The Bahamas House of Assembly has ratified a contentious land exchange agreement along West Bay Street, triggering intense parliamentary discourse concerning public shoreline accessibility and commercial tourism encroachment. The resolution, passed following vigorous deliberations, aims to address longstanding infrastructure deficiencies while simultaneously raising alarms about Bahamians’ diminishing access to coastal areas.
Government representatives championed the initiative as a critical infrastructure modernization effort that will resolve persistent safety hazards, including dangerous road curvature, elevation complications, and severe flooding that has regularly submerged vehicles. Works Minister Clay Sweeting presented photographic evidence demonstrating the roadway’s susceptibility to inundation, emphasizing that the realignment concept has been under consideration since the 1960s.
Opposition legislators voiced substantial reservations regarding the arrangement’s implications for public beach access. St Anne’s MP Adrian White, a real estate attorney, expressed concerns that the redevelopment might exacerbate existing accessibility issues rather than ameliorate them. He specifically referenced cartographic indications of potential beach access points between maritime parcels and questioned whether public traversal rights would be adequately preserved.
The debate intensified with former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis highlighting Goodman’s Bay as a cautionary example where commercial tourism operations have substantially occupied beachfront space. He detailed how cruise ship tourists and commercial operators have effectively claimed half the beach area with umbrellas and chairs, potentially restricting resident access. Paradise Island was similarly cited as experiencing comparable accessibility challenges.
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper acknowledged these concerns while affirming the government’s dedication to safeguarding Bahamian beach access. He clarified that Goodman’s Bay falls under Beaches and Parks jurisdiction, which has already implemented measures to prevent additional commercial expansion.
The negotiated agreement involves a partnership between the Ministry of Works and developer Vakis Ltd., wherein the developer will finance road construction, design, utility relocation, and drainage enhancements. The government will provide lighting infrastructure and utility materials. The land exchange yields a net public benefit of approximately 10,516 square feet, with government acquiring 44,639 square feet while transferring 34,123 square feet to the developer.
Additional considerations emerged regarding the historical rock wall featured in the James Bond film ‘Thunderball,’ with assurances that the no-build zone will extend to this structure and coastal visibility will be preserved for motorists.