Parks Department Rescinds Special Permit

July 16, 2018

As a result of violating the policies of a special permit issued to Beach Boys Ltd [operators of Tobacco Bay], the Parks Department have rescinded the permit effective immediately, according to Ministry officials.

A spokesperson said, “The Member of Parliament representative for Constituency 1, Mrs. Renee Ming, has brought to the attention of the Minister of Public Works, Lt/Col David Burch, that members of the public were being prevented from accessing Tobacco Bay Beach on Sunday July 15th.

“As a result of this, the Minister met with the Acting Director of the Parks Department, this afternoon [July 16] to discuss the situation.”

Minister Burch said, “Beach Boys Ltd [operators of Tobacco Bay] did apply for Special Permit[s] to hold a private function including bonfires at Tobacco Bay on a number of days. Since this is processed as a special permit it would not require consultation from the Parks Commission.

“At no time did the Parks Department grant exclusive rights to the beach. In fact at the top of the second page of the application it clearly states:

  • Special Event Permits do not give exclusive rights to a particular spot; they merely grant permission to have an organized event.

“As a result of this violation of the policies of the special permit along with the public outcry, the Parks Department have rescinded the permit effective immediately. The Parks team will be meeting with representatives of the operators to make it clear that closing the Beach to members of the public is not allowed under their terms of lease.”

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Comments (53)

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  1. facts of the rock says:

    Get rid of these people!

    • Onion Juice says:

      They were given permission to have an event on the beach, not to have exclusive rights to a particular spot.
      They breached de contract so it was rescinded.
      Its elementary.

  2. Redrose says:

    Wow going after another certain type of entrepreneur?! The OBA would not dare do that

  3. Family Man says:

    Hmmmmmt cement silos?

    Time to get their own people in there. From one end of the island to the other.

    • United says:

      Shut up will you. They abused their powers and lost their permit. You people are constantly trying to start sh~* with your paranoid brains

      • Blind Sheep says:

        Just remember that there are three sides to every story.

      • Onion Puke says:

        Actually your party “leaders” provide enough “sh-*” as you so eloquently write, on a daily basis. Go drink some KoolAid.

        • Onion Soup says:

          Crazy Conspiracy theories baked by OBAers who have nothing but envy and jealousy in the ears, eyes and mouths. Leave Bermuda. No one is forcing you to stay here. Go if you don’t like this Government!!!

          • Onion Puke says:

            My roots here will always be deeper then yours you narrow minded racist troll.

          • Mark says:

            Please leave my country. You dont belong here

            • Onion Puke says:

              Nah, happy to watch you lead us to Fourth World status. Here before you as well!

              • Onion Soup says:

                You have been using that line since 2012 and it hasn’t happened. Leave if you are so unhappy mate.

                Or maybe it just a mental instability or disorder that you suffer with. PSYCHOPATH

    • Loyal Lt/Col Burch Suppoter says:

      Go for you Burch, the arrogance of those Beach Boyz. If everyone isn’t welcome than no one is!

    • Sunday Fun says:

      I was there on Sunday afternoon when some dude started walking the beach saying that there was an event happening and that we should start packing up…to locals and tourists alike. Some people started raking the beach and setting up chairs and tables. I only planned to let my kids swim for a little so I was leaving anyway. However, there were some tourists who had just arrived who were very disappointed that the restaurant/bar was closed and other people were being turned away at the gate.

      • andre says:

        Nuff said

      • Enough says:

        Yup! That happened to me too and the security guys at the gate were RUDE as hell! I am not letting this rest! Time to take our beach back! Concessions should be just that and no rights to exclusivity of the beach itself!

  4. St George’s Tim. says:

    Sorry to hear and read this Beach Boys, I was one of the public you chatted to yesterday that visits every weeks and at no time did you “prevent” my family but communicated that there was a special event happening in the evening. We appreciate you and keep your head up as after to explained felt the event was definitely to help expose bermuda to millions. It sounds like you went through the right channels and at least applied for a permit. Does this mean no more bonfires ?

    Tim G.

    • St. George Jim says:

      Okay Timmy, so this didn’t effect you. Look at other stories that have because your comment is useless.

  5. Henry S. J says:

    You Guys are doing an awesome job! keep up the good work, i / we enjoyed my whole day at this beach on June 15th . The manager personally communicated that there was a function in the evening, He showed us the supported paper work and we where fine with that.

  6. heather ysseldyke says:

    Before judging this situation get All the facts!!!

  7. Jenn T says:

    I have to disagree with the actions being taken against Tobacco Bay. We all know that Bermuda needs more exposure and needs to appeal to a younger crowd, and based off of Revolve’s Instagram account today,Bermuda has gotten it! Revolve party started at 6pm, a respectable time. I was at Tobacco Bay at the time, and was kindly explained the situation and apologized to for the inconvenience (which really wasn’t much of one). As a resident of St. George’s, I’m proud of what Beach Boys LTD has done with Tobacco Bay. They not only make Bermuda absolutely shine for our tourists, but they appreciate locals as well with discounts and the hiring of St George’s residents! Keep on doing what you’re doing Tobacco Bay! You guys rock!

    • Jimi says:

      The event was great for international exposure and publicity, but they misrepresented what their permit said…they actually wrote on the Tobacco Bay rental shop chalkboard ‘Beach closed today, sorry for the inconvenience’ which was a lie…

  8. Somerset Fan says:

    We came a long way on Sunday and at no point did they say we couldn’t use the beach. Great job Tobacco bay, and congrats on the event, Ww are truely embarrassed you don’t have the support as I felt parks should of had a tractor to assist raking that entire beach instead of your employees. Tobacco bay looked amazing to the world and your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

    Sonya

  9. Dread says:

    Now get them to stop playing loud music all day, also stop them from filling the entire beach with chairs making people who want a spot pay!

