COOPER’S PEN, Trelawny — As the Government finalises its plans to ensure beach access for Jamaicans is supported by policy, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda is satisfied with the progress on the ground.

Samuda was in the Cooper’s Pen community in Trelawny on Saturday for a first-hand look at how a new aspect to a beach access policy — the inclusion of a well-designed road from the thoroughfare to the beach for public access — has been shaping up, as major hotel developments continue in sections of the island.

“You have businesses at different points — locally owned businesses are there and foreign-owned businesses are also there. However, Jamaicans are making business, Jamaicans are working, and Jamaicans [are] enjoying [it] — this is the policy coming to life,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Before Riu Palace Aquarelle was constructed here Jamaicans used the beach for a variety of purposes. Samuda said discussions held with the hotel’s developer ensured that beach access remained for locals and others, with a well-designed access point from the road to the beach.

“When you look, there is nothing inhibiting access to the beach,” he told the Sunday Observer as he greeted vendors on the beach side who were getting ready to welcome potential buyers from nearby hotels.

“Right now you don’t have an access challenge so that, to me, is genuine beach access in policymaking,” he added.

On Saturday tourists were seen swimming outside the span of the hotel while others meandered over to craft vendors to take a look or get their hair combed in a variety of styles by local hairdressers.

“It’s a space where people have prescriptive rights; the fisherfolk community is preserved, the local craft vendors and operators who have been here forever are operating — you don’t have any conflict. I’ve never heard of any issue of any kind, and that is where the second most recent hotel development of scale in the country [is built] so that shows the development direction that the Government is moving towards,” the minister said.

He disclosed that more would be coming in terms of access to the area in the near future.

“There is also supposed to be another access point built on the other side later this year because some other developments are supposed to come on stream, and between a certain amount of kilometres you create access points,” he said about the policy.

He was also quick to point out that the access road was built with environmental guidelines in place to protect the mangrove.

His visit, he explained, comes as he examines a number of sites earmarked for development, to ensure access to beaches.

“The prime minister has been very consistent that we will build free public beach parks. There is one to be built in East Central St James — Success Beach,” he explained.

“There is Priory Beach in my own constituency, and that is a free public beach. The Government has already said that through the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) it will upgrade the facilities of Little Dunn’s River, which is a gem, and it will remain free to the public — whether local or foreign — who wish to utilise it,” the minister added.

There are also plans for Pagee Beach in St Mary and Boston Beach in Portland, but also high on the list is an area that was frequented by one of Jamaica’s most famous sons during his time.

“We’re looking actively at how to improve and increase access safely to Bob Marley Beach in Bull Bay, and put in the sort of facilities to allow the local community there to strive commercially while giving the access to people,” he told the Sunday Observer.

He also shared that there are plans to build a Negril Beach Park similar to Montego Bay’s Harmony Beach Park, to create proper access. The preliminary design for that is already completed.

There is no doubt, he said, that there is a need for serious discourse on the issue, given the conversations taking place relating to beach access as there are some beaches that were traditionally accessible that have become difficult to access, and that is something the Government has to deal with.

“Beach access can’t be a document, it has to be practical examples of genuine beach access where people can go to well-designed, well-maintained beach parks. But, it will take some time,” Samuda said, adding that the policy is basically complete and near being tabled in Parliament.

Vendors get ready to ply their wares at the Cooper’s Pen beach in Trelawny on Saturday.

Tourists walk on the beach area outside the hotel space to visit local vendors in Coopers Pen on Saturday.