More Canouan woes; Bynoe threatened with arrest?

Although a resolution has been put forward in the long-standing issue of beach access for Canouan residents, local community activist Terry Bynoe believes that, contrary to what the Government would have the public think, the situation is getting worse.

And, for him, this certainly appears to be the case, as he was threatened with arrest earlier this week after attending a beach picnic at Godahl Beach last Sunday, May 22.{{more}}

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT last Wednesday, Bynoe recalled that he and a group of beachgoers decided to have a picnic, and accessed the Godahl via a shortcut that they thought was outside of Canouan Resort Development Ltd (CRD) ownership.

“We walked outside the lease property gate, go down a cliff and then jump the rocks go over to Godahl,” he explained.

However, after being on the beach for a while, a police officer – who had been alerted by resort security – turned up claiming that Bynoe and his group had trespassed on CRD property.

Bynoe claimed that he and his companions were not aware that the shortcut they had taken also falls within the developers’ ownership.

“We walk there all the time. The problem now is if they bought all those lands, we don’t have access to none of the beaches – not even Twin Bay or the others.”

Bynoe said that he was summoned to the Canouan Police Station last Tuesday, and upon getting there, was told that he would be arrested for trespassing and breaking the injunction that had been filed against him by Canouan Resort Development Ltd (CRD) over a decade ago.

He further alleged that the police allowed him to leave the station to find someone to bail him, but while he was out doing so, the police called him and told him to come back the following day instead.

“So, me ain’t go nowhere… They have to come for me theyself!” he insisted.

“We can see what the Government is doing. The Government is selling out all the lands in the east coast, just like the 1,200 acres with Mitchell… This is really getting worse than we thought.”

Speaking on Boom 106.9 SVG’s morning radio programme last Tuesday, May 24, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that shuttle access to the beach for citizens has been put forward as a solution, but it is up to them to accept it.

Gonsalves reiterated that due to the geography of where the beach in question is located, and the nature of the resort owned by the developers, access, although granted, has to be regulated.

“What you cannot have is the notion of access meaning unregulated and unfettered access.

“The vast majority of the people in Canouan, they have accepted that… It is, therefore, not a problem for the vast majority of persons who are being reasonable.”

However, speaking with SEARCHLIGHT, Bynoe strongly disagreed with this.

“It is not a resolution for none of us, because it’s a favour the resort would be doing… Do we have to call them to get us to clean the beach as well? These are beaches outside of the lease property… They gonna put a golf cart and a driver on standby, so if somebody show up? Or when we go there they gonna tell you that they busy and they can’t do it now? We looking for access to the beach so that we can go when we wish to go.”

He added: “So, he [PM Gonsalves] could say it’s resolved – not so with me at all… The people we are speaking to in the communities are saying we not having none of that.”

While speaking on the radio programme, Gonsalves had specifically referenced Bynoe, pointing out that the community activist’s personal issue with the developers is complicated, because it involves a court matter.

“That is a legal issue in relation to people and their property… There is nothing that I can do… in relation to the legal matter,” he expressed.

“The people who own the resort, they have certain property rights… There is an access being provided in accordance to law.”

Gonsalves added: “I have my own view as to how that should be resolved, but I am not a party to the trial, to the case. So, I could talk, but persons who are litigants may not necessarily see it how I see it.” (JSV)