We were all bracing for a new change on the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge today, but from all accounts and the photos we’ve been seeing…the police, the government nor the workers saw this one coming!
Yes, we were all prepping to pay that new $2 fee to over the bridge but that, for now, has been postponed! Instead, for two days straight workers and vendors on Cabbage Beach have held a heavy protest as access to the beach has again been blocked off!
The angry workers were seen forming human chains to block access to the bridge, lying in the middle of the road, carrying signs and placards, getting into scuffles with the police and today…a video surfaced showing the angry workers tearing down the fence that was erected to keep them out!
For years this popular sandy spread has been the center of much controversy, protest and drama as hotel owners have been trying hard to get the workers off the property. But these are the people whose lives depend on gaining access to Cabbage Beach; the taxi drivers, the jet ski operators, the hair braiders, the food vendors and others and they want what’s theirs! If new negotiations are ongoing, new deals are being struck, and new rules are in place we’re hoping this is properly communicated with the workers and Bahamians at large. Isn’t there a way to make everyone happy in this situation?
The government sent out a release last night that reads…
“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.”
We pulled these photos from some of our friends on Facebook
