Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Industries Dr. Ernest Hilaire has strongly criticized what he describes as the spread of misinformation on social media following a video posted by Marcellus Steide, a former hopeful for the Castries North seat in the December 2025 General Election, regarding temporary fencing along a section of Reduit Beach.
Steide, a resident of Cap Estate, Gros Islet, posted a video on March 12 while standing along the beach near the Mount Pimard development site, where construction is underway on a beach park facility. In the video, Steide claimed the erection of a fence along part of the beach set a “dangerous precedent” that could threaten public access to Saint Lucia’s beaches.
“What we are witnessing is a very dangerous precedent in Saint Lucia,” Steide said in the video. “Once we begin to accept fences on our beaches no matter the excuse, we start down a slippery slope that will not end well for the people of this country.”
Steide argued that beaches in Saint Lucia remain public property within 180 feet from the waterline, warning that allowing developers to erect barriers could eventually lead to locals being denied access to their own shoreline.
However, Dr. Hilaire has dismissed the claims as misleading, explaining that the fencing was installed as a temporary safety measure while improvement works are being carried out on a section of the beach.
“I saw what was being circulated, and some people need to be a little more conscious of what they’re doing,” Hilaire said. “You cannot just go online spreading misinformation.”
The minister explained that the government is currently upgrading the beach park facility, including improvement works to a portion of the beachfront, which required temporary restricted access for safety reasons.
“A fence was erected to safeguard the public from entering that area while construction work is taking place,” Hilaire said. “These works are expected to be completed within about two weeks. There was absolutely no intention of denying any Saint Lucian access to the beach.”
Hilaire added that signs were placed at the site indicating that construction was in progress, and the restricted area was meant only to prevent accidents during the improvement works.
He acknowledged that some state agencies may not have sufficiently communicated the temporary closure to the public but maintained that Steide’s reaction was irresponsible.
“All that had to be done was to ask a question and observe the signs indicating that construction was taking place,” Hilaire said. “To take a video and suggest that people are being denied access to the beach was really irresponsible.”
The controversy escalated the following day when Steide posted another video on social media showing himself holding a bolt cutter and claiming that he had removed a section of the fencing, allowing patrons to enter the area where construction works were ongoing.
Meanwhile, A’ILA Resorts, which is undertaking construction of the beach park facility as part of the wider Mount Pimard development, has also issued a statement addressing the situation.
According to the company, the fencing was part of temporary safety measures associated with ongoing work aimed at supporting the transition of beach vendors and improving the beachfront area.
“These measures will ensure public safety and allow for remedial work and upgrades to the beachfront area,” the company stated.
The developers emphasized that public access to Reduit Beach has not been restricted, noting that beach vendors remain active and both locals and visitors continue to use the beach.
“Reduit Beach has long been an important public space for Saint Lucians, and it will continue to remain accessible to the public,” the statement said.
The Mount Pimard development, a $1.3 billion multi-phase investment, will include a family hotel, an adults-only resort, luxury villas, residences, a shopping boulevard, and one of the largest conference centres on the island.
Developers say the project is expected to create significant employment opportunities during both the construction phase and once the facilities become operational.
The first phase of the development, The LifeCo holistic wellness resort, is expected to open soon.
Officials have reiterated that the temporary fencing is expected to remain in place only while improvement works are completed, after which the area will be reopened to the public.
