Dawn Beach/Westin

There was a letter to the editor in yesterday's Herald, complaining about the continued harassment of non guests who want to sit on the beach either with thier own chairs or on towels. Apparently the security guards are very abusive and agressive, forceing people to move almost onto the rocks and right in front of the sewer/runoff drainage pipe. The Westin now have their beach chairs spread the whole length of the beach even though they are never used by their guests. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

Just ANOTHER in the list of abuses, lies, broken promises from this place.

What would happen if someone was there with a camcorder and taped the harassment. Could get interesting.

Nothing

SXM??? Wendell

Unfortunately it's not in the online version, but there is a story on the front page of the DH today about this.

That is what the writer of the letter suggested... tape a confrontaiton with the security personel. There is a large article in today's Herald concerning this subject.

Story now in the online DH

And the Westin got the 2nd best award for best Hotel. Go figure how that happened if the locals are the ones voting.

I would say that most of the votes are probably NOT locals, on that particular question anyway.

Maybe people should ban together and stage a "sit-in" on this beach, like a flash mob. Wonder how the security guard (s) would handle that.

That would be interesting to see. Should make a good utube video.

That is a good idea.

SXM??? Wendell

While I agree with the sentiment, doesn't it seem unfair to put this on the security guard just doing his job when it's the decision makers who should be made to feel uncomfortable. Not exactly sure who or what that would like but just a thought.

You have an excellent point there. Wonder what would happen if someone tried to picket at the front entrance of the hotel?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

It's perfectly fair to the security guards. The security guards would simply go to their superiors and report the problem. The ball would then be in the management's court. One thing the hotel would not want is a "situation" that they cannot win.

I really dislike the Westin and wouldn't stay there if they were the last hotel on the island. JMHO <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" />

If the accounts given are true, IMO it is beyond the Security Guard's job to remove umbrellas, harass beachgoers, etc. Their job is to protect the safety and property of the Westin and its guests. If they feel someone is trespassing, they should call the police to deal with it since that is a criminal matter. I doubt the Westin would want to involve the police, though, since they can't prevent use of the beach.

Although the article states the directive allows them use of the beach 14 meters from the high water line, it appears there is no clarification as to whether that use is exclusive to the hotel. And unless I'm missing something, the water line defines depth of the beach but no mention of width.

I was looking at the Sunset Beach web cam and unless it's an optical illusion, it looked like their umbrellas were covering about a third of the beach at Maho. There was hardly walking room on the dry sand never mind tossing a random towel down.

I am not sure on the laws down there, but when I know I am in the right I would to ask them to call the police.

Totally agree. It was my understanding all the beaches are public...period. The guard quoted in the article appeared to translate the usage rights as exclusive to the hotel and thus denying access to the general public. My additional question is there any limitation to the hotel's usage rights with respect to the width of the beach which would prohibit them putting their umbrellas on every square inch of the beach.

In many places I have visited, the hotels can control access down to the high water line. But 14 meters (44 feet)from the high water line is a pretty long distance.

When we 1st visited the island we were told by a travel agent that all beaches were open to the public, that no one could stop you. I never saw anything in writing; however, we were never forbidden entry to any beach. First visit to Dawn we placed our towels off to the side of chairs. Ate at the rib hut there. Back then (1980) it was the most beautiful place with lots of colorful fish swimming at our legs. Then the Westin moved in. Now very little if any parking, ruined beach and harassment tom the hotel. No more beauty.

We always were sure that there had to be access provided to any beach & that they were all open to the public. In past years we used to take our small cooler, towel & picnic lunch to the beach @ luxurious Lasamma & nobody said a word altho we got "looks" from the guests! Fun times!

According to a story in the Daily Herald today, the Westin has changed it's tune.

Of course, there remains the problem of nowhere to park..

The rib place was Scavangers! When we first stayed at Princess Heights our view was the pond near the beach and green shrubbery. We loved to watch the cows and goats come down the road to drink from the pond. Siiigh!

Or Ms. B's. She had a rib place there also, but possibly not in 1980, not sure when Ms. B's started there.

could have been in the 80's. We didn't start coming until early 90's and there was only Scavangers on that part of Dawn beach. Mrs. B's was near Mr. Busby at that time.

Ms. B's always was further down the beach. The other poster said "rib shack" and I always associated Ms. B's with ribs.

Could have been. I think I remember looking up from water's edge and seeing a hotel sign ..... I wondered how one would get to that hotel. That road to Dawn was soooo bad!

Next to the place cooking food was a lady weaving hats & baskets. This was possibly 80 or 81 since our first trip to SXM was 1979 and that time we never left P'Burg except for an island bus tour.

Kish is right, Scavengers was on the beach of what is now the Westin!!Never heard of Scavengers referred to as a "rib shack"...but we sure did sell a lot of ribs!! Our group was harassed back in November after Gonzalo when we put up an umbrella as there was no shade on the beach...3 sets of security confronted us. Hopefully with the bad publicity they will lighten up!!