Flax-Brutus Demands Clarity Over The Baths
Former Director of Tourism Sharon Flax-Brutus has warned that the controversy surrounding proposed exclusive-access agreements at The Baths is far from over. She is calling on all elected officials to declare their positions and demanding full transparency regarding park negotiations. The debate follows a recent decision by the National Parks Trust to pause discussions pending a comprehensive government review.
Former Director of Tourism Sharon Flax-Brutus has asserted that the debate surrounding proposed exclusive-access agreements at The Baths is far from settled, calling on all elected officials and key statutory bodies to formally state their positions on the matter. The National Parks Trust recently paused negotiations concerning a proposed exclusive-access model with cruise interests following a directive from Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for the Trust, Honourable Julian Fraser.
The pause was instituted pending further government review amid mounting public concern over commercial exclusivity at the world-renowned site. While commending the Trust for hosting a recent virtual community meeting, Flax-Brutus emphasised that the session generated as many questions as answers.
Key issues regarding carrying capacity, legal authority, revenue generation, and proposed rest days remain unresolved. She also criticised the virtual format, noting that technical difficulties hindered full public participation, and called for properly advertised, in-person meetings on Virgin Gorda with hybrid virtual access.
Flax-Brutus specifically challenged the silence of major public bodies, questioning whether the Premier, the Ministry of Tourism, the BVI Tourist Board, and the BVI Ports Authority were adequately consulted before commercial negotiations advanced. She urged every elected member of the House of Assembly to publicly declare whether they support or oppose exclusive access, while demanding the immediate public release of all capacity assessments, draft agreements, and relevant legal advice.
Highlighting the cultural and economic importance of the site, Flax-Brutus described The Baths as an essential part of Virgin Gorda's identity and heritage rather than a mere commercial attraction. She maintained that public access must never be negotiated behind closed doors or finalized without independent assessments and genuine public dialogue.
Her concerns mirror those expressed by Ninth District Representative and Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, who has firmly stated that The Baths and Devil’s Bay must remain open and accessible to the public without exclusion or preference granted to any single commercial entity.
Primary source: VINO