Stop taking away our chill spots

One of the things I liked most about living on an island is that the sea surrounds us.

What that means is that there are many spots along the coastline where a typical islander can just go hang out, swim, and chill on the sand.

I am not a strong swimmer, but I do enjoy the occasional swim for a few yards just to shake the cobwebs out of my body.

Back in the 1980s, I enjoyed spending time at Burwood Beach in Trelawny. It was free and you could just go and chill.

In the 1970s, my family and I occasionally visited Puerto Seco Beach in St Ann. Mom would cook Sunday dinner early and we would head out to St Ann to the beach, pay a nominal entry free and then go find a spot to spread a blanket.

After a swim and some fun chasing my sisters across the white sand, we would settle on the grass to feast on plates of tasty rice and peas and fried chicken.

As I spread my wings across the island, there were beaches I enjoyed in Yallahs and Portland.

These days, beaches are rapidly becoming corporate; by that I mean big businesses are taking over our beaches and turning them into places I do not like.

When I go to the beach, I go to get away from the hustle and bustle of regular life. What I do not need is structure, people telling me where I can or not sit.

What I also do not need are chain-link fences, obnoxious security guards and exorbitant entry fees.

These days, it seems like every single time there is an unspoilt strip of beach, someone believes it’s a good idea to take that away.

No, let us be. There are some of us who really do not want the fancy stuff.

There is beauty in simplicity, and just because people have money it does not mean they have to buy everything in sight just so they can try to make an extra buck.

We the people are from this land; we should be afforded the ability to enjoy it too.

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