Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers is the Elected Representative for Valley North. It comprises District 3 which includes Shoal Bay East where Zemi Beach Resort, which officially opened on Monday, February 1, is located.
Mr. Rogers, who was born and grew up in Shoal Bay, is proud to have this new hotel in his constituency and he has expressed congratulations to the Goldstein family, the developers and owners of the luxury property.
Rogers, who is the Minister of Social Development, spoke to The Anguillian. “Shoal Bay was always thought as a backward place when I was growing up,” he reflected. “I recall the days when we got to school in The Valley we were referred to as “Shoal Bay bush goats”. We were accustomed to walk together in single file and it seemed really and truly to have been a backward place.
“I am now very pleased to see the whole transformation of Shoal Bay. I must also acknowledge the vision of my father [Austin Rogers] whose name is affixed to the road sign going into Shoal Bay. No one thought there was any value in Shoal Bay, but he had the vision that it would become a major development area and that one day we all would live to see its value. I can testify that I have lived to see the transformation of Shoal Bay as far as I can remember some 51 years ago. One can only imagine what the area was like 51 years ago and compare it to what it is today.
“I have to congratulate the Goldsteins for taking the bold step in putting a facility like Zemi Beach Resort in Shoal Bay. Of course I must also recognise the vision of the late Connell Harrigan, the first person who built a house on the beach at Shoal Bay – and later on developed some rooms for rent and so forth, so he must not be left out of the development there.”
Mr. Rogers continued: “Shoal Bay will grow from strength to strength. There are some issues there with respect to ownership of land around the beach. I would like to see the Government, apart from just [dealing with] the right of ways and public access to the beach,… acquire some land there whereby Shoal Bay can really be developed to its full potential, as opposed to be just for hotel development. Of course hotel developments are welcome, but at the same point in time the general public must also have the space and area whereby we can go and enjoy ourselves at what we think is one of the world’s best beaches.”
The Minister further commented: “It is going to be challenging in the sense that there is some earth work that needs to be done and infrastructural changes that are to take place. The road going into Shoal Bay has always been a heavily-used road. Now with the opening of Zemi Beach Resort, and persons going to and from in terms of work, it is going to be even more critical for us to straighten up the road by taking out some of the corners. As a regular driver on that road, I have seen too many accidents with vehicles overturned in certain spots etc. We have to work very quickly to be able to sort that out.”
Mr. Rogers also took the opportunity to make some additional comments. “I am one who believes in green areas and open spaces so that the people can really enjoy the beaches. We take it for granted but when we travel to other places, and this is not there, then we r
ealise what we have. Manoah [Resort] is under construction and we have Shoal Bay Villas there, but you wouldn’t want the area to be congested so that the general public can continue to relax there and have picnics and so on, without infringing on the guests and the accommodation places. But it has to be a mixture and a balance. That’s why we have to acquire some land, and that is one of the things I want to see [as one] whose unbiblical chord is buried in Shoal Bay.”
Mr. Rogers added: “The Fountain Cavern and heritage site are also being developed. It is a fantastic job with limited resources but, as Shoal Bay develops, the Fountain and surrounding area can be fully utilised not only by visitors, but locals as well.”
