Jamaica's beaches have long been a source of livelihood, recreation, and cultural significance for its people. However, a growing battle for beach access has emerged, pitting local communities against the government and powerful tourism interests. Devon Taylor, founder of the Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (Jabbem), describes it as a fight for survival, a struggle against what he calls 'plantation tourism'.
The issue is deeply rooted in Jamaica's colonial past, where beaches and lands were owned by the British monarch. Despite gaining independence in 1962, many legal systems, including the Beach Control Act, remained unchanged, giving the state ownership of the foreshore and seabed. This has led to a situation where communities are being denied access to spaces that are integral to their way of life.
"When you cut us off from the sea, you're setting us up to starve," Taylor emphasizes. This sentiment is echoed by Olando Brown, a campaigner in Flankers, who says, "Our foreparents shed blood for this land. We shouldn't be forced to fight for what is already ours."
The Blue Lagoon, a 55-meter-deep lagoon surrounded by lush greenery, is a prime example. Colin Beckford, president of the Blue Lagoon Alliance, highlights its importance: "For generations, this beach has sustained all the communities around it." Yet, local authorities have closed the lagoon, promising improvements but, according to campaigners, with the intention of permanently restricting public access to facilitate private villa construction.
In Little Dunn's River, Damion Coombs, Jabbem's director of community engagement, draws a parallel between the current situation and colonial logic, where locals are considered unworthy of enjoying their coastlines. He argues, "We are generating the revenue, but we're not gaining from it."
The government, through Matthew Samuda, the minister of environment and climate change, acknowledges the need for change. Samuda points to the construction of beach parks in Montego Bay and St. James as steps towards ensuring that Jamaica's natural assets benefit its citizens. However, campaigners remain skeptical, arguing that the proposed beach access and management policy still allows for unacceptable restrictions.
Jabbem's concerns extend to the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (Narra) Act, which they believe weakens the Prescription Act, a law that protects public access routes. Taylor warns that Narra lacks checks and balances, concentrating power in the prime minister's office.
The battle for beach access has transformed Devon Taylor, an immunologist with a PhD in biochemistry, into an 'anti-colonial fighter.' He sees it as a struggle against the vestiges of colonialism, land dispossession, and environmental degradation. "I am a Rastafarian and a son of Jamaica," he says, "and so this movement has driven me to become an environmental defender and an anti-colonial fighter."
This complex issue highlights the ongoing tensions between economic development, tourism, and the rights and needs of local communities. It raises questions about the legacy of colonialism and the role of institutions in addressing historical injustices. As the first trial approaches, the outcome of these court cases will have a significant impact on the future of Jamaica's beaches and the communities that depend on them.
