LEGENDARY REGGAE artist Sizzla Kalonji has demanded locals are given full access to beaches across Jamaica.
The influential singer has added his voice to growing calls for access to Jamaica’s beaches to be protected.
At his recent performance at BRT Weekend, in Jamaica, the Rastafarian singer told the crowd going to the beach is becoming increasingly difficult in Jamaica, especially for those who are of a “Melanin type.”
He said: “Every time we try and build up yah so, something round there sell out and gone.”
“The beaches dem gone,” he said.
He continued: “Look pon di girls dem, which part are we going to put them? They can’t turn up at the beaches again, no one is allowed. Especially if you are the Melanin type.”
Growing campaign
This is not the first time a reggae artist has spoken out about beach access.
Following reports that some local Jamaicans were being turned away from beaches in the Caribbean country, the issue has been spoken about widely by leading entertainers.
Last year, three of Bob Marley’s children, Ziggy, Cedella and Stephen Marley, called for all of Jamaica’s beaches to be made accessible to local people.
At the concert in Ocho Rios, Sizzla added: “Every time you vote in somebody else, they sell out something else.”
“What else next dem ah go sell? The reservoir?” he asked the jubilant crowd.
“I’m going to wake up one morning and hear say you have sold the University of the West Indies,” he added.
“You soon sell the roads and mountains,” he said.
Beach Control Act
Leading campaign group on beach access, Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement’s (JABBEM), has been calling for the Beach Control Act of 1956 (BCA-1956), which regulates Jamaicans rights to access all beaches, to be replaced.
According to Dr Devon Taylor, the president of JABBEM, the law stems from the colonial era and is “racist” and discriminatory.
He previously told The Voice, “the biggest driver” of Jamaicans losing access to beaches is through private beachfront property owners.
He added: “The Beaches of Jamaica are national treasure and should be fully accessible by Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica.
“We should not have to engage the courts especially against our own government to protect our rights; they should be written into our constitution.”
This year, Dr Taylor revealed to The Voice, he is involved in four high-profile court cases to secure beach access at popular beaches and tourist resorts in Jamaica.
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45 Comments
I’m so glad the Jamaicans have someone standing up for them because this is not right to take the beaches. Hell you took everything else they got. The Jamaican government is wrong and money hungry this is why they keep selling. They own peoples property due to right thing.🙏🏾❤️
I support the message that Jamaica’s beaches should be made accessible to all. It’s a birthright.
Jamaica is for the Jamaican people not right they should have free access to beaches an any where else they want to go,an yes get ahold of your country before they destroy it pollute it like they do everywhere else. And if tourists come they must respect the people an land an beaches.
Jamaican people should have first right to the beaches, the hotel and government sold them out. They make the money, promote the island and leave the rightful people out. With all the tourists money no one there should have to live in poverty or be refused to use what rightfully belongs to them. Sad state of affairs what money can do with no respect for humanity
No beach, no love.
Stand up for our beach access now.
One Jamaica, One beach family.
I have been a visitor to Jamaica and the beaches are one of the best attractions about the island. There should be a boycott regarding the issue of selling the national treasure of the people of Jamaica, it restricts the commoners from prosperity and resources from the island.
About time we fight for our rivers and beaches. Free access by all means!!!
It’s about time I totally agree
I do agree with this. We need to be able to freely visit any and every one of our beaches . Not feeling like we are trespassing. It’s a shame to live ina country where almost everything is now been owned by someone from a different country. I am not even home . However I am very upset about this ,and many other things that been taking place.🙏🏽💯
It is not just a concern for people living in Jamaica. But a big discussion abroad, to see the small island we love sold out acer by acer, we fort hard for freedom, from colonialism, and bit by bit the island as new owners, national have fort wars for less, we will not be slaves in our own country. We will not be paid servants, to the rich and famous, my grandparents was servants to no one, and we will be slaves to no nation. No one can take what belongs to use already.
This is simply a racist apartheid practice I’m shocked to hear this I’m going to call my congressman my senator and I’m a email the president of the United States about this crap
So when they sells beach front properties it goes with the beaches .. and now locals have no where to go to the beach ⛱️.. it will not stop .. in Ocho Rios .. UDC controls the beach which should be for locals .. and now you have to pay !!
