The Tribune

By ANNELIA NIXON

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

THE RELOCATION of Cabbage Beach vendors to make way for construction of the $550m Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences on Paradise Island has sparked tensions at Goodman’s Bay, it was revealed yesterday.

Existing operators at that destination are accusing some of their relocated counterparts of encroaching on established business spaces and harassing tourists, while Cabbage Beach vendors say the Government is forcing them into unsuitable locations without adequate support or guarantees.

Monique Taylor, a Goodman’s Bay vendor, said the arrival of some Cabbage Beach vendors had created conflict and disrupted existing operators’ businesses.

“Well, the experience as relates to those vendors, some of those vendors who they have placed out there … they’ve been causing a lot of ruckus with existing vendors,” Ms Taylor said.

“They’ve been clashing, coming out of their assigned area and literally causing a lot of chaos and confusion on the beach. It has not been a pleasant environment ever since they reach. The environment has became hostile, and they are aggressive towards other business owners, customers, and they are not orderly, and they did not come with any structure.”

Ms Taylor said Goodman’s Bay already had limited space for commercial activity, and existing vendors were concerned about duplicating services already offered. She added that the relocation should not result in new vendors taking over established operators’ spaces.

“And what we are saying is, when you place them, do not place them to interfere with the existing vendor,” Ms Taylor said. “Place them where you don’t duplicate spots to cause chaos.”

Ms Taylor said she has been forced to bring in security after tourists complained about their experiences. “Some tourists complain about things being moved,” she said. “Some tourists complain about being interfered with, assaulted more, so it’s just a mess.”

She said she understood the Cabbage Beach vendors were relocated because of issues associated with the Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences development.

“From what I’m understanding, yes, it was due to the development that is going on,” Ms Taylor said. “And it’s because they said they had an issue with some of them, like they wanted to move some of them because they were causing issues along with the developers.”

Ms Taylor accused the Ministry of Tourism and Parks and Public Beaches Authority of shifting a problem rather than resolving it. “I don’t think Beaches and Parks, neither the Ministry of Tourism, knows what they are doing because they are creating more problems,” Ms Taylor said. 

However, Cabbage Beach vendors say they are struggling with the relocation. Rashanda Key, who said she has operated on Cabbage Beach for 18 years, added that she was being directed to an unsuitable section of Goodman’s Bay.

“The Government is doing us bad, man,” Ms Key said. “We hurting bad. I have sleepless nights. You don’t know what we’re going through.” She said her mother and sister have already been relocated near SuperClubs Breezes, and her mother was unhappy with the arrangement.

“She said it’s too much walking for her,” Ms Key said. “That beach is longer. And you know, it’s more braiders, more competition.” She also questioned why some vendors appeared to have remained at Cabbage Beach.

“I see all type of people set up by the RIU,” Ms Key said. “So why they only want some people relocate and they letting some people stay? They say everyone had to leave.” She added that vendors have not received consistent financial assistance or compensation for the move.

“No, only my sister,” Ms Key said, when asked whether vendors had been given relocation funds. “They said those funds ain’t for relocation. They said that’s free money for putting the vendors in distress.”

Ms Key said her sister received $10,000, adding: “You can barely start a business with $10,000.” She said her mother, who has operated at Cabbage Beach for 38 years, had yet to receive any payment.

“They still saying they paying out people, but they ain’t pay out my mommy yet,” Ms Key said. “She been out there for 38 years.”

A September 29 letter from the Bahamas Investment Authority to the Ministry of Tourism, provided by Ms Key, states that the Government and Al Land Bahamas, the Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences’ lead developer, have committed to working together for vendor operations to recommence at Cabbage Beach after construction is completed.

The letter, signed by Phylicia Woods-Hanna, the Government’s director of investments, said the Heads of Agreement “ratifies a commitment for the parties to work together upon completion of construction for the vendor operations to recommence at Cabbage Beach”. Ms Key said vendors had been given little assurance beyond the letter.

Another Cabbage Beach vendor, Vernell Williams, said the dispute had left her frustrated with the the Government and investors.

“It’s so sad with the Government,” Ms Williams said. “I don’t even have no more issues with nobody else. I have an issue with the Government and investors, because now the Government showing us that the investors rule the country.”

Ms Williams also raised concerns about the continued presence of fencing at Cabbage Beach. “They supposed to move the fence,” she said. “The fence them still up. The fence has never been removed. It’s still up on the beach. The minister told them to move the fence, and it’s still up.”

The Dis We Beach advocacy group said it understood that not all vendors have been relocated because suitable space has not been found for everyone.

“As far as I know, some have left and some have stayed because the ministry or Parks and Beaches or whoever didn’t have sufficient space in some of the areas,” Dis We Beach said. “Some have, some haven’t, and they’re not getting anything in writing.”

The group acknowledged that relocation could create tensions with existing Goodman’s Bay vendors. “We haven’t had the opportunity to go in Goodman’s yet either,” Dis We Beach said. “But I’m sure those Goodman’s Bay beach vendors are not happy. Who would be about an increased competition in a slow season?”

However, Dis We Beach said the Cabbage Beach vendors remained important in monitoring activity at the beach and the disputed fencing. “Had it not been for the vendors on Cabbage Beach, that fence would have been up, and we probably wouldn’t have known for days,” Dis We Beach said. “Right now, they are gatekeepers on that beach.”

The group said the continued presence of fencing raised broader concerns about government authority.

“So the developer clearly does not listen to the government,” Dis We Beach said. “And that’s concerning because if they’re not going to listen to our government, what does that mean for our land? What does this mean for the Bahamian public if they’re not going to listen to our government?”