In the early 1970¹s, the New Jewel Movement (NJM) emerged into national significance due to its battle against Lord Brownlow over the public right to use the La Sagesse beach in St. David¹s.

The NJM grew in support and popularity until it was able to seize power by force of arms on March 13, 1979 against the elected Eric Gairy government. Over 30 years have passed and the debate still continues in the Spice Isle about the right of Grenadians to have access to their own beaches.

The latest issue to surface is an attempt by property owners in the south of the island to place razor-sharp fence on a beach near to the Moorings.

GRENADA TODAY was able to obtain a letter from a non-national who visited the area and stumbled upon the barrier that was put up to prevent people from accessing the beach.

Following is the full text of the letter:

My wife and I are visitors to Grenada and stay since many years every year for a few months on the island.

On Wednesday, 24 January, 2007 I took a walk to Mt. Hartman Bay. I used a path from Lovers Lane down to the little beach just west of Martins Marina, where in times of Moorings ownership, a small bar was located.

On the beach I found a Nato-wire, which runs from the top of a wall down over the beach and 6 yards into the water (border of the Martins Marina property?).

Since I heard that the access to all beaches and water is free for everybody, I found this quite amazing. And beyond that it is also very dangerous.

So I took a photo of it (at around low tide). The reason to send you this picture is because we thought this may be of general interest to the public.

Unfortunately I could only take a part of the course of the wire, so you can only see the part which runs on the beach. The wire is partly sinking in the sand, but razor-sharp spikes are sticking out of it and or are just below the surface.

The mentioned wall is to the left hand side, the water to the right. In the background you see the apartments of the former Moorings Hotel.

Concerned