St Ann

Mammee Bay, located in St Ann, Jamaica, is at the center of a legal battle over beach access. Campaigners, including local resident Devon Taylor, are taking the Jamaican government to court to prevent the privatization of coastlines, arguing that ceding shorelines to hotel chains benefits private investors and tourists at the expense of local Jamaicans. Taylor recounts how Mammee Bay was once a vibrant public space for children, fishers, and craft vendors, highlighting the loss of community access. This situation is newsworthy as it reflects a broader crisis of beach access in Jamaica, where locals feel increasingly deprived of their natural resources. The ongoing legal action signifies a significant development in the fight to preserve public access to beaches for livelihoods, leisure, and health, underscoring the current relevance of protecting these vital coastal areas from exclusive private development.