The National Parks Authority (NPA) has rejected claims of bias following the sudden closure of Lucky Eddi’s in English Harbour.
In a statement responding to a press release from Paddy Prendergast, speaking for the business, the NPA said the decision to shut down was not the result of punitive action, but rather a long-standing issue of non-compliance with regulations.
The Authority said Lucky Eddi’s had operated in the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park without the necessary trading licence since 2022 and had failed to meet key safety and environmental standards. These included inadequate wastewater treatment, fire safety concerns, and noise complaints from nearby residents.
The NPA said it had made multiple efforts to support the venue’s regularisation, including waiving fees and permitting events such as the 2024 Heineken Party. However, it said conditions for that event were ignored, creating public safety risks that required police intervention.
In line with a wider policy to manage high-risk events in the UNESCO-listed park, the NPA moved to limit such gatherings at the site. Alternative venues were offered free of charge, but organisers declined.
The Authority said broader measures—including stricter parking controls and formalised event management—were part of efforts to preserve the park’s safety, heritage, and sustainability.
It said portraying these actions as punitive was “misleading and disappointing.”
The NPA expressed its appreciation for the staff and patrons of Lucky Eddi’s and reaffirmed its commitment to working transparently with all stakeholders.
