The People’s Custodians of Little Dunn’s River invite members of the public, community supporters, and the media to attend the St Ann’s Bay Parish Court on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM, when the presiding Judge is expected to deliver a ruling on a motion for injunctive relief concerning public access to Little Dunn’s River.

The motion asks the Court to order the Government of Jamaica to grant the Jamaican public more leisure time at Little Dunn’s River. At present, public access to the river, beach, and sea is officially permitted only on two days each week, Saturday and Sunday, under arrangements supported by the Beach Control Act of 1956.

The motion forms part of a wider prescriptive right (Plaint number:SA 2023 CV00528) case between the People’s Custodians of Little Dunn’s River and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), a statutory body of the Government of Jamaica that is ongoing since 2023. At the heart of the matter is the question of whether Jamaicans who have used and enjoyed the river, beach, sea, and beach lands for generations have acquired a legal right to continue doing so.

Little Dunn’s River is one of the last free, publicly enjoyed river and beach spaces remaining in Ocho Rios.

For families, fishers, young people, elders, and visitors from across the island, it is more than a place to swim. It is part of the community’s heritage, a place of recreation, culture, and connection to the natural environment.

This legal fight is about whether ordinary Jamaicans can customarily and freely enjoy the natural beauty of their own country. Little Dunn’s River has belonged to the people for generations, and we are asking the Court to recognise that.

The Custodians encourage all who care about public access rights to Jamaica’s rivers and beaches to attend and show their support. Supporters are asked to arrive early, as seating may be limited.