Jamaica court blocks beach access restrictions, backing public access fight
A temporary injunction prevents the government from restricting Little Dunn's River, marking a rare win for activists seeking to overturn a 1956 law that privatized Jamaica's coastlines.
What to know
- A Jamaican court issued a temporary injunction blocking government restrictions on public access to Little Dunn's River, marking a rare legal victory for activists fighting to overturn the 1956 Beach Control Act that has allowed beach privatization.
- The injunction challenges a system that has enabled successive governments to sell Jamaica's coastlines to luxury hoteliers, a practice described as a colonial legacy that disadvantages ordinary Jamaicans.
- The government announced it will appeal the ruling, arguing that beach restrictions protect critical tourism investment (the largest foreign exchange earner) and public safety, while claiming it is improving access through updated legislation and planned access points.
- Multiple beach access cases are ongoing across Jamaica, and activists say this court victory strengthens their position in other litigation challenging beach privatization.
“The matter of beach access is right across Jamaica. And we just had some success at Little Dunn's River with that injunction. It gives us hope. Because the fact is that one judge now believes that Jamaicans should have access”
Wilbourn Carr, Beach access activist · The Guardian ↗
Dr Devon Taylor Founder of Jabbem, immunologistEva Buzo Australian human rights lawyer and marathon swimmerMatthew Samuda Jamaica environment ministerWilbourn Carr Beach access activist in Portland parish
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Jamaica government announces appeal of beach access injunction
Environment Minister Matthew Samuda said the government will appeal the court injunction, arguing the restrictions protect critical tourism investment and public safety. He said the government is instead improving beach access through new legislation requiring developers to create access points.
“Because of the cultural sensitivity and the love that certain residents of St Ann and those who travel far and wide to come to the facility have for the space, the government intervened and said it would put up appropriate security structures and would facilitate free access to this area on a weekend basis, Friday, Saturday and Sunday…”
— Matthew Samuda -
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Eva Buzo completes marathon swim to Little Dunn's River to support beach access campaign — Australian human rights lawyer and celebrated marathon swimmer Eva Buzo completed an 11-hour swim to One Man Beach in Montego Bay to show solidarity with Jabbem's campaign for free public beach access. She called the privatization of beaches a colonial legacy.
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Court issues temporary injunction blocking beach access restrictions at Little Dunn's River — A Jamaican court issued an injunction preventing the government from continuing to restrict access to Little Dunn's River in St Ann while litigation over the 1956 Beach Control Act continues. This marks a rare victory for Jabbem in one of several ongoing court cases.
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Dr Devon Taylor founds Jabbem to fight beach privatization — Dr Devon Taylor, an immunologist with a PhD in biochemistry, establishes the Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (Jabbem) to challenge the privatization of Jamaica's public beaches through legal action.
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Jamaica passes Beach Control Act giving state ownership of coastlines — The 1956 Beach Control Act grants the Jamaican state ownership of the island's foreshore and seabed, enabling successive administrations to restrict public beach access and sell off coastlines to wealthy luxury hoteliers.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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3 outlets ‘Plantation tourism’: court victory signals hope in Jamaica’s fight to keep beaches public
first by Guardian Business, 8d ago · also Guardian Environment, The Guardian