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Smuggler’s Cove beach was never sold! – Christian
“Beaches on the Virgin Islands (VI) are owned by the Crown and by extension the people of the VI up to high water mark, therefore Smuggler’s Cove is no exception. It was never sold to a private investor under the NDP administration,” Christian disclosed to supporters last evening, October 18, 2011 at a National Democratic Party (NDP) tent meeting in Capoons Bay.
The At Large candidate said he has challenged politicians to tell the truth, since announcing his political intentions in March 2011. Therefore, he wanted to set the record straight.
First district representative Andrew Fahie had stated during his re-election campaign launch on Saturday October 15, 2011 that under the NDP, Smuggler’s Cove was able to get into the hands of overseas investors. ““They allowed our last public beach to get away in the name of investment. But when elected to Government in 2007 – the VIP put Smuggler’s Cove back into your hands. In the future, we will do investment, though I welcome foreign investment it will not be done on the backs of my people.”
But according to Christian what is “true and what is fact” is that during the NDP administration an agreement was entered into with a foreign investor to purchase approximately 11 acres of land in Smuggler’s Cove - with a beach front - from a local family for $6M.
The investor had wanted to develop a ‘low rise’ five-star hotel, Christian revealed, on the privately owned land.
However, he claimed after the 2007 general elections and after six months of waiting for the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government to give a response to the agreement – the purchaser withdrew. “The property was put back on the market for sale by the owners,” the NDP At Large candidate further stated.
With the deal “falling through”, the VIP was notified that the land was for sale and committed to buying it on behalf of the people of the VI.
In reeling out the facts of the financial transactions between the VIP and the land owner, Christian told supporters, “The purchase was completed on January 26, 2010 for $6.5M. A further 1.330 acres of land owned by foreigners adjoining the property and also adjoining land at Belmont Estate was purchased on May 20, 2011 for $800,000. The land was previously listed for sale at $500,000,” the At Large candidate divulged. ““Those are the facts regarding the transactions of Smuggler’s Cove and Belmont Estate. Smuggler’s Cove beach was never brought back from any foreign owner.”
He advised, “We must as a result of the purchase, however, take good care of the beach and manage that property well.”
And taking a subtle sweep at Hon. Fahie, Christian said, “We must give the people the facts so that they can make wise and informed decision. We must not seek to sensationalise our people for personal gratification”.
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13 Responses to “Smuggler’s Cove beach was never sold! – Christian ”
If you pleasr,please, pity for District 1 .Fact is the peoples of the District have been losing their lives their health and their quality of life to the Pockwood Pond public gas oven and its timeless and far reaching putrid,toxic and carcinogenic emulsions.
Pity on them. Damnation to their elected. Smugglers Cove cannot save their lives and matters not . Only to the ego of Emperor of District 1 and his dumbed downed subjects it matters.