The Government will be upgrading several beaches across the island for public access.

This was announced on Thursday, March 24, 2024, by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during his 2024-2025 Budget Presentation in the House of Representatives.

According to Prime Minister Holness, the existing Fantasy Beach Park in Priory St Ann will be developed into a Parish Beach Park, similar to Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay.

“Beyond the 2024/2025 budget year, we will be developing the Boston Beach Park in Portland and we will do a major beach park in Negril”, he added.

Other beaches slated for upgrading include the Watson Taylor Park in Hanover; Success Beach in St. James; Priory in St. Ann; Rio Nuevo and Murdock Beaches in St. Mary; Winnifred Beach in Portland, Rocky Point in St. Thomas; Guts River in Manchester as well as Crane Road and Alligator Pond in St. Elizabeth.

The Prime Minister also reported that the Beach Access and Management Policy is complete and would be tabled at the next sitting of the House.

The Policy seeks to ensure Jamaica’s beaches are preserved and sustainably managed for present and future generations, and provision is made for access of Jamaicans and visitors alike.

“I’ve listened very carefully to the debates around beach access.  I had to do it because the Policy falls under the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and we have spent a lot of time going through the Policy because the issues are fundamental.  We are dealing with the rights of the people. We are dealing with people’s prescriptive rights. We are dealing with property rights. We are dealing with people’s right to enjoy their environment and we have to go through all of them carefully, but one thing must be sure, Jamaicans are entitled to access their beaches” the Prime Minister explained.
–30–