A GROUP of locals in Jamaica are taking legal action in order to access a popular beach in St Ann’s.

The Little Dunn’s River Community and campaign group Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (JaBBEM) are taking legal action against the Urban Development Corporation (UDC)  to regain public access to the popular Little Dunn’s River in Ocho Rios.

The campaign group say the public have the right to access the beach and the river – which is situated near the world-renowned tourist attraction Dunn’s River Falls – under the Prescription Act of 1882.

In a media release, Dr Devon Taylor, president of JABBEM said: “The public has enjoyed uninterrupted access to Little Dunn’s River for over sixty (60) years and as a result of provisions under the Prescription Act has acquired the absolute and indefeasible right to use the beach, river, waterfalls, and adjoining and adjacent lands, roads, tracks and pathways.

“The communities and JaBBEM are asking the court to recognize this right. Little Dunn’s River is a well-known public beach, river, and waterfall in St. Ann, founded, developed, and maintained by members of the Rastafari community in the 1960s.

“It was one of the last free beaches and rivers available to the Jamaican people across the island.”

The community are urging the courts to rule that the beach should not be privatised and remain free for the public to access.

Little Dunn’s River was closed to the Jamaican public in August 2022, after a murder along the road near the beach.

At  the time, the police said the beach was closed so an investigation could be conducted.

But the campaign group says “authorities have failed to reopen the beach or provide any update on the investigation.”

‘Community beach’

Dr Taylor added: “The Little Dunn’s River community was the custodians of the beach who operated licensed businesses and is now deprived of their livelihoods for over one year.”

He dismissed the UDC’s claim that the beach was shut down over issues to do with “the lack basic sanitary conveniences, has no insurance coverage or other requisites permits in place”.

He said: “With that reasoning, it should be the case that more than 90% of our local beaches should be closed.

“JaBBEM is concerned about the government’s failure to decolonize the Jamaican coastline.

“We see it as an injustice that communities are required to seek recourse in the courts to gain access to the nation’s beaches. We call for the enactment of legislation that guarantees the Jamaican people general and unfettered rights (with constitutional protection) to access beaches and rivers, which are parts of our ecological heritage.”

In July, a group of Black Brits said they would write to Jamaica’s Prime Minister calling for beach access to be protected for locals.

The group called, Jamaicans and Friends of Jamaica of the Diaspora in the North of England, say there is a “growing concern” that some Jamaicans are being denied entry to the country’s beaches.

That followed calls by Bob Marley’s children, Ziggy, Cedella and Stephen Marley, who want Jamaica’s beaches to be made accessible to local people.