By Michael Spence
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| Michael Spence |
People in authority knowing the facts talk about "beach access." They don't explain the scamming details:
HIGH WATER MARK access vs. Shoreline/BEACH LAND access.
In law, the space up to the high water mark where the heaviest waves reach — belongs to the Jamaican people.
Getting there is the problem. Except by boat, helicopter, parachute, submarine, ship, or swimming. How do you reach it? The cumbersome legal reason is that private lands run right up to the high water mark.
Under the Beach Control Act of 1956, you have NO general right to walk, bathe, or sit on that foreshore.
Only fishermen kept rights from before 1956. Bathers and hustlers have none. So, the beach is "public" in name, but we are fenced out in reality.
Jamaica has 424 beaches. Only 72 were public up to 2025 for a population of 2.7 million.
Jamaica also has 494 miles / 795 km of shoreline, Only 2.8 miles / 4.5 km designated as public beach, about 0.6%. That is a plantation tourism model.
These exclusionary laws existed before Emancipation in 1838, before Independence in 1962, and were locked in by the Beach Control Act 1956. Six (6) years BEFORE Independence.
Let that sink in; there was never really any reform. Just renaming, with which numerous governments, investors, businesspeople, journalists, and intellectuals were complicit.
I have been to Barbados. Anywhere I saw a beach, I stopped and entered. No argument, no fencing, no security guard, and no harassment from anyone, not even sellers. That I found strange coming from Jamaica. In Barbados, every beach is public up to the high-water mark, even in front of the biggest resort.
They have 85 public access beaches for a near 290,000 population. There is a 30-meter/33-yard setback. Imagine one and a half cricket pitches, pin to pin. No hotel can tell you to leave the sand.
Jamaica needs that civilized model, not this primitive exclusionary plantation model. Even if we have to adopt the Barbados model going forward.
PM, if Barbados, Mia Mottley, kindly advise Jamaica on the architecture of how to eliminate this beach-exclusionary disrespect.
Michael Spence
Michael Spence is a graduate of Cornwall College and the University of the West Indies. He is a trained teacher, a sociologist, and a writer for Bark Di Trute.
Micspen2@hotmail.com
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How do people in Barbados access beaches that are in front of hotels, do they trek through the hotel to get there? It would be interesting to know how it works. Sometimes, though, we have to consider culture. The all-inclusive concept was introduced in JA because of crime. Truth be told, we Jamaicans have no behaviour. Hellshire Beach is no more because of the chaos and disorder wid all dem sewage a go inna di sea. I was told about a beach that was refurbished with amenities, including bathrooms by the UDC and the toilets were stolen the DAY AFTER they were installed. But, as usual, in our eyes, only politicians are the corrupt ones in this country.
ReplyDeleteThe hotels do not block access to the beaches. The hotels are some distance away from the beaches.
DeleteOkay noted. This is how it should have been from beginning, I suppose. But, it gone bad already. It'll be almost impossible to undo this situation.
DeleteOk now I understand thanks.
ReplyDeleteIn other words in Barbados you cannot put your fence closer than 33 yards from the high water mark..
Residents and others therefore would not have to enter from the sea to reach up to the high water mark.
Going forward that 1956 Beach Coontrol Act needs to be amended and revise.
PM.Mottleiy Heeelp Jamaica Pleassse tell dem how fi deal wid di Beach Access for all Jamaicans.
ReplyDeletePM.Mottleiy Heeelp Jamaica Pleassse tell dem how fi deal wid di Beach Access for all Jamaicans.
ReplyDeleteExcellent article the clarity re Beach access has been clarified.
ReplyDeleteIf this nuh scamming chopping the beaches facilitated by the 1956.Beach Control "by whom" Act
ReplyDeleteBeach Control scam soon no Jamaican enter a beach.
ReplyDeleteWhat can go so ,big up Mia Mottley all we good for is mek noise whine up,talk nastiness while others capture our lands,economy and beaches.
What a Barking Disgrace now the second poorest per capita GDP in .the Caribbean only Haiti worse than we.
Vote against America Re Cuba nuh "dawg name we suppa".