SXMElections.com

A shut and repaired gate and fence closing off access to the Belair beach is clearly marked with “No trespassing” and “Private property” signs.

 BELAIR--The entryway to the Belair beach was shut off yesterday, December 1, in a move spurred by the owners upset about the planting of palm trees on the beach.

It would appear, based on the “For sale” signs up until recently and the newly-repaired fence and gate, that the property directly in front of the shore was sold to new owners who did not know the rule that beaches have to be accessible to the public.

However, the property was taken off of the market and is still under the same ownership, as confirmed by Tendal Real Estate which had advertised the property for sale.

The owners, the Pavan family, live in Venezuela. A friend of the father had closed the gate some years ago, but they were forced to reopen it. The father is understood to have passed away around two years ago and a son to have inherited the land.

The upset was caused by the planting of a string of nine palm trees along the sand on Friday. The Nature Foundation relocated the trees, which were at risk of dying, in collaboration with SXM Princess Juliana International Airport, after the Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure VROMI and the Cadastre Office approved the decision. The trees had been located near the airport.

A line of palm trees, recently relocated from near SXM Princess Juliana International Airport, is said to be the cause of the sudden shutting off of the property.

Nature Foundation Manager Tadzio Bervoets said it was ridiculous for any land owners to lay claim to one of the few beaches that people can visit in the Philipsburg area and shut off its access. He pointed out that people already have a hard time accessing the Divi Little Bay beach nearby.

He explained that the process was a part of a tree-planting project especially important after many trees were affected during Hurricane Gonzalo. A bonus of planting the trees at that spot was that they could provide some shade for beachgoers.

VROMI Minister Maurice Lake said in an invited comment that he had not been aware of the situation prior to being asked about it by The Daily Herald. He reportedly contacted the owner, who was not named, within a short time and directed that the signs must be taken down and the access reopened to the general public. He added that he would have inspectors make sure that access was reopened today.

VROMI Secretary General Louis Brown confirmed that the Nature Foundation had contacted VROMI prior to the replanting project. The foundation also replanted 16 red mangroves in the area that were near a ditch clogged with hurricane-related debris, much of it from mangroves, that was blocking the flow of rainwater to the pond and to the sea.

Belair Beach Hotel management was quick to confirm that the hotel had “absolutely nothing” to do with the blockage. Furthermore, during any time the traditional access is closed the hotel is the only access route to the beach for the general public. The traditional caretaker of the land also denied being involved and seemingly has been kept out of any developments over the past months.

Another beach-access related story broke less than a month ago regarding the blocking of vehicle access to Mullet Bay Beach. The access point had been blocked with a large and unsightly pile of rubble placed by Mullet Bay property representatives.