(Original Article Written by Juboy – Real Yard Voice, 2025)
1. Pull Up Pon Dis
Unu ever reach one spot weh look like Heaven pon earth, but di gate price mek yuh feel like Hell? Dat a wah happen when mi an mi crew roll out a Frenchman’s Cove – di world-famous beach inna Portland weh all di magazine dem love fi show off.
But hear dis: $2500 JMD fi one person just fi dip yuh toe inna water. 😳 Mi roll wid four people – dat a straight $10,000 JMD. Mi tell yuh plain, mi belly nearly full wid vexation before mi even touch di sea breeze.
So mi haffi ask: How poor people fi enjoy rich paradise when beach gate tun inna bank vault?
2. Why It Bun So Much
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Jamaica hot, an beach a fi di people – yet wi cyaan access di best one.
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Tourist pay di price easy, but fi we minimum wage cyaan stretch.
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When four family members haffi pay 10 grand, dat coulda buy grocery fi one week.
One sista at di gate look pon mi an seh:
“Mi waan tek mi pickney dem inside, but mi haffi choose between di beach an di back-to-school booklist.”
Yuh see how sad dat is?
3. Wah People Get Twisted
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Myth 1: Locals nuh appreciate di beach, dat’s why di fee high. → Wrong. Wi love it, but wi haffi eat too.
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Myth 2: If yuh cyaan pay, stay home. → Foolishness. Beach natural, no man build sea.
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Myth 3: High fee mean better upkeep. → Sometimes true, but often is profit, not maintenance.
4. How Fi Understand Di Real Issue
Step 1: Separate Tourism From Local Use
Tourist willing fi pay US$15 easy, but fi local dat same money a sacrifice.
Step 2: Recognize Di Right
Jamaican law seh beach is public, but private owner regulate access. So di fight a balance between natural right vs private profit.
Step 3: Search Fi Solution
Mi believe inna dual pricing – tourist one price, local another. A so airport work, a so museum work.
5. Expert Yard Insight
Economist Dr. Clarke once seh:
“If a Jamaican haffi pay foreigner price fi touch Jamaican water, den wi selling out wi culture to di highest bidder.”
Plenty other Caribbean island set local rates – why Jamaica cyaan?
6. Mi Own Story
Mi cousin come down from town wid him wife an dem two pickney. Him plan beach day fi months. But when di cashier seh “$10,000 fi all a unu,” mi man freeze like fridge.
Dem end up go Boston Beach instead – spend half di money, still get jerk pork, waves, an vibes. But him lef Frenchman’s Cove wid bitter taste – like beauty outta reach unless yuh rich.
7. Mistakes Fi Avoid
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Don’t Borrow Fi Go Beach – dat nuh mek sense.
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Don’t Shame Yuhself At Gate – if yuh cyaan pay, choose another spot.
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Don’t Stop Talk Bout It – silence mean di price never drop.
8. If Frenchman’s Cove Too Dear
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Boston Beach – vibes, jerk, surf, affordable.
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Winifred Beach – community-run, donation style.
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Mammee Bay – still nice, still cheaper.
FAQ mi get all di time:
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“So mi cyaan ever go Frenchman’s Cove?”
Yuh can – but plan fi it like luxury, not everyday chill spot.
9. Quick Fix Fi Yuh Pocket
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Check Local-Run Beaches First – dem keep di vibes alive.
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Push Fi Policy – write, comment, demand locals rate.
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Support Community Beaches – if wi spend deh, dem grow stronger.
10. Di Hard Truth
Frenchman’s Cove pretty like postcard, but beauty cyaan justify lockout. Beach fi di people, not just di wealthy. When mi see dat entry fee, mi realize: wi cyaan stop di tide, but wi can raise wi voice.
As Jamaicans, wi deserve fi swim inna wi own water widout bankrupt di pocket.
11. From Juboy
Mi a ask unu:
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Drop a comment: yuh woulda pay $2500 fi swim?
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Share dis article so more people wake up.
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Big up di community beaches dem – cause dem a di real heartbeat of Jamaica.
Cause memba: sea nuh have fence, but man build gate. Wi stronger when wi demand access together. #PowerfulTogether
– Juboy, Aug 2025
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