A Jamaican court has temporarily preserved public entry to Little Dunn’s River, as plaintiffs seek recognition of a customary public right of access while the dispute over the site continues.
The Jamaica Gleaner reported that the St Ann’s Bay Parish Court issued its injunction Oct. 1, barring the state-owned Urban Development Corporation (UDC) from restricting access while the claim proceeds. The order covers the beach, river and waterfalls, as well as surrounding land and routes people use to reach them.
Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (JABBEM) and 10 individual plaintiffs brought the case in 2023. They argue that generations of public use give Jamaicans a lasting right to visit the beach and reach it by nearby routes. The Jamaica Gleaner reported that the UDC interprets the cited customary-use clause as covering recreation but not private construction or unregulated business on UDC land.
The dispute also sits within JABBEM’s wider campaign to repeal the Beach Control Act of 1956. The Guardian reported that the group contends admission charges and limits on bringing outside food make visits unaffordable for some families.
The Guardian separately reported that the government intends to appeal. In an interview with the newspaper, Environment Minister Matthew Samuda defended access controls, saying they protect tourism investment and help shield communities from crime. He described tourism as Jamaica’s leading foreign-exchange earner and the main source of income for nearly 200,000 Jamaicans.
UDC lawyers have also signaled an appeal, The Jamaica Gleaner reported. The case is due back in court Nov. 30.
