The Tribune

THE Atlantis Resort’s security division yesterday moved to stop beach vendors who refuse to sign an agreement with the hotel from gaining access to Cabbage Beach, The Tribune understands.

When contacted for comment, Ed Fields, Atlantis’ senior vice-president for public affairs, confirmed the reports, stating that the hotel was merely exercising its rights as the property owner to determine the terms and conditions with respect to beach vendors operating on property owned by Atlantis.

“This is the same agreement we have had in place with all beach vendors for close to 20 years,” said Mr Fields. “We are not charging rent, we are simply trying to create an orderly environment that is conducive both to our visitor experience and beach vendors alike.”

The move comes several months after Agriculture and Fisheries Minister V Alfred Gray publicly called for all Arawak Cay and Potter’s Cay vendors to comply with the terms of their agreement with government, including the payment of outstanding rents.

Mr Gray went on record last week to say most of the vendors had signed an agreement to structure the repayment of rental arrears.

According to Mr Fields, in 2003 Atlantis discovered that 23 persons had been given a licence by the Ministry of Tourism to operate as vendors on Cabbage Beach.

Realising these persons had been earning a living there for a number of years, Atlantis determined that the licenses would be “grandfathered” in and the vendors allowed to continue operating, Mr Fields said.

A list was compiled and these names were sent to the Business Licence Department along with confirmation that they should be properly licensed to operate.

Mr Fields said the Ministry of Tourism and the Business Licence Unit both confirmed in writing that going forward, no further permission would be forwarded from the Ministry of Tourism to prospective vendors and the Business Licence Department confirmed that no licences would be granted without written permission from the resort as the owner of the property.

The Tribune understands that in late 2011, it came to light that the Ministry of Tourism had granted around 30 more licences.

These vendors were also “grandfathered” in, and the ministry agreed that no further accommodations would be made going forward, while the Business Licence Department agreed that no licenses would be issued without written consent.

Mr Fields said that having regularised every vendor licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, Atlantis asked them to sign an agreement governing their conduct and movement on the beaches.

The agreement was the same one vendors working on the beach in front of the Beach and Royal Towers have been governed by for almost 20 years, he said.

The Tribune understands that most of the 40 vendors on Cabbage Beach have signed the agreement, but a small group of about 6 to10 have refused to sign.

Atlantis management reportedly advised the vendors and the ministry that if the agreement was not signed by Monday, October 8, they would not be allowed on the beach, until such time as they signed.

When asked about this, Mr Fields said: “Atlantis’s position is that in the same manner that the government requires agreements to be signed to occupy the Straw Market, Arawak Cay and Potters Cay, so should private property owners be entitled to require an agreement.”

Among other things, the agreement calls for vendors to conduct only the activity stipulated on their licence while on the beach; to enter the beach at designated access points; to remain neat, clean and tidy; to maintain proper standards of hygiene; to keep their work area clean; and to conduct themselves in a polite and professional manner.

Vendors must also agree not to engage in gambling; the possession, sale or use of drugs and alcoholic beverages; or any other illegal activity.