Winnifred Beach, Portland

(Photo by Christina Wan)

Winnifred Beach located at Fairy Hill, Portland is another of Jamaica’s treasures facing  proposed development. Originally, an American missionary and his wife bequeathed it to two of their faithful employees, Winnie and Fred,  by means of a trust. In 1918, the beach was given over to the people of Portland for their enjoyment and has drawn thousands of locals and foreigners to its shores for recreation.

In the 1970s, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) acquired the beach and has recently applied for an environmental permit to develop it into a beach park. This development would restrict public access to the beach and  impose a fee for access. Concerns about projects like this extend far beyond the UDC’s plans for Winnifred beach but to all public beaches across Jamaica. 

The ‘Free Winnifred’ Committee has also put forward a petition to the government in an effort to retain free public access to the beach. Please log on to the website www.free-winnifred.com and add your name to the list if you support free public access to Winnifred Beach.