Dear Editor,

The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) and stakeholders under the joint partnership co-management agreement continue preservation and improvement activities towards reopening of the Blue Lagoon in Portland.

The Blue Lagoon was ordered closed in August 2022 for a number of reasons that threatened the viability of the national monument, including the lack of sanitary and waste management facilities.

Since its temporary closure, the JNHT has continued dialogue with members of the Blue Lagoon Alliance and engaged them in lifeguard and tour guide training under Tourism Product Development Company’s (TPDCo) Team Jamaica Programme, with training towards coxswain licensing due to begin shortly.

The initial plan for the resumption of activities at the Blue Lagoon was based on the utilisation of the parochial roadway due to the fact that there is no land available for use by the JNHT. As such, a proposal and application were submitted to the Portland Municipal Corporation (PMC) for the erection of structures for safety and sanitisation purposes, adjacent to properties that are privately owned. The PMC was not in support of the proposal because there is no designated parking area within the space. In addition, the PMC is not in support of the proposed guard house and the portable toilets being constructed/erected on the roadway.

The JNHT is exploring other options, which include possible access to privately owned lands adjoining the lagoon and once concluded will resubmit to the PMC. Once these alternative plans are approved by the regulatory bodies, the process for construction will be undertaken.

The Blue Lagoon, otherwise known as the Blue Hole, was once thought to be bottomless but has been found to be 55m (180 feet) deep. One of the interesting features of the Blue Lagoon is its deep, blue water, which changes throughout the day, depending on the cloud cover. The water in the lagoon is mixed with warm water from the sea and cold mineral springs of fresh water from underground. The mangrove which surrounds the outer boundaries of the lagoon protects it from silting and is also a sanctuary for birds and a nursery for marine life.

The Blue Lagoon was declared as a national monument for its aesthetic and scientific properties by the JNHT in August 2018.

We thank the members of the Blue Lagoon Alliance and the public for its patience as we undergo this necessary process to ensure public safety and the preservation of this national treasure. The JNHT commits to keeping stakeholders and the public updated going forward.

Jamaica National Heritage Trust