Sixteen individuals who challenged restricted access to Laurys Bay have been found not guilty by the St. John’s Magistrate’s Court after the prosecution failed to present any witnesses.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Boy, representing the group, described the ruling as a complete victory for the defendants. “The magistrate had set today for the trial. All witnesses were expected in court, but none appeared. No case was made, and the court declared everyone not guilty,” he said.

The case, which has been ongoing for nearly a year, arose from claims of trespassing on land leading to the traditional access route to Laurys Bay. Mr. Boy explained that under Antigua and Barbuda’s Physical Planning Act, all beaches are public and citizens have the right to access them, even when crossing private land. “If a landowner blocks access and sues someone for trespass, they are violating the law themselves,” he said.

The defendants, often referred to as “beach rights patriots,” are now free to pursue legal action for malicious prosecution or to recover costs incurred during the case. Mr. Boy suggested that compensation might be sought given the inconvenience and financial burden suffered over the past year.

The ruling has been hailed as a significant affirmation of public beach access rights in Antigua and Barbuda, reinforcing the legal protection of traditional entry points long used by the community.