  10. Joe Bloggs says:

    Why does the Minister keep saying that Civil Servants acted without his knowledge or consent? I thought a Minister was supposed to take responsiility, not duck it.

    • Joe Bloggs Mum says:

      Why don’t you call him and ask him personally? You do know you can!

      Oh I forgot you are the epitome of a coward

      • Joe Bloggs says:

        Well, I had hoped for a sensible answer.

        Instead I got a PLP troll full of vitriol.

  11. parent says:

    I am tired of them having their chairs on the entire beach hinting and making it clear you have to use their equipment. They seen to try and do what they like there

  12. DTG says:

    I wish the parks department would check out the beaches at night and find and charge the people who have fires directly on the beach( and i am sure without a permit) I have going down to many of the beaches and finding burnt firewood all over the beaches…

    PARKS DEPARTMENT DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM

    • andre says:

      Send an email to parks about your concerns

    • BLT says:

      Why don’t you report: call, email pictures. Oh I forgot you like to hear yourself and hide behind a screen.

      Either you are a PART of the PROBLEM or the SOLUTION!!!

  13. sage says:

    When are the “Parks Department” going to go and weed out the cane grass and young trees in the boardwalk up the hill,the planters and those crappy turf-pavers at Horseshoe Bay where thousands of tourists go daily? Pretty sure Tobacco bay was closed to the public on Heroes weekend too.

    • Basil says:

      Why don’t you do it sunce it bothers yu so much. You folks complain about the stupidest things.
      If it bothers you (andthe tourist) fix it, gather a group of folks to help. Stop pointing fingers and looking to show up othwes. Be a Responsible Citizen and fix what bothers you.

      SMDH@youcoomplainers

      • sage says:

        When we disband the ‘Parks dept.” and channel the wasted resources to my bank account I will start. Why doesn’t the concession holder get it done? Selling liquor,$10 fishcakes and renting all those umbrellas and chairs he can well afford it.

        • Basil says:

          My point exactly, just sitting around in your depends spewing hatred. Time for a nappy change mate

  14. Dumbo says:

    The security people were rude! I was turned away without debate and explanation! And so what about places like Elbow Beach who have a private side to the public beach? They always tell us to leave when we try to pitch an umbrella on their side of the beach! Double standard!

  15. Reality Check says:

    As a StGeorgian I commend Minister Burch for his handling of this matter . This incident is so simple , it amazes me how people are trying to make some great partisan conspiracy out of it .

  16. Bermuda blues says:

    I’m glad to see some action taken against Beach Boys. When I have been to Tobacco Bay, they act as if they own the beach with chairs everywhere and loud music blasting all-day. The beach and water are beautiful and the snorkeling there is amazing. These are the reasons why people come to Tobacco Bay. Covering the beach in chairs so you feel obligated to use one or find a tiny bit of sand or rock to put your towel makes locals and tourists feel unwelcome. Not a good strategy for attracting visitors.

  17. puzzled says:

    Small beaches.
    Small minds.

    Gives a new meaning to ‘Concession’.

  18. Lemon Tree says:

    So what makes this event different from Shelly Bay Beach being closed to public on Heroes Day weekend?? A friend who lives across the street and swims there every day was told they would have to pay to access the beach that day. Is this rule selective??

    • Time Shall Tell says:

      The differences are in the contracts applied for & given in contrast to the two cases you’re comparing. There are permits given to seal off access to public beaches such was the case of Heroes’ Weekend but such events are pre-advertised as such prior & is written in the contracts or permission given. In this case there was no permission given for the beach to be sealed off access to the beach as it was which was stated to them in writing, and such the organization at Tobacco Beach was in the wrong.

  19. BermudaRat says:

    Watch out BDA. These Beach Boys are about to take over Clearwater Beach and presumably Shelly Bay will be next on the list.
    BTA where are you? Obviously not concerned about the environment nor the “carrying capacity” of these beaches.
    Note Hawaii is very strict about not allowing too many people on beaches which is so detrimental to the ecology.

    • MsFedUp says:

      They have not taken over the beach. They are providing some great services to all beach visitors which make the whole beach experience a lot more enjoyable. Let’s celebrate our Bermudian entrepreneurs Some people love to exaggerate.

  20. The Kid says:

    I detect the fine hand of the Minister

  21. Onion Puke says:

    How bout clamping down on Onion Juice’s squatter Cup Match camp?

    • Onion Soup says:

      How abour being sensible and not so such a dingbat OP

  22. cpm says:

    It,s ok to close the city down on a Sunday [A work day for me] to have a bike ride
    Where are the complaints on that?

    • Time Shall Tell says:

      Difference is in that case the right to close off sections of the city was given for the bike races, in this case no such permission was given to restrict access to the public beach. Advance notice is posted when such events that restrict access to public areas is given, no such permission was given in this case as was clearly stated in the Beach Boys LTD’s contract.

  23. Time Shall Tell says:

    Fort St. Catherine’s used to have functions back when there used to be a beach hut there with a live band & bar. While sections of the patio & bar used to be closed off for the private event, at no point was access to the beach ever restricted to the “PUBLIC” beach. In the case of Tobacco Bay, the Beach Boys Ltd was given permission to have their private event but had they of simply read their contract it clearly stated they had no rights to exclusivity to access to the “PUBLIC” beach. So clearly, they were in breach of their contract that they neglectingly never bothered to even read & as such are clearly in the wrong.