STEPHEN MARLEY is backing his siblings and campaigners who are calling for all of Jamaica’s beaches to be made accessible to local people.
Stephen, who is the second eldest son of Reggae legend Bob Marley, paused his performance at a recent concert in Jamaica and urged the public to ensure their voices are heard on the issue.
This follows reports in April, that his older siblings – Ziggy and Cedella – are supporting leading activist group Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (JABBEM) who are campaigning to protect access rights to Jamaica’s beaches.
The five-time Grammy winner halted his performance on Saturday, at the One Blood Family Fest – which was a concert to celebrate veteran Reggae artist Junior Reid’s 60th birthday, to address the crowd.
He said: “Now, Jamaica, it seems like they want to stop we from going to the beach.
“We can’t make them things happen, you know, because that is the sea shore, that now.
“So the movement, seen, JABBEM, seen, catch up with that movement and make our voices be heard, seen, Rastafari.”
A video of Stephen’s comments was later shared on the Instagram page of JABBEM and his elder brother Ziggy Marley.
There is a growing call for the Beach Control Act of 1956 (BCA-1956), which regulates Jamaicans rights to access all beaches, to be replaced immediately.
Campaigners say the law stems from the colonial era and is “racist” and discriminatory and they want this changed.
The group have launched a petition, which is addressed to the Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Jamaica’s head of state King Charles III for immediate changes to law.
The demands follow months of reports that some local Jamaicans were being denied access to some beaches on the island.
In April, JABBEM’s president president, Dr Devon Taylor, told The Voice British tourists should boycott hotels and resorts that deny Jamaicans access to beaches across the island.
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