FALMOUTH, Trelawny

Beachgoers could get free, round-the-clock access to the popular Burwood Beach if the Trelawny Parish Council adopts a resolution being driven by JLP Councillor, Fernandez ‘Bingey’ Smith, at it’s monthly meeting today.

If accepted, the resolution will effectively prevent promoters of events at the facility from charging patrons a fee to attend functions staged there.

Smith, who is vice-chairman of finance and administration of the local body which is dominated by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), told the Observer West yesterday that the acceptance of the resolution would be a “victory” for hundreds of persons who use the facility.

“Over the years free access to the beach has been compromised by promoters staging events there as these promoters continue to charge beachgoers to enter the facility between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm,” said Smith.

As part of their contractual arrangement with the council, promoters staging events at Burwood are not permitted to charge patrons to enter the facility during specified hours.

But the local body has received numerous complaints from patrons who allege that promoters are still charging fees during those hours.

And despite efforts by the council in recent years to prevent promoters from doing so, the apparent breach of contract continues.

Smith, however, is convinced that the acceptance of his proposal will send a strong signal to promoters that the council is serious about protecting the rights of the residents.

“As a matter of urgency, forthrightness and concern for beach lovers and beachgoers the Trelawny Parish Council must declare that all legitimate users of the Burwood Beach, other than those promoting events on the said beach must be allowed free and unimpeded access on a 24-hour basis,” Smith emphasised.

At the same time, councillor Smith said he would also be asking the council to implement the necessary strategies and sanctions to enforce the proposal, if accepted.

“We must ensure that the conditions laid down by the regulatory agencies for the staging of such events on the Burwood Beach must be rigidly enforced,” he said.

Seven of the nine councillors elected to the council in the 2003 local government elections are JLP representatives.

Yesterday, a confident Smith disclosed that he has already had discussions with his JLP counterparts concerning his proposal, adding that they have all indicated that they are in “full support” of it.

But, Garth Wilkinson, the People’s National Party’s (PNP) councillor for the Falmouth division said he would not be supporting the resolution.

“I could not support that. I don’t think it would be fair to the promoters,” Wilkinson said.

He argued that if the resolution is accepted, promoters would not be able to make a profit from the staging of events at the facility.

“It would, therefore, mean that they (promoters) would no longer rent the facility to have shows and this will result in the council losing revenue,” added Wilkinson.

Smith, however, believes that promoters could in fact increase their profit margin under his proposal.

“What they (promoters) will have to do is use the value-added aspect of their promotions to make money. For example, they could increase the prices for drinks and food.,” he said. “Persons coming in an event free would not necessary have any reservations about paying something extra for food and drink,” added councillor Smith.

Promoters renting the facility to stage events pay a fee of $25,000 to the council.

Burwood Beach is the only public bathing beach in Trelawny and has played host to a wide variety of entertainment events.