Public beach warning - Stakeholders sound alarm that free access could leave security, maintenance gaps
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Portland
A growing call for Jamaicans to be allowed to enjoy public beaches free of charge is bringing sharp focus to urgent maintenance concerns, including the need for lifeguards and sanitary facilities, which could seriously affect day-to-day operations at open facilities.
Local officials, while endorsing free access, acknowledge high maintenance costs and the need for robust oversight, raising questions about whether public beach access can be streamlined to the benefit of all —allowing visitors to enjoy beaches “free from fear and free of fear”—without compromising safety and cleanliness.
Added to the mix is the fear that ceding authority to public interests and public pressure could leave facilities vulnerable to touts, pimps, drug pushers, and other unsavoury characters whose sole aim is to hustle, which often triggers unease and fear among users of those facilities, including visitors.
The compelling situation is evident at several beaches in Portland and St Mary, which are woefully lacking maintenance, lifeguards, and proper management, seemingly threatening to derail what many describe “as a well-needed initiative in creating access to public beaches”.
Councillor for the Port Antonio Division, Dexter Rowland of the People’s National Party, is among those clamouring for free beach access, which according to him offers relaxation, recreation, and entertainment to those desiring use of public beaches without any hassle.
“By law, people should have free access to beaches for their recreational purposes. And it is absolutely necessary as many are unable to access private beaches due to cost for entry,” Rowland said.
“Yes, there will be maintenance costs, which might require the charging of a small entrance fee to meet that, but any charge for entry should be a minimum charge, so as to ensure that the poor and less fortunate will be able to access the beach. On the other hand, the Government can also factor this into the budget during the budget presentation, which will allow for the allocation of money towards the maintenance of public beaches,” he added.
Winnifred Beach in Fairy Hill, Portland, is among those beaches gasping for air as high maintenance costs are seemingly choking its operations. The challenges at the pristine white sand beach, a favourite getaway for many, include sanitary conveniences that are woefully lacking and in need of a facelift, no lifeguard on duty, lack of electricity, and day-to-day hustling, further compounded by the peddling of drugs.
But while Rowland stated that one of the options which can be undertaken by government to ensure that public beaches are maintained is to factor it into its budget, Minister with responsibility for Water, Environment and Climate Change, Matthew Samuda, recently stated that if we look at the management of our public beaches over the years, because we have been through several decades of economic malaise, we've not done particularly well with free public beaches.
According to Samuda, it is why even with the 1956 Act and the amendment done by former Prime Minister Michael Manley, a licensing regime was implemented because government simply didn't have the funds to maintain these public spaces with free access.
“Most of these beaches do have a nominal charge that goes into cleaning the bathrooms, that goes into security, that goes into lights for parking areas that absorb some of the costs that exist beyond the local debate,” Samuda stated.
“There are concerns about the impact of some of the information being circulated. Tourism remains one of Jamaica's most important economic drivers, and the country's beaches are among its recognisable assets. Several beaches have been identified for beach upgrades across five parishes.
“We are investing in beach access. Beach access is a buzzword term or a popular term to mention, but beach access requires roads, it requires public infrastructure that can manage crowds, parking lot security monitoring, lifeguard stations, bathrooms. It does require some commercial activity to be able to take place. All of that takes investment, and the government is investing at an unprecedented rate in creating genuine beach access,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Port Antonio Paul Thompson is heaping praise on the Jamaica National Heritage Trust for its role in rehabilitating and overhauling the outlook at Blue Lagoon, one of the parish’s premier tourist attraction sites, which underwent major transformation recently.
“Blue Lagoon is now a picturesque beauty with its glittering blue waters, lifeguards, sanitary conveniences, and a display area for craft vendors,” said Thompson.
“Additionally, there is free public access from the time the beach is open at 9 a.m. right up to 5 p.m. daily. The only difference is that security personnel are on location to ensure that law and order is maintained. There is no harassment or peddling of drugs, which once plagued the Blue Lagoon facility. I am sure that all will agree that the closure of the Blue Lagoon facility three years ago, and now its reopening, was well worth the wait,” he concluded.
Other beaches like Boston Beach, which is leased to a private operator, continue to function efficiently, as bathroom facilities are well kept, a lifeguard is on duty, and an entry fee is required to enter that beach facility. Additionally, Shanshy Beach, which is now open to the public following the shutdown of business by its owners, has seen in a short time an influx of rodents and signs of wear and tear of its structure.
By contrast, Pagee Beach in St Mary, with its glittering white sand, is for the most part a fisherman’s beach, which also allows for free beach access, but is without a bathroom, a shower, and without a lifeguard, offering very limited comfort to beachgoers.
For fisherman Clive Bishop, who has occupied Pagee Beach for the better part of 25 years, free access to public beaches is important, as according to him, not everyone will be allowed into a private beach space, which at most caters for the rich and famous.
“The only problem is dat we need bathroom facility pon di beach dem. We also need at least one lifeguard, piped water, electricity, and a janitor to do cleaning. So it a go need money and real help from government to ensure proper maintenance,” Bishop stated.