“The Race Course Basic School has so much heartfelt gratitude to the GoldenEye Foundation, Oracabessa Bay for all the support provided during the Covid-19 pandemic, in assisting our school with supplies, tablets and building material which allowed us to be compliant with all the requirements for face-to-face opening. Thank You”

— Zar Gordon, Principal of the Race Course Early Childhood Institution

Oracabessa is a historical Jamaican fishing community with a rich heritage and a population of almost 7,000 residents. The history of Oracabessa dates back over 500 years to 1502 when Christopher Columbus sailed into Oracabessa Bay. At this time, the area was populated by a small number of indigenous Taino and Arawak Indians, and the Spanish established a small supply post named Oracabeza, or "Golden Head" for the magnificent sunsets viewed from the cliffs.

Oracabessa remained a Spanish settlement until 1655 when the British captured the North Coast of the island. The area remained predominantly an agricultural and fishing community, known for its residents who were skilled artisans, painters and carvers.

In 1946, Ian Fleming became a famous resident of Oracabessa. Fleming built his house, GoldenEye, where he proceeded to write all of the James Bond novels and earned worldwide acclaim. Fleming's coterie of friends included actors, musicians and filmmakers, who were in love with Oracabessa's main street, beautiful beach and its quiet, unassuming local population. Oracabessa harbor during this period was an important banana port, always filled with rows of boats filled with bananas leaving the Oracabessa bay heading for Europe and the United States.

In 1976, 12 years after Ian Fleming's death, GoldenEye was sold to reggae star Bob Marley. Shortly before his death, Bob Marley sold the estate to Island Records founder Chris Blackwell. In 1991, Blackwell’s Island Outpost corporation purchased seventy acres of prime coastal land and opened Oracabessa’s main attraction, the James Bond Beach Club.

Oracabessa's commercial district consists of the first agricultural market in Jamaica to be owned by free slaves, many shops and local bars. The main street is a narrow promenade with many well-maintained buildings in the early 20th Century Jamaican vernacular style.

Oracabessa is still known as an artist community, with studios operated by musicians, painters, and sculptors. Oracabessa's art galleries include Von White's studio and the Wilderness House of Art. Oracabessa has a wide range of musicians who live, record, and perform in the area. The music group UB40 once had a studio in the area, and large reggae concerts have been hosted at James Bond Beach with artists such as Rihanna, Ziggy Marley and Lauryn Hill performing.

The Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary was established in 2010 to protect Oracabessa’s marine ecosystem. Beyond the boundaries of the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, the Cayman Trough plunges to depths of over 25,000 ft, making it renowned for deep-water sport fishing, including marlin and tuna. It is the home of the annual Oracabessa Bay Artisan Marlin Tournament.

The walls of Cayman Trough are also covered in a diverse variety of hard and soft corals. These walls contain many overhangs and ledges, which are home to lobsters, king crab, green and spotted moray eels, and a host of other marine wildlife.

The Foundation's investment in the people and natural environment of Oracabessa will benefit future generations of Oracabessa families, and support the healthy development of Oracabessa as a sustainable coastal town and economy.