THE Jamaica Observer North East visited Winnifred Beach in Fairy Hill, Portland to gauge residents’ response to the recent court ruling ordering the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to allow public access to the beach.

Cecile, hotel worker

I am overjoyed because you can imagine you live so close to the beach and cannot get to enjoy it. You have no access to the beach, friends

and family come and citizens in and around the area do not have access. A number of persons in and out of the parish come from time to time and utilise the beach. They charge a little fee from time to time and when they have a big event they charge a little more to clean up but it has

never been an exorbitant fee. There are other beaches around that are open to the public but they are not free. The beach has a sheltered

harbour and is not dangerous as it is protected by the reefs which make it very, very safe for children and non-swimmers. The persons who have

shops down there can swim and act as lifeguards so for persons who run into trouble there they are rescued by the workers.

Richard Grant

I am 42 years old and I have been here from ever since. The beach is my livelihood and this beach send my children to school; and we take care of this place without pay. We do the maintenance work free. I am so glad the court ruled in favour for this beach to be a public beach for it is a good thing to do for us. It is a good court ruling. I am glad for that and everyone in this community is glad and in the rest of Jamaica. We give thanks to God.

Morris Miller, craft vendor

I think it is a wonderful thing, finally getting the beach public for everybody, that the court ruled in favour of the citizens that the beach remain public. It is open for everyone to use, both local and foreign visitors. I think it is a very good decision. The beach is like my second verandah.

Derrick Smith, vendor

The beach supposed to be a public beach for everybody and don’t serve one man. Everyone should be able to come and enjoy it. I agree with the decision.

Lee-Van Lewin, craft vendor

I like the decision by the court. It is a good idea. Mi like that the beach is open to the public and persons can come and still enjoy the beach. It is for us to do our best, come out and make it work. It is a good decision.

Dennis ‘Painter’ Richards, chef

The decision is good and we need to come together as it is the only one beach around now that local people can use, sit a little, relax and enjoy. If the public can work with the UDC that will be good, it is better for us. The group that is taking over I think will do a good job. They need to come together, work together and don’t run off the people here but co-operate because they have to make a living.

Ronald Francis, farmer

This is good but the road needs to be fixed now. What I think about the court ruling is that the government doesn’t business bout the people them and the people them need to keep up the beach and have a nice cooperation to get it done properly. It is a good ruling.

Junior Fyha

The court ruling was justice allowing the people them freedom of the beach. It was a long time coming and it should not have to reach to the court. I am happy for the ruling and it should not have gone that far.

George Davis

It should have been done a long time ago and free to the people them. We are happy for this and I hope the people them can keep the beach clean as it is theirs now.