Congratulations to our police for the great job in their efforts to keep our prime tourist sites safe and enjoyable. If tourism is the main revenue earner for our island, it is of vital importance that we pay tremendous attention to this critical aspect of the Tourist Industry: the security of tourists.
Suggestions and comments on the latter in Dominica News Online are worthy of consideration.
Among them:
I. bike patrol on our popular beaches
II. constant security on all secluded tourist sites
III. closing of tourists’ favorite beaches when there is no security
As a DNO writer truly observed, undesirable conduct on tourist sites affects the livelihood of many Dominicans. Tourism is everybody’s business. It would be a real shame if such beauty, the “incredible beauty” (as a French user termed it this week) of a beach like Batibou, for instance, would be spoilt, desecrated in fact, in any way.
About a little over a year ago the owners of Hampstead Estate put extra measures in place to enhance security on this beautiful beach. Among them were:
i. Calling both Calibishie and Bense Village Councils and Tourism and Improvement committees to meetings to foster a partnership so communities can work together on security issues
ii. Seeking audiences with both the Minister of Tourism, Honorable Ian Douglas and Honorable Matthew Walters, Member of Parliament for the area and holding discussions with both Ministers on enhancing the Batibou beach experience
iii. Providing daily presence on the beach , through a beach bar manned (largely by the Douglas family members ) between 11am and 5pm.
iv. Visitors have access to a group of security personnel from the surrounding communities of Calibishie, Bense, Anse du Mai, and Ansoldat who have agreed to make themselves available to accompany them to the beach at a small fee.
v. Batibou road maintenance. (This road was built by Robert Bernard Douglas to facilitate the harvesting of coconuts, and maintained mainly for the coconut industry on the Hampstead Estate)
The government has offered frequent police patrols which effect is unfortunately compromised apparently because the area police usually have no vehicle.
The first year after the significant upgrading of this beach facility, there were no untoward incidents at Batibou; and it is noted with pleasure that the upgrading and improvement continues. However, it is only fair that all beach users share the responsibility of making the experience of this beautiful secluded beach a magnificent one. Besides, the upgraded site facilities are available to all. So effective Sunday 1st September, 2013, each vehicle will be required to contribute an EC$5.00 entrance fee. Non-Dominicans however will only make a US$5.00 fee contribution per person.
A special appeal is being made to keep our beaches and all tourist sites clean. It is indeed sad but true, that it is our local population who are primarily responsible for the litter on the beaches .Dominicans, we can do better than that. Please do not litter anywhere in Dominica, for that matter. Let us keep our litter with us to deposit appropriately in a litter bin. When we go to a beach, we should take ALL garbage that we brought, back home with us.
A gate has been installed at the entrance to the Batibou beach. The gate will only be open when the beach bar and grille is open. The gate has been installed primarily to:
i. Deter tourists from going down to the beach when no one is there
ii. Prevent sand mining
iii. Curtail illegal night activities, and this includes drug trafficking
iv. Protect Dominica’s wildlife; only last month, a turtle (one of our endangered species) was slaughtered and tourists, to their horror, were offered meat to buy.
v. Prevent theft from the coconut fields
Patrons may also rent tents for weekends or longer periods on the beach. Batibou Beach Bar and Grille also caters for parties and other events.
Batibou Beach and other beaches on Hampstead Estate, in particular Swayay and Number One, are well known for iguana and turtle laying and hatching. Beach users must protect and not disturb pertinent eggs or creatures; simply enjoy from a comfortable distance in order to allow the rest of Dominicans and tourists to have the pleasure one day to do the same.
If we do not secure our tourist sites, not only the visitors, but Dominicans as well will no longer be able to enjoy our beautiful Nature Isle. What sort of Nature Island is this where the nature things we are meant to cherish and enjoy cannot be safely utilized by us? Should the unsavoury characters “enjoy” the best of Dominica’s sites and relegate us to only what is left?
Besides, every Dominican suffers when our national economy is affected and earnings from Tourism plummet.
Let us all – especially the neighboring communities of Batibou Beach and other prime tourist sites – work together to advance our island’s development, maintain Dominica’s good name and nurture the love and peace which epitomizes a “nature isle”.
Having just visited Batiboo beach today. The fees need to be posted at the entrance sign. When we arrived on the beach it felt like a shake down. We happened to have $10 EC with us. We do not take valuables or money to the beach. The denomination of the fee was not made clear, and when i gave my $10 EC and was told no it must be US. We have no problem paying for a security guard, or a use fee for the road. But this did feel like a legitimate fee. We will stop at the Calibishi police department tomorrow and see if we can pay the appropriate fee.
