Jamaican Activists File Court Cases Over Beach Access Restrictions

Five court cases are scheduled to begin later this month over public access to beaches in Jamaica. The disputes involve Mammee Bay and Little Dunn's River in St Ann, the Blue Lagoon in Portland, Bob Marley beach in St Andrews, and Flankers/Providence beach in Montego Bay.

Activists say fences, security guards, and new construction have blocked long-standing public routes to the shoreline. They argue that the restrictions cut off fishing, recreation, and small-scale vending that communities have relied on for generations.

Background on the Legal Framework Jamaica's 1956 Beach Control Act gives the state ownership of the foreshore and seabed. Any development on these areas requires government approval. The law was retained after independence in 1962. Campaigners say the statute and later policies have enabled large tourism projects while limiting local entry.

March the government proposed a beach access and management policy intended to update the 1956 statute. Campaigners say the new measures still permit fees or permits that could restrict entry. They also express concern that the reconstruction law may affect rights established under the older Prescription Act.

A government minister stated that recent development approvals require corridors to the sea and that new public beach parks are planned. The opposition's shadow environment minister said successive administrations have allowed privatization and that the practice should end.