By: St. Clair Sazam Hull
Nevispages.com
(CHARLESTOWN NEVIS)- On the afternoon of Monday, June 3, 2013, the Department of Physical Planning and the Public Works Department orchestrated the removal of some structures located on Pinney’s Beach, Nevis. The structures were deemed to be illegal since they were constructed without Planning’s permission.
This action came after several warnings were given to persons occupying the prohibited areas on Pinney’s Beach.
According to an employee at the Department of Physical Planning, the beach bars were built on the beach in areas not zoned for such structures. As a result of that they were asked by the Director of the Department of Planning, Mrs. Angela Walters-Delpeche, to have them removed by May 31, 2013. After the deadline had passed and no effort was made to have those structures removed, the Department had no other alternative but to remove them by force.
Force in this case meant the use of a backhoe and hammers by workers at the Public Works Department.
Many persons gathered to observe the Monday afternoon operation and tears could be seen streaming down the face of one of the owners and some of the Locals.
In speaking to one of the owners, who had a structure on the beach, Mr. Eugene “Chevy” Chiverton, he stated that after the completion of his building, he received a letter from the Department of Physical Planning that he should have it removed by May 31, 2013. He noted that his bar was not yet operational. He stated that since he did not want any confusion with the Department of Planning and to avert confrontation, he called someone prior to the deadline and had the structure removed. Mr. Chiverton was the only one who had complied with the request for removal from the Department of Planning.
Two structures were destroyed in the operation.
It is important to note that this operation did not affect the four established beach bars on Pinney’s Beach.
