The Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement secured a temporary injunction preventing the government from blocking public access to Little Dunn’s River in St Ann. Activists, supported by high-profile advocacy like marathon swimmer Eva Buzo's 11-hour swim, argue that coastal restrictions unfairly lock citizens out of their own heritage. However, the government plans to appeal, with Environment Minister Matthew Samuda defending state interventions as necessary safety measures following a murder at the site.
Key points
Campaigners are actively challenging the colonial-era 1956 Beach Control Act to halt the…: Campaigners are actively challenging the colonial-era 1956 Beach Control Act to halt the privatization of Jamaica's foreshore and seabed.
The Jamaican government intends to appeal the court injunction to protect a tourism indus…: The Jamaican government intends to appeal the court injunction to protect a tourism industry that supports nearly 200,000 workers.
Proposed updates to coastal legislation will mandate that future resort developments inco…: Proposed updates to coastal legislation will mandate that future resort developments incorporate public access points for local citizens.
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When the Australian human rights lawyer Eva Buzo emerged from the sea on to the shores of One Man Beach in Montego Bay on Sunday after her gruelling, nearly 11-hour-long swim, the thunderous pulse of welcome drums was drowned out by the chants of “free beach” from jubilant supporters.
Here in Jamaica’s tourism capital, against a backdrop of jagged mountains and sunset-tinted clouds, Buzo – a celebrated marathon swimmer – said she was pleased to help support the important work of the Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (Jabbem) and others fighting for free public access to Jamaica’s beaches.
“People’s rights are more important these days than ever, and people keep on trying to encroach on our fundamental freedoms,” she said, calling the privatisation of beaches a colonial legacy. But for Jabbem, her swim was not the most significant milestone this month in its fight for public access.
That came earlier in October, when Jabbem celebrated a rare victory in one of several court cases to end the 1956 Beach Control Act that had given the state ownership of the island’s…
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