Excursion boat captain alleges he was asked to leave Oil Nut Bay area
“So boats are not allowed to Sail along Oil Nut Bay multiple times without being asked to leave the area? What is really going on in this little nation? Enquiring minds want to know,” Hon Flax-Charles had posted on her Facebook page on January 7, 2023.
The Facebook post attracted a number of comments and several revelations, including that owners of private islands were even telling local fishermen not to fish or set fish traps in the area. The issue of persons being denied access to beaches were also highlighted.
All beaches in the Virgin Islands are public.
Oil Nut Bay refutes allegation
Oil Nut Bay has; however, denied asking anyone to leave the area.
“I think we all know that the seabed belongs to the Crown. No individual has the authority to stop another from responsibly using that space,” Director of Governmental and Community Affairs and Human Resources at Oil Nut Bay, Mr Clyde Lettsome told Virgin Islands News Online.
Mr Lettsome also said: “The matter is sorted and the parties are happy with the outcome.”
Hon Flax-Charles also confirmed to our news centre that the matter was sorted and that “when a constituent reaches out to me, I have a responsibility to find out what’s going on,” adding that the public would never know there is an issue unless it is brought to the forefront.
“And that was what was done and the matter has been sorted. We just have to respect the right of every individual to make revenue and communication is key. And we all have to work together.”
‘We have to be more vigilant’- Hon Flax-Charles
Hon Flax-Charles added that the public needs to be better informed of laws and policies.
“We do have some serious challenges throughout the territory and it is a matter of communicating these things to the public. When I spoke in Standing Finance about us having more PR presence, that is what I was speaking into, making sure that the public is informed of what’s happening in the Territory, what laws have been passed, who the enforcers are, but as an elected representative I must reach out to any constituent or any resident in the territory that has a challenge, and that is what I did and the matter was resolved without much fanfare and I think we are going in the right direction. Communication by both parties is key,” Hon Flax-Charles said.
The legislator; however, appealed to persons in the VI need to me more vigilant.
“If you see something, say something. Persons do not speak up and when the few persons that speak up, they are either misquoted, they are bashed, they are ostracised, Hon Flax-Charles stated, while emphasising that if the matter did not come up the public would not have known about similar issues happening across the territory.
“And so a lot of times persons in authority have no idea that these issues are happening, because a lot of people don’t care to report it or are afraid to report it for whatever reason.
A similar issue was alleged against Oil Nut Bay in 2013; however, Oil Nut Bay had refuted the allegations.
See story below:
VG residents claim Oil Nut Bay Resort restricting access to bay
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31 Responses to “Excursion boat captain alleges he was asked to leave Oil Nut Bay area”
Belongs to the CROWN, that is concerning something I hope ENDS sooner rather than later!!!!!
Frenchmans Reef Hotel is in St Thomas USVI.
Frenchmans Cay Resort is located in the BVI.
Two separate entities and location.
I am sure last time i went Oil nut that floatline was run from right by the dock to the reef, now it looks like a piece of the bay open to anchor in...
Lets go pack our coolers and have a Beach BBQ!
SO WE CAN PRETEND ALL WE WANT THAT WE DONT HAVE A RECIAL ISSUE BUT WE ARE THE CAPITAL PER CAPITA FOR THESE KIND OF THINGS
The electorate is becoming more illiterate with each ceremony. The political candidates think politics is about sitting on corners in slippers and shorts, dressing up in blinding colors with faux leather, gotti jewelry and stiletto clad arm pieces, being loud, puffed up, and rawest colloquial mouthpieces to get points across and gain political mileage.
No one respects these politicians and therefore will not listen to them.
The place literally gone to the dogs or at least to who can shake the biggest bottle.
How does David Johnson keep getting away with this??
Let me tell you! B****s to people in the BVI government. Just see who is supporting this nonsense, those are the ones Mr Johnson gave land or money too.
We need to wake up. These people that are not from here are taking our access to the water away. The entire North Sound will be off limits if we don't build public access into Town & County Plans.
The public docks in Gun Creek? 3rd World Mess! The BVI needs to invest in marine interests. Forget the airport. This is our Dimond!
To whom do you appeal/ complain?