PORT ANTONIO, Portland — The Portland Parish Court on Monday advised the parties embroiled in a dispute over access to the Blue Lagoon in Portland to try mediation. They have until March 25 when the case will again be before the court.

The Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (JaBBEM) and Portland Environmental Action (PEA) have taken court action against the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) and the Portland Municipal Corporation (PMC), as well as against special interest beachfront property owners, namely Blue Lagoon (Jamaica) Limited, Blue Hole Investments Limited, Blue Hole Holdings Limited, and Cold Harbour Limited.

“The case was set for early case management in terms of making sure that things are in place to go forward, to have the matter heard fully, looking at having some time to have discussions between the parties and to see what is possible in terms of settlement outside — instead of going to trial. So that’s what we are looking to see, what can happen with those discussions. We are going to have the discussion between the lawyers and see before the next court date. Hopefully it may be positive, but I can’t say,” attorney Marcus Goffe told the
Jamaica Observer.

He is representing JaBBEM and PEA.

Constitutional lawyer Lloyd Barnett was a member of the legal team for JNHT.

After the hearing, the lawyers visited the Blue Hole Road and the Blue Lagoon.

As PEA spokesman Wilbourn Carr has explained in the past, they want the Blue Hole road reopened.

“That’s the public entrance to the Blue Lagoon, which is a national monument. We do not want to continue to walk across private land,” he said.

— Everard Owen