Public Urged to Participate in Beach Management Policy Consultations

A Beach Management Policy is to be submitted to Cabinet shortly, followed by public consultations, which will influence the final document.

State Minister in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Ian Hayles made the announcement on Tuesday, June 17 as he made his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

Outlining the aspects of the policy, he emphasised that beaches are important to coastal communities, for social and economic viability.

“The goals of the policy are to provide physical access to the beach, foreshore and the sea on a managed basis, to the general public; and increase opportunities for recreational use of beach and coastal areas in an environmentally sound manner. It also aims to protect the traditional rights of fishermen to access the foreshore and the sea as well as their rights to safe harbour and beaching vessels,” the Minister explained.

Jamaica has 86 public beaches, 33 of which are managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA). The Authority is also seeking to address the provision of essential services and amenities on 26 beaches, indentified as suitable for recreational purposes by the public.

Minister Hayles urged persons to partner for the development of the management of beaches so that when the policy is finalised (this financial year), all major stakeholders would have been heard. He noted that beaches are a resource that all Jamaicans must benefit from.

“We have a prime opportunity for our citizens, stakeholders, to partner with the Government in envisioning how we want to use and protect this valuable resource for the benefit of all,” he stated.

“I invite all those members of the public who voice their options on social media, in writing and on radio, to participate when the time comes, so that we can consider all perspectives as we chart the way forward,” the State Minister said.