Village Council Optimistic for Return of Placencia Point Beach

There’s a growing wave of community pride and protest in Placencia tonight. Residents and their village council are standing firm, calling on the government to return a beloved beach spot, Placencia Point, back to the public. Once the heart of cultural celebrations like Lobster Fest, the beach is now privately owned. But earlier this week, the council made its move, writing to the Deputy Prime Minister and urging action. And yesterday, locals took their message to the sand, signs in hand, voices united. We caught up with Village Chair Warren Garbutt, who says talks with the government are already underway. So, could Placencia Point soon be back in the hands of the people?

 

On the Phone: Warren Garbutt, Chair, Placencia Village Council

“So we actually wrote before before the little actions yesterday we had written and I have to say that we have a very supportive area representative in the Honorable Rodwell Ferguson and the Lands Department, they have always been really receptive to us meeting at the meeting with us to try to find solutions.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And I understand you have a meeting scheduled coming up. Can you tell me about that?”

 

Warren Garbutt

“Okay, so the meeting the meeting was actually held the meeting was held and I must say it was a very productive meeting. We do not yet have a final resolution. That is something that will take a little time, but it was a very productive discussion we had with the CEO and our area representative. And by next week Wednesday, I believe we should have some, concrete solution on the position of the government as it relates to the point beach.”

 

Britney Gordon

“This was the CEO of lands?”

 

Warren Garbutt

“That is correct.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Okay. And has there been any discussions with the owner that bought the land? I understand last time that they were offering a price to compensate them for the loss of the land. Has there been any progress with those discussions?”

 

Warren Garbutt

“That is not really for the council to decide. That is a position I believe that the government would take if they see fit. So we have been in no discussion with the property owner regarding the cost or finding value of the property. That’s really for the Ministry of Natural Resources and for the property owners to decide.”