Tarpum Bay Commoners Rules (Cap. 152)

COMMONAGE [CH.152 – 3 [Original Service 2001] STATUTE LAW OF THE BAHAMAS CHAPTER 152 COMMONAGE TARPUM BAY COMMONERS RULES (SECTION 11) [Commencement 1st May, 1926] 1. These Rules may be cited as the Tarpum Bay Commoners Rules. 2. When a commoner having felled or cut down land fails within three years to plant the same, the same shall be considered abandoned and thereupon any other commoner may take possession of and cultivate such land. 3. No commoner shall cultivate any land within twelve feet of another commoner’s land, whether the land of such latter commoner is cultivated or not, without the consent of such latter commoner. 4. No commoner shall burn any field within one hundred feet of another commoner’s land, whether such latter commoner’s land is cultivated or not, without giving notice in writing to such latter commoner of his intention to burn such field. If any damage results from a failure to comply with this rule the same shall be assessed by two disinterested commoners, one of whom shall be appointed by the party injured and the other by the party whose act caused the injury complained of; in case such arbitrators cannot agree they shall appoint an umpire to decide between them and the decision of such umpire shall be final. 5. No commoner shall from and after the coming into force of these Rules sell or dispose of to any other commoner any land which may have been cut down or felled by such first-mentioned commoner. 6. Every commoner shall be entitled at all times to have free access to all wells, cisterns and watering places, containing water, and a fair use and distribution of any water supply for drinking and/or other purposes. G.N. 144/1926 Short title. Failure to cultivate land. Proximity of cultivation. Setting fire. Selling land. Watering places. CH.152 – 4] COMMONAGE STATUTE LAW OF THE BAHAMAS [Original Service 2001] 7. These Rules shall apply to all commoners within the district of Tarpum Bay. HARBOUR ISLAND AND SPANISH WELLS COMMONERS RULES (SECTION 11) [Commencement 15th August, 1938] 1. These Rules may be cited as the Harbour Island and Spanish Wells Commoners Rules. 2. When a commoner is registered under these Rules he shall pay to the commissioner a fee of ten cents. 3. A register of commoners shall be formed and kept by the commissioner at Dunmore Town, Harbour Island. 4. Meetings of the commoners may be summoned at any time by the commissioner, or by the chairman, or by five or more commoners. Public notice of any such meeting shall be given twenty-four hours before such meeting by a crier in the streets of the respective settlements. 5. When a commoner, having felled land, fails within one year to cultivate the same, or having cultivated the same or any other piece or portion of land for a period of years, fails for three consecutive years to cultivate same, the land shall be considered abandoned and thereupon any other commoner may take possession of and cultivate such land. 6. No commoner shall cultivate any land within fifteen feet of the land of another commoner whether the same is under cultivation or not without the consent of the commoner who is in possession of the adjacent land. 7. No person shall enter upon the land of a commoner without his permission or other lawful excuse. 8. A commoner shall not fell more land than he is able to cultivate within a year. 9. Fire shall not be put to any land in possession of a commoner until reasonable notice has been given to the occupiers of the adjacent land: Application. G.N. 226/1938 5 of 1987 Short title. 5. of 1987, Sch. Fee Register. Meetings. Failure to cultivate land. Proximity of cultivation. Unlawful entry. Land cultivation. Setting fire.