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Sunsi
Beach behind bars & razor wire. Photo courtesy of
the St. Thomas Source, www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/.
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Saturday, September 25, 2004
E.A.S.T. seeks to help citizens to “take back”
restricted beaches
E.A.S.T. will
be accessing Sunsi Beach via boat. The group will meet at the left side
of Coki Point Beach at 9:30 a.m. on September 25th. Transportation to
Sunsi Bay is free for all E.A.S.T. members, but all Virgin Islanders are
invited to participate. Non-members interested in attending can join E.A.S.T.
on site or pay $5 for round trip transportation to Sunsi Beach. Those
with their own boats are also encouraged to attend.
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The day’s activities
will include snorkeling with local marine experts, who will be available to
answer questions about the area’s aquatic life. Some beach games are planned,
but the primary activity will be relaxing and enjoying beautiful Sunsi Bay,
said E.A.S.T. President Carla Joseph.
“Some people are calling this a rally,” Joseph
said. “We aren’t planning any kind of protest, but we do want to
make a statement and that statement is that E.A.S.T. supports beach access and
will continue to take steps to protect it on behalf of our citizens.”
Earlier this year the new owner’s of the property surrounding
Sunsi Beach erected a razor wire fence and later installed a private armed security
guard in order to prevent their neighbors from accessing the beach via a small
dirt path that has been used for decades.
“E.A.S.T. is not against development and we respect
the rights of property owners,” Joseph said. “However, our mission
is to protect the quality of life for all Virgin Islanders and if we can not
access our beaches, our quality of life drastically diminishes.”
Joseph said that E.A.S.T. considered the preservation of beaches
and beach access among its very highest priorities.
“We are alarmed at the rate at which these properties
are being purchased and developed and support efforts to establish public parks
at many of these sites,” she said.
“We
want to make it clear that no one can stop the public from enjoying our beaches.
White sand and clear water don’t belong to the wealthy, but to us all.
This is our natural heritage,” Joseph said.
Participants should bring snorkel gear, snacks or lunch,
water and sunscreen. Contact
EAST Activities Committee Chair, Dalma Simon, at dalma@viwapa.vi
or 774-1837 for more information.
