Anslem Clouden

Outspoken Barrister-at-Law, Anslem Clouden is calling on Grenadians to stand up and protect their alienable right to their  beach-fronts in the face of widespread sale of these lands to foreign investors.

"If we don't reclaim this country they'll (government) sell it all out", he told reporters at a press conference held Monday. According to the attorney, the Keith Mitchell-led government in St. George's needs to inform foreign investors of what constitutes the public domain as it relates to access to beaches and the waterfront.

Clouden said that Grenadians should resist the wanton sale of properties to foreign investors who turn around and discriminate against the people by denying them access to the beach-front. He charged that some investors believe they own the sea shores in Grenada and called on government to ensure that the people are not denied their inalienable rights.

His remarks were made against the backdrop of an incident involving two of his clients who recently had their boats destroyed while berthed along the Lagoon area.

British investor Peter de Savary has purchased the area to develop his $1.5 billion US dollar Port Louis project. Clouden said that his clients were told to remove their boats but when they returned to do so, the two fishing vessels were already destroyed. The incident occurred last month.

The maritime expert stated that all citizens in Grenada have alienable rights to 50ft inland as established by the International Law of the Sea Convention of which Grenada is a signatory. "...Investors must be told (about this). No investor can take away that right", he remarked. "Not one inch will be taken away as long as I have one breath of life left in me", he added.

Clouden said the time has come for Grenadians to enforce their rights, failing which they run the risk of seeing it whittled down by a government that cares more about money than its people.

The Barrister-at-law said that he is asking for no less than $75,000.00 per boat for his clients. Negotiations are said to be continuing between both parties to bring an amicable settlement to the matter.