This is a very important topic for all Jamaicans living abroad and beyond The Morals of our people is what attracted tourism in the first place
They create all this distraction with politricks these same Devils Took Jamal out of Jamaica the poor who couldn’t read or write was able to get help for free They would rather bring guns in to destroy the youths Just remember they want Jamaican Just like how they want Africa Wake up Jamaica
This is Madness, why can’t we go to the
Beach? We live oversea but when we go to Jamaica is to the beach we go, we love ❤️ the beach.
I’m advocating for all citizens of jamaica to have free access to the beaches of jamaica free of charges.there is no where in the world that i’ve heard of any citizens of their country that you paid for access to their beaches,here in the united kingdom all beaches and rivers are free of cost so why’re our government letting the foreign investors doing this to their citizens they wouldn’t and couldn’t do that we’re also having days when we aren’t allowed to use the beaches andthis is totally immoral and insane.
Thank you
The island belongs to the people of the country and so does the beaches and it’s not fair that the people who live there can’t use beaches black people died for the country in slavery and now they want to take ur right to use what so many have died for burn that
In Trinidad and Tobago ALL beaches belong to the people, local and visitors, and there are absolutely no laws, rules or regulations that interfere with that.I am surprised/disappointed to read that beautiful Jamaica is still caught up in that archaic system.
Not my business, but that must be changed ASAP.
Locals have a right to access all beaches. Those that are hindering this should not be in Jamaica, how can anyone think it is ok to barr locals from God made beaches,
We the people of Jamaica should not be denied use of our beaches. How ever there should be a small fee for maintenance and security.
Have we forgotten the Moto of Jamaica? Beaches is for everyone not for finances purposes and old colonial HATERS
We must never wait until we died to be equal.. Understand.
Just enjoy the beach one and all.
Beverley
I agree with Sisala 100% Jamaicans should not be denied their birthright because of the money man dem. It’s disgusting, disgraceful and yes Racist
It’s all about respect ; JAMAICANS does not respect cleanliness ; and order , and that’s why we are paying for it . I understand that it should be opened unto all , but we need to show respect to the community and the land .
The beaches are for the citizens of Jamacia it is there right to us their own birth right land of beaches that God gave to them get Jamacia stand and don’t give up the fight
It is an absolute shame that many Jamaicans find it extremely difficult to enjoy the benefits and pleasures that beaches have to offer due to lack of access. One should be able to go freely to the beach without bombardment from those who have purchased the beaches to satisfy their own selfish desires at the expense of local people’s health and well-being. No one in Jamaica should have to think twice whether or not they can have access to beaches around the coastline as they should be a national treasure to be enjoyed by all regardless of people’s economic background. It is about time that the powers that be should wake up to the reality that very soon they will run out of options, as there will be nothing left to ‘sell out’ in Jamaica and local people will be left destitute! Let us work tirelessly to advocate for the preservation of our beaches, so that local Jamaicans can have free access, and not just for the privilege few.
This sort of behaviour will never happen in any other countries around the world. So why are the Jamaican authorities stopping Jamaicans from using the beach just time to respect people of Jamaica. Let them enjoy their country then thinking of greed And selling everything to all the investors to produce hotels
Jamaicans must have access to the beaches. Jamaica is losing it’s heritage, for money.
We should learn from Africa and other places in the world, only after decades having to fight to get back what belonged to them.
We are giving our stuff including beaches away.
Action needed, Options. Nationalise 50% of beaches all around the island. Maintenance the responsibility of the local authorities.
Only offer unrenewable leases for beaches.
Increase tax and income from large hotels.
This is a no brainer, no beaches in the UK or anywhere else are closed to the natives, regardless of tourism or no, as far as I know.
Why are the Jamaican authorities carrying on like this??!
My question,are those beaches in question are totally inaccessible to the people of Jamaica 🇯🇲 or are they asking for a fee to access them?
If Jamaica gets just 20% of revenue created by the tourist industry, where is the rest of the money going to?
