Jamaican “Beach Theft” Culprit Could Be Tourism Industry

In Coral Springs Beach, Jamaica, rampant sand banditry possibly perpetuated by hotel sector competitors took another casualty this July when 500 truckloads of sand (totaling in the hundreds of tons) was stolen from outside a planned resort.

A building material shortage is attributed to the increasingly-popular illegal sand mining, but because of the sheer volume of sand excavated from the site, many fingers are pointing at hotel developers. Forensics tests are being deployed on beaches along the island, despite opposition People’s National Party suggestions that after three months without any arrests or charges, there may have been a police-involved cover up. The sand is presumed sold by the thieves.