Most Jamaicans today probably cannot remember a time when they could simply go to the beach without paying to enter. Over the decades, many of Jamaica’s best beaches and coastal areas have been developed or zoned for hotels, villas, and other private uses. Little by little, public access to the coastline has become more limited.

Concerns about beach access are not new. Jamaicans were raising these issues as far back as the 1950s. In response, the Beach Control Act was introduced in 1956. The law gave the Government control over the foreshore and seabed, but access often depended on licences, special permissions, or long-standing use by communities such as fishers. At the same time, exclusive licences were also given to private developers and businesses. Over 70 years later, many Jamaicans still do not have a clear right to access the coastline. Instead, public access has continued to shrink as tourism development, private projects, and competing uses of coastal land have expanded.

In 2020, A Draft Beach Access and Management Policy for Jamaica was shared with the public, and some consultations were held. It was not until March 2026, however, that the prime minister, Dr Andrew Holness, announced the tabling of the final Beach Access and Management Policy for Jamaica. This is the latest attempt to reconcile public expectations with private-development interests and environmental protection.