I have travelled very widely and site passes to attractions are perfectly normal.The peculiarities of this particular beach requires:
i. a daily presence to promote safety
ii. the maintenance of a road
iii daily cleaning
Site passes all over the world are necessary to make the site accessible, usable and to maintain, upgrade and keep the site safe, clean and beautiful.In other similar sites users bear that cost.
Besides,one can always use the many other beaches where this cost(because of the beach location) is irrelevant.
The law clearly states that there must be at least one unrestricted access to all beaches. There are already more than one(1) foot pathway to that beach for many ,many years so access to that beach has never been barred. However, the law does not require the landowner to provide VEHICULAR access.
Our family visited Batibou in 2008, went down the awesome coconut trail and had the beach to ourselves for most of the day, it is beautiful in the morning. It was a wonderful “Nature Island” experience. I am sad to hear that there is now a bar and grille, a gate that will determine when people can and cannont enjoy the beach. Additionally, you are now saying that my family of 4 would have to pay $54 EC to go to the beach. I don’t see how that is encouraging tourism. With the crime and corruption we read about there and a fee for EVERY natural attraction, we probably won’t be back.
Note again that no one is limiting access to the beach. Local access by foot is absolutely free.
All prime tourist sites are created and maintained through a fee from tourists; this appears no different
The proposed action is not in any way going against the law; in fact ,it is a proactive response in creating a safe environment for everybody
In the past, communities did come together to find solutions and everybody would pitch in; that is ,in fact, part of
Dominica’s heritage;this is an example of such a response
To me the action being proposed is done in the same spirit as neigthbourhood watch; let’s all share the responsibility of neighbourhood safety.
One cannot enjoy the site unless you feel safe. Public safety should not be the responsibility of a few people.
Here you have civilians coming up with creative solutions to enable the public to enjoy the beach safely…. the article is merely appealing to all who use the beach to contribute.
This is not the first and only private land on island to which Dominicans contribute a small fee towards use and maintainance
For Dominicans who walk down to the beach there is no charge
community use to the beach is being facilitated once the donation goes towards road maintenance and creating a safer environment.
the law talk of access. there is no charge for Dominicans who walk down the beach.
NO one is restricting access to the beach. in fact use of the beach is encouraged.
No one is limiting access to the beach. In fact use of the beach is encouraged.
No one is limiting access to the beach. In fact, use of the beach is encouraged.
While I applaud and support the security measures expounded here, It MUST be recognised that the LAWS of Dominica state CLEARLY, that the beaches and rivers of this land belong to the PEOPLE; that is to say DOMINICANS!! Under no circumstance, whatsoever, should any obstacles/hindrances be placed so as to inhibit ACCESS to the nation’s natural heritage. Please take note. HOTEP.
There is a law but clearly some people and in that case the Douglas clan are above it. Do not allow this to happen!
This is blatant dishonesty. And I encourage all Dominicans to read their constitution where access to beaches are concerned. There can be not privately owned beach on an island. One may own the land surrounding the beach, however, you cannot charge persons a fee to access any beach no matter who you are – Douglas, Kennedy whatever… I understand wanting to bring forth an initiative to curtail crime, but you cannot infringe on the publics rights to access any beach on the island and that goes for other areas like macoushrie and the like where people think they can ‘own’ a beach.
Please see sections of physical planning act (Physical Planning Act 5, 2002; section 53) and the Dominica constitution (search for beaches):
http://physicalplanning.gov.dm/requirements/planning-and-building-guide/public-rights
http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/dmi33169.pdf
It’s sad that it has to come to this in Dominica, but you must be congratulated for taking action to try to protect both our natural heritage and the tourism industry. However, is this beach private? If it’s not, is it legal to restrict public access to a public beach?
I totally agree with you. It is sad that so much negativity is going on in our country. These things will definitely deter tourists from visiting our country. Serious measures should be taken by the authorities to prevent crime. However, Dominica and its beaches belong to all Dominicans and not to private people who own bars and grills near to or on them. Our citizens and visitors should be able to access the beaches at any time. Of course all must take care. Security presence must be raised.
I agree with you to some extent but you all to fix the road down to the beach so people does not have to leave their vehicle half way from the beach,then you can charge a fee to enter and also put washroom too,upgrade the site.
Great idea. But our government tends to keep doing the same thing. If this is a popular beach they should build facilities and security to encourage more visitors to the beach
“you all tofix the road”… That road is approximately 1 kilometer long and the minimum to be spent on it to make it lastingly usable is $300,000. Do you have any suggestions as to where that money might come from?
This is fabulous news! An increase in tourism will undoubtedly boost our economy. As most of us who read trip advisor know, feedback is so important. These improvements will instill confidence and trust in potential tourists. Well done! God bless DOMINICA