Jamaica’s beach access crisis: ‘We shouldn’t be forced to fight for what is already ours’

Activists in Jamaica are challenging the privatization of coastal areas, arguing that it restricts public access to beaches and perpetuates a system of "plantation tourism." Devon Taylor, a resident of St. Ann, recalls a time when Mammee Bay was a vibrant community space, used by children for recreation, fishers for their livelihood, and vendors for commerce. He describes the beach as integral to his upbringing, providing sustenance and a place for intergenerational connection. The current situation, where access is increasingly limited by private developments, is seen by campaigners as a continuation of historical inequalities, designed to benefit an elite while disadvantaging the majority of Jamaicans. They are pursuing legal action to reclaim what they consider public heritage, asserting that Jamaicans should not have to fight for access to their own coastlines. This movement highlights a growing concern over the commodification of natural resources and its impact on local communities and cultural identity.