Key Takeaways
- Jamaicans used to have access to over 260 beaches, but corrupt governments privatized most beachfront properties.
- Beach access advocates have tried to restore public access, but their efforts faced significant challenges.
- The Jamaican government finally acknowledged that free beach access exists, listing 60 public beaches across the island.
- Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett highlighted that claims of restricted beach access harm Jamaica’s reputation and finances.
- Free public beaches span various parishes, with St. Elizabeth having the highest number at nine locations.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Once upon a time, Jamaicans had access to all of the more than 260 beaches on the Island. But, over the years, corrupt governments have privatized much of the prime beachfront property. As a result, the people were deprived of free access to these beautiful shores.
Beach access advocates have worked diligently to persuade the government and corrupt politicians to stop the sale of beachfront properties. Yet, their efforts have largely been in vain.
In recent years, these advocates have intensified their online campaign against the government led by Andrew Holness. And after years of denying that the Jamaican people have free access to all their beaches, the government has finally acknowledged the truth.
It has published a list of just 60 lesser-known beaches across the island that provide free public access.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has stated that allegations claiming Jamaicans do not have access to their beaches are damaging Jamaica’s reputation. Besides, these claims costs the government money to address.
Only 60 out of over 260 Jamaican beaches provide free access.
More than half of the 60 beaches listed are located along Jamaica’s northern coastline. This area spans the parishes of Hanover, St. James, Trelawny, St. Ann, St. Mary, and Portland. These beaches include:
Hanover: Orchard/Old Steamer, Tryall Beach, Bulls Bay, Lances Bay, and Watson Taylor Park.
St. James: Sunset Beach, Dead End, Coral Gardens, Success, Greenwood, and Barrett Hall.
Trelawny: Rio Bueno, Flamingo, Halfmoon Bay, and Jacob Taylor/Silver Sands.
St. Ann: Priory/Fantasy; Bengal; Cardiff Hall/Flavours; Salem/Sharkies; and Roxborough.
St. Mary: Pagee/Frontier, Annotto Bay Beach/Marking Stone, Rio Nuevo, and Murdock.
Portland: Hope Bay, St. Margaret’s Bay, Innis Bay, Bryan’s Bay, Long Bay, Blue Hole, Drapers, and Winnifred.
St. Elizabeth contains the highest number of free public beaches. There are nine locations: Great Bay, Fort Charles, Crane Road/Fullerswood, Frenchman Bay, Font Hill, Calabash Bay, Parottee, Galleon Bay, and Billy’s Bay.
The neighboring parish of Westmoreland has three public beaches: Community Beach/Norman Manley Beach Park, Little Bay, and Whitehouse.
Additionally, there are eight free public beaches across the central parishes of St. Catherine, Clarendon, and Manchester. These include:
St. Catherine: Port Henderson and Marine Terminal.
Clarendon: Jackson Bay, Farquhar’s, and Welcome.
Manchester: Alligator Pond, Hudson Bay Beach/Guts River, and Wards Bay.
In the eastern parish of St. Thomas, seven public beaches are available. These are Lyssons, Prospect, Retreat, Rocky Point, Mezgars Run, South Haven, and Coopers Pen.
In the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, there is one public beach – Copacabana.