Pigeon Point

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 7:02 pm

The THA and Ansa/Mcal have finally come to an agreement for the compulsory acquisition of the 60-acre Pigeon Point estate. The agreement was signed on Wednesday in Port of Spain.
From my own standpoint this is great news as I have experienced the
worst side of Ansa/Mcal's hospitality.
What's your take ?

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 7:08 pm

Yippeee!!! Anything that gets the charmless Heather McKenna out off the peninsula has got to be a good thing. However, I have to confess to some reserve with regard to what/how the THA will handle the management of the land. Let's be honest about it, government's are good at talking, but not at 'doing'. Let's hope they put it out to some commercial management company with the proceeds being ploughed back into preserving (and policing) the land and waters from Pigeon Point right the way round to Booby Point and all of Buccoo Bay, etc.

Did the reports give any indication of what the deal was and when it would take place?

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 7:23 pm

The cheif secretary of the THA Orville London will be giving a press conference today. I'll post any news as I get it. I agree with your comments on government run sites, and as with most of the THA's
planning, they'll probably have thought of the buying, but will have
no funds available to "DO" anything with the land, much like the building of schools and not being able to furnish or equip them.
I also wonder if it will open Pigeon Point to the same problems as other beaches, namley the pushy sales of unwanted services and products.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 7:38 pm

In fairness, I think Store Bay is the only place to regularly be plagued by 'pushy' salesmen. Other beaches like Grafton and Turtle beach have their regular traders, but 95% of them are sweeties who become good beach companions over the course of your holiday, even though you may not buy anything from them. There's only the few nasty ones, like Mr Blue, who work their way round the beaches. Compared to most places, Tobago is still pretty devoid of beach harassment.

No, becuase of it's popularity, I think it would be very wrong of the THA to throw the beach open to all - even assuming that was/is their intention. Access must be controlled, but fairly and honestly. Let's be honest, most of the current problems could have been sorted if it was not for the outright confrontational attitude of the current regime. A good commercial non-govermental management company, running it for the THA and the good of Tobago, is surely the best answer.

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:42 am

You have just summed it up perfectly Steve. Shame Mr London is not a forum member.