Beach access and management policy to be tabled in Parliament - PM
Published:Thursday | March 21, 2024 | 4:25 PM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government has crafted a beach access and management policy to be tabled at the next sitting of the House of Representatives.
Holness made the announcement a short while ago in the Lower House where he is contributing to the 2024/25 Budget Debate.
“Jamaicans are entitled to access their beaches,” Holness told a packed House Thursday afternoon.
He said the policy is to ensure Jamaica's beaches are preserved, and sustainably managed for present and future generations and provision is made for access for Jamaicans and visitors alike.
“There is one thing to speak about access. There is another thing to actually enable access. We believe everybody must get access. They give their words; we give you the beach. Some people talk about beach access, we give you beach access,” Holness said.
At the same time, he said the Government will upgrade several beaches across the island for public access.
He said Fantasy Beach Park in Priory, St Ann will be developed into a parish beach park, similar to Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St James.
Additionally, he said work will be done on another nine free community beaches this year.
He said plans are also afoot for the future development of Boston Beach Park in Portland and a major beach park in Negril.
- Kimone Francis
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