Reviving Pagee: Community anticipates beach revamp

The once-vibrant Pagee Beach, nestled in Port Maria, St Mary, is poised for a revival as part of the National Beach Development Programme. Formerly a magnet for visitors drawn to its white sand, beachfront, cuisine and vibrant culture, Pagee's charm waned over the years, overshadowed by pollution and neglect.

When THE STAR visited the beach last Friday, fishermen's boats lined the beach, but garbage also lined the once picturesque shoreline.

President of the fisherfolk organisation, Inga Wilson, told THE STAR that the community works hard to keep the beach clean, but the battle against the garbage is constant because of its location.

"It nuh easy enuh, because we are in the middle of two river beds -- yuh have Pagee River up there suh and yuh have Otram River -- suh when all of the garbage come out from those rivers, yuh know where it ends up? On Pagee Beach," Wilson said.

"We can wake up every day and clean up the beach, but you'll still see garbage come up on the beach. We can put as many garbage cans as we want along here in front of the businesses, but you're still going to see garbage down there," Wilson added.

She expressed the community's aspirations for sustainable development, advocating for improved fishing infrastructure, enhanced market facilities, and opportunities for local fisherfolk to tap into international markets with value-added products. While welcoming Pagee's impending makeover, the community is adamant about preserving its unique character and heritage amid the upgrades. Wilson is also adamant that people should not be displaced as a result of the revamp.

"We want the businesses on the beach to be a part of the development; meaning, don't shut them down because they may not be up to standard. The same notion that you would give the fishermen in sensitising them, the same social intervention is needed so that businesses can take the necessary steps to prepare for licensing and registration, and all that," Wilson said.

"What we want is for these businesses to have sustainable development for themselves, so we can have ownership of where we are and keep the authenticity. Because once you change that, you change the culture of Pagee, and you'll see the same brand like they brand all the other beaches. They're all the same, they all look the same, they all feel the same even though they're in different locations. It's not the same authenticity that's there from the original days, and we don't want that for Pagee" Wilson added.

Last month, Governor General Patrick Allen, in delivering the Throne Speech, said several public beaches, including Pagee, are targeted for enhancement in the 2024-2025 financial year. He said that eight beaches are at various stages of the design and approval process.

"The provision of greater access to suitable public beach facilities to all Jamaicans remains a priority," he said.