we had done a complete master plan survey of all the beach access in New Providence. That plan exists, and I would urge the government to… obtain a copy of that plan so that we can open all of those areas that have been closed off… because Bahamians must have access to the beach for multiple reasons.”
“As you can see, the problems we’re experiencing now with the Goodman Bay beach access… half of the beach facility is now being utilised by the tourists, guests of the cruise ship, et cetera.”
“Half is already gone, commercialised, whether approved or not, I cannot say, but with the trend, the remaining half will be utilised or taken away from us within the next year or two, which means that Goodman’s Bay will no longer be a facility for the local Bahamians to use.”
