Ziggy Marley: Colonial Laws why Jamaicans are denied access to beaches

There have been numerous complaints by Jamaicans, in recent years that they are denied access to the beaches in Jamaica. In fact, this sentiment has been echoed on the length and breath of the Island of discrimination against Jamaicans who tried to access our beaches. Reggae Singer Ziggy Marley, the son of Bob Marley addressed the issue of Jamaicans having access to the beaches. Ziggy who was born in the ghettos of Trench Town, Kingston, Jamaica, spoke to Irie FM on the issue.

Ziggy Marley spoke Live on Sunday April 2, to Irie FM in a special edition of “The Africa Forum: Running African”! With Host Kabu about ‘The Privatization Of Jamaica’s Beaches.’

According to Ziggy, he came back to Jamaica to do the Bob Marley Movie. He spoke to his friends in Bull Bay, Kingston, people he grew up with. People who have lived on the beaches for 40 to 50 years and now they are being forced to get off the beach. He said this touch his heart because these are his family and it is not a right for people to denied access their land.

Ziggy said, it is more than just a beach access thing! It is a Rights thing and a Constitutional thing! According to Ziggy, the law that prevents the Jamaican people from having access to the land is a colonial law and a law made by the ruling class. He said they are discriminating against Jamaicans and look down on the people. He said they stereotype Jamaicans feeling they cannot share a beach with tourist.

He said he brought his wife and family to Jamaica after done filming the Bob Marley Movie. Ziggy said he attempted to rent a villa at the Sea Salt Villa at Old Fort Bay in Ocho Rios but, according to the Ziggy, as soon as the man found out it was him, he allegedly refused to rent the villa to him and his family, because “he is not renting to Jamaicans.”

Ziggy told the Host that even though he is Ziggy Marley, he don’t run in certain circles. He still run in the roots. He elaborated, saying they may have thought his friends would have showed up to the villa. He said he did not get the villa and he reiterate that, we Jamaicans are being discriminated in our own country. He said constitution needs to be changed. Independence without rights is not freedom. Our ancestors, including Paul Bogle, Marcus, Sam Sharpe and Nanny fought for these lands.

We can share the beaches, he said. He said the tourist and Jamaicans can coexist on the beach. “We are not animals”, he said.

We need to mobilize the people and disturb them a little bit. We need more action from every people. People have to rise up! We ago disturb your life, he said.

According to Dancehall Mag, Sea Salt has disputed Marley’s comments, revealing that the singer’s mother Rita Marley and her family had stayed at the property earlier this year.

“The villa was just rented to Rita Marley and her family a month ago who had written glowing reviews about their stay at the property,” the villa’s manager said.

A copy of the written testimonial, which was signed “The Marleys,” was provided to DancehallMag.

Sea Salt also explained that “the only strict policy that the villa has always communicated and kept consistent with is that there are no outside visitors allowed during a rental.”