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Gleaner writer Claudia Gardner (centre) interviewing present sellers on the Winnifred Beach compound. The sellers are to be evicted for a big development.

Winnifred Beach vendors fearful

Mixed feelings on development plans

Claudia Gardner, Hospitality Jamaica Writer

There are mixed feelings coming from major stakeholders in Portland, in relation to the Urban Development Corporation's (UDC's) proposed development of Winnifred Beach.

The UDC's current plans are to install restrooms and other conveniences at a charge, but community members have complained that they would be denied access, or the entry cost would be prohibitive. At present, there is no charge to access the beach. Vendors who sell at the property have also expressed fears they will be displaced.

Vincent Holgate, president of the Port Antonio chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), says he was happy for the UDC intervention, as long as the entry cost was reasonable, and the public had proper access.

"I believe in organisation. I believe in structure. I certainly don't believe in squatting in this sort of indisciplined way where they just set up. And if we are going to compete with international standards, then someone has to upgrade it and manage it properly," Holgate said.

He said he couldn't see Winnifred Beach continuing as is, with no sanitary convenience there. "There is no control. It has no proper management. There are people (vendors) who have been there a long time, I strongly believe they should be accommodated in whatever is done; train them and place them."

At the same time, Holgate said circumstances such as these would not arise if the National Beach Policy prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, which proposes free access to all beaches, was ratified by Parliament.

access to locals

"We have travelled all the islands in the Eastern Caribbean and we, as well as locals, could walk through the hotel properties to get to the beach. Here we lock up everything. It should not be locked away from the locals."

The Beach Policy, which is still at the Green Paper stage, was prepared in 1997. In its preface, the document states that "earlier policies for management of the foreshore have resulted in the separation of visitors from residents through a system of exclusive licences which resulted in Jamaicans being barred from some of the finest beaches in the country". It also noted that other Caribbean countries, such as "Barbados and Antigua, maintain an open foreshore policy" and that "there can be no good reason why Jamaica cannot achieve a similar state".

UDC has a point

Lieutenant Commander Floyd Patterson, mayor of Port Antonio, told Hospitality Jamaica that he was sure the UDC would not be unreasonable with its fees.

"I can only think the UDC will do whatever is necessary to have it refurbished in the best interest of the people. Whatever you do there, costs will be incurred and must be recovered," Commander Patterson said.

"It is not a case where UDC has a never-ending supply of money and is going to refurbish, then leave it to the whims and fancies of everybody. I figure, it is against this background that the people are complaining that a fee will be charged, but I can understand the UDC's point. I can also understand the residents concern as it relates to accessing the beach," he said.