Moon Author's Review
Navy Island, originally called Lynch’s Island, is a landmass slightly larger than Titchfield Hill, about 0.75 kilometer long with an area of about two hectares. It protects Port Antonio’s West Harbour with a large sandbar extending off its western side. The island was at one point sited for construction of the town, but the British Navy acquired it instead as a place to beach ships for cleaning and repairs. A naval station was eventually built there, and later Errol Flynn bought the island and turned it into an exclusive resort. Today Navy Island is owned by the Port Authority; it’s meant to be developed at some undetermined future time. A private bid for the land put together by a consortium of local landowners was blocked by the Authority, which seems wary of ceding control in spite of doing nothing with the land for the moment, to the dismay of many local residents.
The island is not serviced by any official tourist operation, but it’s a great place to tromp around and explore, and the Jamaica Defense Force Officers there on patrol are friendly enough to visitors. Dennis Butler (cell tel. 876/809-6276) will take visitors to the island (US$10 per person, US$20 with lunch) from Shan Shy Beach just west of Port Antonio, adjacent to his father’s restaurant, Dickie’s Banana.
