The developer, Nick Miaoulis, claims that access to the public beach has been blocked off, but the landowner, Jerald Wisdom, maintains that he has done nothing wrong.
Mr. Miaoulis, who is originally from New Providence, told the Bahama Journal recently that he invested thousands of dollars in an “environmentally-friendly” project called Three Beaches at Fig Tree Island located approximately halfway between Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay in Abaco.
However, he is claiming that it is being threatened after Mr. Wisdom, a local businessman, allegedly placed a barricade of stones on a road within the development that leads to the beach.
Mr. Wisdom reportedly owns a parcel of land northwest of the 70-acre tract of land that Mr. Miaoulisﾒs development borders. According to Mr. Miaoulis, the road begins from the S.C. Bootle Highway, wraps around a tiny manmade round-a-bout, and goes straight out to the mangroves. Behind the mangroves are three beaches.
“The development consists of three types of land: we have the beaches, mangroves, then the green land or the coppice land. Itﾒs beautiful diversity here [and] low-density [because] with all the land in Abaco we donﾒt need to live one on top of the other,” Mr. Miaoulis said.
“The crown land begins from the highway and goes straight out to the mangroves. I pushed the crown road in. If I wanted to make this a private subdivision I would have gone over my own private land [thereby blocking public access to the beach]. Instead, I opened up the roads on the crown land so the public can have access to the beaches along with the landowners in this particular land development,” Mr. Miaoulis said.
But Mr. Wisdom said the accusations against him were “petty” and that Mr. Miaoulis was “just doing mischief.” Although he did not deny that he had the road blocked and signs saying no trespassing and his number listed for contact for more information, Mr. Wisdom said it was his private land and that it was his business to do what he wanted.
Ralph Brennen, surveyor at the Lands and Surveys Department in Marsh Harbour, said no one has the right to block the road because it is crown land.
“No one had the authority to use that land without the express permission or approval of the prime minister,” Mr. Brennen told the Journal.
He said that as a result he has forwarded a recommendation to the Office of the Prime Minister and said the office intends to forward it to the proper authorities to ask Mr. Wisdom to remove the blockade.
Meanwhile, Mr. Miaoulis is also claiming alleged destruction of the public beach by Mr. Wisdom. He said Mr. Wisdom had all the Casuarina trees cut down and dumped in the mangroves, thereby damaging the eco-system.
But Mr. Wisdom said that he had beautified the beach to get rid of the invasive species and replanted coconut trees for shade.
However, Mr. Miaoulis maintains that as the developer his vision is for the beach and the surrounding development to be left in its natural pristine state.
“Besides blocking off the crown road [he has] taken a heavy piece of equipment and taken off every Casuarina tree, every Buttonwood tree and every Sea Grape tree on the beach. Mr. Wisdom was told by George Riviere, the local surveyor, that the mangroves are crown land and the beaches are crown land, but he has ignored it and done as he pleases as if he owned the mangroves and the beach,” Mr. Miaoulis said.
Mr. Miaoulis said he built a boardwalk snaking through the mangroves so persons could have access to the beach. He added that he applied three times to government to get a permit to build a boardwalk but never got a formal response.
The development consists of one to five-acre tracts of land sold to Bahamians and foreigners, according to Mr. Miaoulis. So far, he said he has sold 23 lots to 12 Bahamians and 11 foreigners.
He said the land development is intended to allow residents to live in harmony with each other and nature.
By: Courtnee Romer, The Bahama Journal
