Time to develop Lyssons Beach
THE EDITOR, Madam:
RECENTLY, ONE leg of the new highway out east was opened to great fanfare, which brings opportunities for economic growth and development. I’d like to propose that Lyssons Beach be redeveloped using the Harmony Beach Park model.
Harmony Beach Park consists of a large expanse of well-maintained lawns under mature shady trees, a jogging trail, basketball court and kiddies play area, designed very much like Emancipation Park in Kingston. There are restrooms and drinking-water fountains. Access to the beach and park is open to anyone who wants to enter and is totally free of charge. Parking is available at a cost. There are changing rooms, and you can rent beach chairs if you wish. I’ve visited Harmony Beach Park with my family. We had a great time! We were able to bring our own Igloo in, and we patronised one of the several welllaid-out and operated food kiosks in the park. The food was priced quite reasonably, and many visitors to the park were seen patronising these food kiosks. Garbage bins were strategically placed – and that’s where the garbage was. No one was playing loud music. No one was smoking in the public spaces. Children and adults alike enjoyed the water and shared the coveted shady spots available that day. The lifeguard on duty was instrumental in establishing and maintaining order.
When the leg of the highway from Kingston to St Thomas is finished, reaching Lyssons will be quick and easy. The Lyssons property has acres of flat, grassy grounds and mature trees and exquisite beach frontage. This space should be developed for the people. Imagine the boost to the local economy there. It would be the perfect complement to the type of tourism product I hope is being pushed in this oft-forgotten parish: a more boutique-type, communitybased product. Locals and visitors would enjoy this jewel, the Lyssons Beach Park, in the same way Emancipation Park and Harmony Beach Park are enjoyed.
Implementing this model in St Thomas must include the components of clearly stated rules, which are then consistently enforced. It’s as simple as that.
We can have nice things, Jamaica. Clean, safe beaches on our island ought not to be the purview of solely those with money. And ‘accessible by all’ does not have to mean that the space will be characterised by disorder, noise and nastiness. We have the evidence already! We just need these ‘nice things’ to be run with clear, fair rules which are enforced respectfully and consistently. Let’s get this done at Lyssons, St Thomas, too. I can’t wait! KELLY MCINTOSH