Who owns ‘the moon’? Gate closure rekindles debate over public access in Cap Estate

Access to “the moon”, a popular lookout spot on the outskirts of the upscale Sea Breeze Heights community in Cap Estate, is currently restricted by a locked gate at the community’s entrance. The gate’s closure has many Saint Lucians wondering ‘why’, ‘for how long’, and–if the closure is intended to be permanent–’is a mutual compromise even possible.’

‘The moon’, a small plot of land located atop the north-eastern tip of Mount Hardy, offers spectacular views of Saint Lucia’s northeastern coast, uninterrupted views of the ocean, neighbouring island Martinique, and the eastern horizon where gazers frequently witness the rising of the sun and moon — giving the spot its name. Along the mountain’s side are worn trails, offering those seeking adventure ways to trek down closer to the sea.

The area has grown in popularity over the past two decades.

“I’ve been frequenting ‘the moon’ for the last six years since I’ve been driving, and it’s always been somewhere that’s comfortable to access,” said Eddison Layne, owner of Cardinal Vegan. He used the area as a recreational space to unwind and recalls over time seeing increasingly more tour operators bringing visitors to the site.

One tour guide requesting anonymity said he was en route to the site with a guest in October when he first encountered the locked gate. “I was with a guest. Usually, people like to go see that view of the north of the island.”

He recalls first finding the spot in 2010. “People who live in other parts of Cap Estate, it was also a recreational spot for them, because a resident there first showed me the area, so that’s one of my concerns, that actual residents of Cap Estate no longer have access.”

He says during late-night and early-morning visits to the area with visitors, he would witness groups of elderly women gathering in the area to watch the full moon climb above the horizon, priests praying, fitness tours, and music video shoots.

He shared that the spot was beneficial as sight-seeing opportunities in the north of Saint Lucia are few. Beyond Pigeon Island, beaches and other more secluded, harder to reach terrain, he said, “there was also the hiking trail at Mount Pimard but they’ve put a hotel there.” 

While Mount Pimard’s hiking trail is currently inaccessible due to the construction of A’ila Resorts, officials have said a new version of the trail would become accessible to the public once construction is complete.

Cabot Saint Lucia, a site near the base of Mount Hardy overlooked by ‘the moon’, also came under scrutiny over land use and land access. It is believed that the development was built on an Amerindian Burial Site and posed a threat to artefacts Saint Lucia’s National Trust said could be valuable for the country. However, Cabot developers moved forward with construction after Dr Reginald Murphy conducted a physical study in the area, and reported finding that the site had already been “99 percent eroded or washed away”. 

Still, Cabot Saint Lucia sits on land that surrounds the northern coastline and needed to be reacquired by the government. “In the case of Cabot, the State had to reacquire certain areas of the king’s chain [coastal areas legally protected or reserved for public access] that were already released to Cabot… in order to maintain that area as public space,” says former member of the Saint Lucia National Trust and history enthusiast, Calixte George Jr.

‘The moon’, surrounded by residential properties, presents a different challenge as a concrete paved road believed to have been built privately gives others access to the land.

Efforts to get in touch with Sea Breeze Heights residents were unsuccessful and it remains unclear whether the gate’s closure is temporary or permanent.

However, Layne says though he still enjoyed ‘the moon’, reports of thefts recently dampened its allure.  

“There’s very much a residential aspect to it which, in my opinion, is private property and that’s why I am not surprised that the gate was installed and that it’s been closed recently.” Layne explained that the now closed gate had been installed for several years, but was left open. “Even I, travelling up there, have been exercising caution and not going up there late at night recklessly or without observing the place properly.”

Layne says he was particularly deterred by reports of robbery, including one incident where, during a late-night visit to the lookout point, a couple’s car was stolen at gunpoint. The two sought help from a nearby resident after being left without their phones and as the man was reportedly left naked.

Despite its widespread use for innocent fun, ‘the moon’ had also developed a reputation as a place where people engaged in sexual activity. Littering had also become a concern for many.

Efforts to seek further clarity on the status of access to ‘the moon’ from the Development Control Authority or Land Registry were unsuccessful.

Noting the safety and privacy concern for Sea Breeze Heights residents, George said, “The question is how do you balance there being such a beautiful view at ‘the moon’, with whether anything can be done to allow for access to those views?”

Recounting the site’s history, George believes Mount Hardy was included in a large-scale land purchase by a syndicate operating under the company name Cap Estate Limited in the 1940s. The area was later purchased by an American buyer, Dennis Nardoni, including Sea Breeze Heights, but not outskirts overlooking the sea – the area known as ‘the moon’. 

Sea Breeze’s lots would later be sold to various buyers, but George says the area known as “the moon” could still be considered as owned by Cap Estate Limited. “If you look at the subdivision map, it’s not actually on it, but there are lots all along the area to get to it.”

George, weighing the options, said, “I don’t know if a similar act, like in the instance of Cabot, could be done in this situation. Even if that were done, there would still be a need to create some form of alternative access to that area, which might very well be costly.”