J’cans to get greater access to beaches

The Jamaican Government is proposing to give Jamaicans greater access to "reach, pass through, or utilise the beaches". The suggestion is contained in a draft Beach Access and Management Policy, which was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

The move to grant increased access to beaches follows complaints from the public regarding the unavailability of access points to beaches, limited public beaches of a good standard, payment of fees for access, and the loss of physical and visual access to the sea and coastline as a result of coastal developments.

"Over the years, there has been public outcry as it relates to beach access and this has not been abated in recent times. In the last two years, there have been numerous articles in the media that espouse the public's belief that beach access issues in Jamaica are matters of importance and need to be addressed," the policy said.

The government document outlines a plan to review legislation to include the right public access; modernise the categories of beaches and the associated fees, where applicable, under the Beach Control Act; and rationalise the ownership and management of fishing beaches.

The policy noted that many of the island's beaches have remained in a state of disrepair and some beaches, which were once used by the public, have since been included in hotel developments or have been otherwise privatised.

Now, the Government says the rights of the public to walk along beaches, and to bathe in the sea, are to be provided through an amendment to the Beach Control Act.

"These rights will be a qualified right as there will be obligations for both the public and, where applicable, licensees. The rights of the public within a licensed area will be subject to the conditions of the licence and the rules governing the area," the policy said.

In addition to increasing access to, and improving the standard of beaches, the Government says hotels will be encouraged to implement a beach-pass system to facilitate access by the public to hotel beaches, at a reasonable fee, to persons who are not guests of the hotel.

Under the policy, the sale of public beaches will have to be approved by the Cabinet.