The Editor Sir,

On Saturday March 29, I had the pleasure of visiting Margaritaville in Ocho Rios with a group of people. Our tour representative paid for us to enter the compound and we were duly banded to show that we were a group. We enjoyed the amenities of Margaritaville then decided to go to the beach. My friend and I went into the water at a spot nearest to where we were being hosted. After a few moments a security guard came over to speak with us, we got out of the water in order to hear him, he told us we were not allowed in the water as we had not paid a user fee of $200. I told him we were with a group and had paid an entrance fee to enter the property, he said Margaritaville does not have beach rights so we had to leave.

I told him that the water belonged to God and the beach was God's and owned by Jamaica and I am a Jamaican and was not leaving. I promptly returned to the sea, he told me to speak to a supervisor who was walking towards us, however, she did not come to us but returned to her post.

JPS has an ad that says 'how come'. I'm asking: 'how come', 'how come' I, a retired lady who returned to Jamaica a few years ago, had to suffer the indignity of being told I could not use a beach in my own country. A country which I have staunchly defended over the years. The other lady, who was in the water with me and I have been to other Caribbean islands and the beaches are open to the public. 'How come'?

Mr Prime Minister, Mr Minister of Tourism. 'How come'?

I am, etc.,

SHEILA BRYAN

1 Michigan Ave.

Kingston 19