NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Finding a space for everyone while keeping the beaches organized is a challenge facing the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority as vendors continue to raise concerns about relocation, accessibility and limited vending space.
The issue recently came into focus after a disabled Cabbage Beach vendor complained that her new location was difficult to access and had hurt her business.
However, Authority Chairman Jamahl Strachan says they’ve been working to find a balance.
Jamahl Strachan – Chairman, Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority
“So we have made concessions to that particular vendor to ensure a seamless and inclusive response…you know, everybody wants a prime spot, but there are already vendors…on-site. So it’s just us trying to see how we can cohabitate.”
Also, it’s not just about where vendors are being placed, as some have also complained about overcrowding and not having enough room to operate.
Strachan says the Authority isn’t trying to cram vendors into smaller spaces, and that the rules have always been there.
Vendors simply need to follow them according to him.
Jamahl Strachan – Chairman, Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority
“Vendors are allocated a ten-by-ten space. This isn’t anything new. This is something that’s in their actual permit. Now, they have not adhered to that allocation. So what you’re seeing now is the response, the appropriate response from the Authority [is] to ensure that they adhere to that. So what seems like consolidation isn’t consolidation. It’s really just compliance.”
While the Authority continues to address those concerns, Strachan says bigger changes could be on the horizon for Goodman’s Bay.
He’s promising a major announcement at a general meeting next Wednesday, one he says will benefit more than just vendors.
Jamahl Strachan – Chairman, Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority
“I’ll be announcing some big, some big, big news for Goodman’s Bay, not just the vendors, but Goodman’s Bay as a whole, for residents who frequent the beach and utilize the beach in the morning, for persons who may have issues with parking. It’s a big, it’s a big announcement…”
