KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) is calling for Jamaica’s beaches to be legally recognised as a public commons and held in public trust, as debate continues over beach access and the Government’s Beach Access and Management Policy, issued in March 2026.

In a statement on Thursday, JET said the central issue should not simply be how many beaches are available to the public, but whether access to the country’s beaches should be treated as a public right rather than something dependent on land ownership, licensing arrangements or government discretion.

The environmental organisation said its review of the 2026 policy found that, while the document represents an important and long-awaited effort to address Jamaica’s beach access challenges, it does not go far enough to resolve the underlying issue.