The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

ACCESS Industries yesterday dismissed the notion that its 60-day, self-imposed, open access policy with respect to vendors at Cabbage Beach will end with their continued usage of the property as an easement to the popular Paradise Island beach.

In a statement sent to The Tribune, Access Industries insisted that while it was in talks with the government and the Cabbage Beach Business Owners Association (CBBOA) over the land it purchased from Atlantis (Brookfield Asset Management) in 2014, those talks, at no point, will include vendors remaining on the property.

“As required by its sale agreement to Access Industries in 2014, Brookfield is obligated to relocate the current public beach access point to another location,” the statement said.

“Access Industries has granted a 60-day period for the Bahamas Government to find an alternative location for the vendors currently based there. Access Industries has been working with the Bahamas Government on development plans for the vacant parcel of land.” 

Earlier this week, Obie Ferguson, attorney for the CBBOA, told reporters that his clients were in discussions with Access Industries to determine a long-term solution to the ongoing dispute between the association and Atlantis.

Atlantis and the CBBOA have been locked in a legal dispute over the easement’s use since Access Industries announced plans to expand their One & Only Ocean Club development onto the property.

As a result of the company’s decision, closure notices were posted on the sliding metal entry gates to the path.

On Wednesday, a Supreme Court judge delayed his ruling in this matter and granted leave to Mr Ferguson to adjust legal applications submitted to the court to show the changes in the property’s ownership.

The CBBOA has claimed that they have the legal right to work on the beach despite the property’s ownership because the beach is considered a public area.

However, Atlantis has maintained that while the beach exists as public domain up to the high water mark, the property that gives way to that area is, in fact, private.

The sides are due back in court on January 19 to conclude the matter.