What we discovered amid the long-running soap opera that was Shelly Bay Beach was the scope for Bermudian antipathy towards one of the two pillars of our economy when it gets too close to home.

An island that advertises itself as possessing many and varied beaches for tourists to avail themselves of should not be subscribing to the theory that all beaches are equal, but some beaches are more equal than others.

We have enough private beaches as it is that few will ever get to experience in their lifetimes without effectively putting up “Locals Only” signs to discourage those who help to sustain our future.

That essentially is what happened at Shelly Bay, where “residential” pressure, despite the Bermuda Tourism Authority having already conducted a successful consultation period, has resulted in a progressive idea being cast out to sea.

It smacks of “Bermuda for Bermudians” or “Putting Bermudians First”, whichever slogan of isolation more aptly describes the corner that the Progressive Labour Party backed itself into upon reclaiming the government.

What is not lost in the aftermath of the BTA ultimately being disinvited from its own party is that four local entrepreneurs, each with an affinity with the Hamilton Parish area, will have to look elsewhere to grow their business — surely not a case of Bermudians being put first.

The counterpoint to make the beach more handicap-friendly is a good one that easily could have gone hand-in-hand with the greater visitor experience that would have been provided by any combination of Ashley’s Lemonade, Simple Café, the Smokin’ Barrel food truck, and Tarzan Boat and Beach Equipment Rentals.

Alone, though, it is merely an improved Shelly Bay Beach; not an inviting one for our valued guests.