Furthermore, the hoteliers should understand that they cannot commender, all the beaches in Jamaica and exclude, Jamaican citizens from visiting those beaches, mutual respect is the key!🏖️⛱️
The locals should be allowed to use their beaches they have a right to come authorities get your act together and don’t push the locals away from their own beautiful beaches
Is there something to sign. If so can you please send me a link.
Thank you
This is out of order and a very disturbing situation to know that visitors are entitled more than the people who are born and bred in the land. So where are they to go for beaches. Overseas. I tell you. Does this happen elsewhere on earth?
It is disgusting that black people who were born and bread in Jamaica are not able to go and swim God created the water and not for man to be selling beach front land to people. And also I was in Jamaica and I had to pay to go on a beach where I had to pay The Authorities of Jamaica soon be selling everything and the people of Jamaica won’t have nothing, sad, sad indeed I just felt that I had to make someone know how as a Jamaican how one feels
The Beaches are for all human beings, people of Jamaica slavery is over, when it used to be only so-called white people is to use the beaches and pools . Don’t let greedy and selfish people, turn Jamaica in to a racist country only for white people privileges, and black people not welcome in your own home or country
I fully agree! Governments need to take heed that their supporters are no longer in the majority, WE are! Can therefore form 3rd Party and vote them out of office if we unite!
It’s about time more entertainers voice their opinions on this important matter,you cannot be borned in Jamaica and have no access to the beaches bless up sizzla,Jamaica needs more public figures to speak up.
The story below shows this is not solely a Jamaican problem, but is worldwide.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230912-what-to-know-about-the-beach-towel-revolt-taking-back-greek-beaches#:~:text=The%20protest%20was%20part%20of,priced%20sun%20loungers%20and%20umbrellas.
Thanks to all who is in support of this movement. It has been long overdue. Shame on the Jamaican government. I’ve been a victim of this discrimination while living in Jamaica, it’s about 1995 or so I went to the beach in Ocho Rios with a group of friends from Kingston. I didn’t knew there was separate part of the beach for local even though there were no signs or barriers stating that; so me and my long hair light skin (browning) girl friend decided to take a stroll along the beach; and that when we encounter a security guard out of nowhere;he must have been hiding in the sand lol. Anyway the guy said to me I cannot cross; so i wondered if there was maginary line in the sand;then he proceeded to tell my browning that she could come back across not even knowing that she was never over that side of the beach at all because we just had arrived. So she was granted access while I was denied from being a local and she was presumed to be a tourist. So sad Jamaican this has been going on for decades in so many different way to the ppl of Jamaica.
On a serious note,
Not when the beach becomes a market,,
That’s the time I felt depressed,
Wasn’t just a beautiful beach any more it was like a market place,
I just have a drink and watch the children having fun,
Aerobics in unbelievable fashion s 😎
Free all the beach in Jamaica
This movement should have been in place a long time ago. i have no problem with you selling the land but leave access to the beach at all time . we the Jamaican people need our access at all time. The government need to put it law that we cant be denied our access at no beaches on our island at any given time.
There selling out the beaches and the cliffs also we have no beach to go freely and no cliffs to go fishing or to watch the sun set not looking good for the locals
Damn Right!
In every first world countries eg. USA. citizens or first priority, what’s the difference with Jamaica, why the beaches are not accessible to the citizens. Where will they go, the government is too corrupted and this have to stop and someone will have to advocate for them. The politicians are all about enriching themselves while dividing the citizens so they become ignorant to their own interests. I’m also upset with these people and their die heartedness which only benefits the politicians and their psoj friends time to wake up Jamaicans this have been going on too long. People need to be voting for their citizens not politicians, they are only your representative you are their bosses. My fellow Jamaicans i love you all and you all got to stand up for your one another benefits not that which benefits politicians and their psoj friends.
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20220731/jamaica-no-problem
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147311-i93-k12416032-Beach_without_harassment-Montego_Bay_Saint_James_Parish_Jamaica.html
“Just to clairify, I don’t mind if they are selling things and leave us alone when we say no. The experience we had was that even after many times telling them no and trying to go around, a large group kept stepping in front of us and wouldn’t let us pass until we bought something. We’ve been to many Caribbean beaches and have never felt so uncomfortable.”