Crowd tear down fence blocking Cabbage Beach!
Nassau, Bahamas – It was like a great march across the bridge from Selma to Montgomery as Dr. Hubert Minnis led scores of displaced vendors blocked from their place of employment on Cabbage Beach, Paradise Island.
Minnis had argued – just a day before – that the government was cold to allow Bahamians to be blocked from access to Cabbage Beach and called on all Bahamians to join him in a great march for the people!
Well, by 7am Tuesday morning the crowds gathered at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge as they made their way over onto Paradise Island with song.
Bahamas Press could not believe the crowd. No Advertisement! No long editorial from any of the newspapers – just social media delivered for Minnis what nothing else can. “He is on the side of the people – I don’t know where our leaders are! They have abandoned us and so we will solve the problem ourselves,” one former PLP flipped FNM supporter told BP.
As the crowds arrived at Cabbage Beach persons tore down the fence that had obstructed public access.
In a last minute decision to save face following the abandonment of the people, the government issued a statement early this morning suggesting that the matter had been resolved. It read:
“The sales agreement between Access Industries and Brookfield required Brookfield to close the existing beach path adjacent to the Riu resort and relocate to the access point located on Brookfield-owned property on Garden Drive off of Paradise Island Drive.
“However, in response to a direct request from the Prime Minister, Access Industries has agreed to permit the beach path adjacent to the Riu to remain open for a period of time, to allow the Prime Minister to work personally on finding an alternative solution for the Beach Vendors who currently work that area of Cabbage Beach.”
Some believe the statement by the government is a little too late. They knew the decision to make a new access to the PI Beach was pending months ago and yet on behalf of the people they did absolutely nothing!
We report yinner decide!
