The Bogooyaggafication of Hellshire Beach

While I agree that Hellshire beach has suffered from erosion where high waves destroyed the sand dunes, which served as a natural fortification. I am going to say that the main reasons for the destruction of the Hellshire beach is the people themselves. The Jamaican people can be their own worst enemies. 

Over the many years various groups including the Urban Development Corporation have warned that if nothing is done to protect the beach then the beach will simply cease to exist. There were multiple warnings and clear signs, that what was taking place over at Hellshire was and is not sustainable. Nature and the environment cannot cope with that level of abuse and human almshouse. 

For many years the people squatting on the beach protested against any form of Government intervention to safeguard the beachfront and surrounding area. Claiming that it was a plot by the politicians to get them off the property, so that they can sell the property to their high class rich friends. Everybody who express concerns about the area, was accused of  fighting against the poor man because in Jamaica Poverty is the mother of all excuses.

Yes there has been beach erosion in that location but the main problem is over building of fish shacks and active competition for prime beachfront location. It was not the water that moved closer and closer to the shacks. But the shacks started moving closer and closer to the waterfront and after a while the entire beachfront was occupied by shacks with no place for people to relax on the beach. There was a time when the few fishing shacks were occupied by day but over time the people selling in the shacks started to use it as their tax free homes, a squatting settlement. 

Hellshire beach suffered from a serious case of over vending, there are more vendors over there than people and too much illegal buildings. It just amazes me that for a people so dependent on nature and the environment for their livelihood, one would think we would be more concern and more proactive to protect the very thing that is providing our daily income and sustaining our lives. This is a classic case of shitting where you eat.
 

Hellshire beach is the perfect example of what will happen when you leave semi-literate, ignorant people without any rules and regulations. The results are a free for all cannibalization of the area and then they start crying to Government for help, after the fact.

Back in the days (70s and 80s) nothing beat Hellshire beach on a Sunday morning. A perfect way to end a weekend, relaxing, playing dominoes, eating fish and festival, drinking beer and seeing all your friends to talk about the weekend activities, it was the place to be and be seen.

Nothing beats leaving a party at 3:30 AM in the morning and heading straight to Hellshire beach with good friends, making a bonfire and watching the sunrise then having breakfast from the stalls, first catch of the day before heading home to sleep.

Nothing beats lunchtime at work when one person says "let’s go to Hellshire beach for lunch", taking your shoes and socks off, rolling up your trouser legs, walking in the water and having a three hour lunch before heading back to work.

Back them it was the perfect place to relax, today I would not be caught dead at Hellshire beach, not even wild horses could drag my cold dead carcass out to that place. The “Bogooyaggafication!” of Hellshire beach is complete, it is nothing but a dutty-rub-up place, no beach, pure rock stone , low class people and constant booming of dancehall music…. Hellshire done and we killed it!

The area can be restored but the Government need to make it a no go area for at least 10 years, a sanctuary, nature preserve. Ban the general public and turn it over to the environmentalist and leave it up to nature to do what nature does best, Reclaim, Replenish and Renew!

Climate Change is the Mother of all Excuse