Community members in Discovery Bay, St Ann, are welcoming Government’s announced recommitment to improving Peach Beach and keeping it accessible to Jamaicans.
The Discovery Bay Community Development Committee (CDC) had been agitating for free access to the Peach Beach that was under the management of the Jamaica Red Cross. Their concerns mounted over recent months as Puerto Seco Beach was leased to the Guardsman Group and was being developed. That facility opened with costs of up to $1,000 for adult entry.
Puerto Seco is the largest of four beaches in the Bay, one of which is Peach Beach.
On Saturday, September 22, the Puerto Seco Beach was officially opened, with its several new and improved facilities being hailed by many.
At the opening, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith, representing Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, said the Government was committed to allowing access to properly maintained beaches. She said Peach Beach would be among the first to be developed for the people.
In welcoming the statements, Lee Arboin, Head of the Discovery Bay CDC said the position was a repeat of one already made by Daryl Vaz, Minister in the Ministry of Economic Growth.
She said that the CDC had in fact met with Mr Vaz and now was seeking a meeting with the Tourism Minister to get specifics about the redevelopment.
Ms Arboin said that a meeting is planned for Wednesday evening, October 2 in Discovery Bay at which a status report was to be given. Ms Arboin said there were concerns still about a possible development for a dolphin attraction in the bay and the CDC as well as other environmental groups were strongly against that. She said Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) was among those opposed to any such development. JET will be represented at Wednesday’s meeting.
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