BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth - With the hurricane season just around the corner, seashore erosion, which is threatening to undermine High Street in this coastal town, was the centre of immediate and emergency attention.
There was seeming consensus that a long talked-about boardwalk aimed at improving aesthetics and usage of the Black River coastline will have to go to the back burner, with priority being placed on upgrading the arcade surrounding the market at the centre of town.
Construction work to upgrade the market itself has been stalled because of a lack of funds since the completion of phase one some months back. That phase, costing $31 million, and including a $10-million donation from private sources, involved lifting of the roof and flooring to improve ventilation and prevent flooding during heavy rains and high tide.
When the market project was first launched in October 2011, then Member of Parliament for South West St Elizabeth Chris Tufton, as well as planners, explained that because much of Black River is at, or below sea level, flooding has always been an issue for those using the old market facilities.
Current Member of Parliament Hugh Buchanan told journalists on Thursday that he will be giving an update on the market project when he makes his presentation during Parliament's Sectoral Debate on June 5. Buchanan, who narrowly defeated Tufton to take the SW St Elizabeth seat in the December 2011 election, said his comments would focus on "when I got in what I saw, where we are now and what we have to do to get to a point of completion".
Sources told Jamaica Observer Central that "many tens of millions more... 50 to 100 million dollars" will be needed to complete the market construction, including partitioning for shops and the installation of sanitary facilities.
Mayor of Black River and chairman of the parish council Everton Fisher said Local Government Ministry officials are scheduled to visit the town tomorrow to discuss completion of the project. He cautioned, however, that original plans may have to be scaled down because of the costs involved.
Back in 2011, the project, then described by Tufton as a "centrepiece of community tourism", was slated for completion in the middle of 2012 at a cost of $90 million to $100 million.
Regarding the immediate need to repair damage caused by erosion beneath High Street, west of the Black River town centre, as well as to restore a 50-metre section of sea wall which was largely demolished by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Azan said an estimated $34 million would be spent.
"We have identified the seriousness of the situation," said Azan. "We are approaching the hurricane season and if we don't move with speed, the entire road could be cut off," he said. He noted that a break in the road would effectively separate the town centre from points west, including the hospital, courthouse, parish council and Black River High School.
Crucially, Azan and the political representatives pointed to the danger of injury and death for pedestrians and motorists if the problem is not speedily resolved. Azan said his ministry would be treating the project as "an emergency". Work was slated to start in June, he said, and the hope was that hurricanes and "very heavy rain" would stay away during construction, which is expected to last about two-and-a-half months.
Azan said other breakages in the sea wall also needed work but would have to await another phase when funds became available.
Asked about the long-mooted boardwalk aimed at facilitating pedestrians as well as attracting visitors to the scenic Black River waterfront, Azan said it was a "good project" for the long term but could not be afforded now.
Buchanan, Fisher and councillor for the Black River division Mordant Mitchell all agreed that the boardwalk project, currently estimated to cost in excess of $100 million, should not be treated as priority given other more immediate needs.
"That idea was initiated from a long time ago, from Donald Buchanan (his father) was member of parliament... (but) things and times change ... I am not totally putting it away, but I am just thinking of what it is that the town really needs at this time...," Buchanan said.
Long part of a south coast development plan, the Black River boardwalk has also been strongly advocated by Tufton — who remains the JLP's caretaker for SW St Elizabeth — as a means of building Black River's fledgling tourism industry which is largely centred on boat rides up the river after which the town is named.
Regarding the town's heritage tourism potential, Fisher and Mitchell called for the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and other stakeholders to come together to develop a plan. Black River is one of Jamaica's oldest towns, with stately old buildings, some of which are said to date back more than 200 years and many of which are protected by the heritage trust. However, locals say some buildings are deteriorating rapidly and pose a potential fire hazard.
"I want to sit down with the heritage trust to see which (buildings) can be restored and some which can't be," said Fisher. Noting that funding was a major problem, the mayor said tourism agencies and citizens groups needed to be included in the discussions. "All of us need to come to the table to see how we can bring development to Black River," Fisher said.
In addition to supporting the development of heritage tourism as a product for Black River, Mitchell reiterated calls for the development of an entertainment zone for the sleepy town, which he felt would enliven economic activity.
"I am talking of a designated common area in the town where persons can host parties, dances without going through the bureaucracy of applying to the police, parish council, fire department...," he said.
However, Minister of State for Works Richard Azan, political representatives and other officials who gathered in the St Elizabeth parish capital last Thursday also found time to discuss with journalists a number of issues affecting the future of this historic town.
Audie Myers (left), councillor for the Siloah Division (PNP), and Cetany Holness of the Junction Division (JLP) discuss the dangers of the breakaway.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works Richard Azan (centre), political representatives and officials of the National Works Agency inspect the breakaway on High Street, Black River.
(L-R) Member of Parliament for SW St Elizabeth Hugh Buchanan. Councillor for Black River Division Mordant Mitchell.
A hole under the sidewalk caused by shoreline erosion which is threatening the stability of High Street in Black River.
The town of Black River, one of Jamaica’s most historic towns.
Buildings like this stately old mansion underline Black River’s potential for heritage tourism. (PHOTOS: GREGORY BENNETT)
A view of the unfinished market building in Black River.
          Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works Richard Azan (centre), political representatives and officials of the National Works Agency inspect the breakaway on High Street, Black River. #slideshowtoggler, #slideshowtoggler a, #slideshowtoggler img {filter:none !important;zoom:normal !important}  1/8  |
Construction work to upgrade the market itself has been stalled because of a lack of funds since the completion of phase one some months back. That phase, costing $31 million, and including a $10-million donation from private sources, involved lifting of the roof and flooring to improve ventilation and prevent flooding during heavy rains and high tide.
When the market project was first launched in October 2011, then Member of Parliament for South West St Elizabeth Chris Tufton, as well as planners, explained that because much of Black River is at, or below sea level, flooding has always been an issue for those using the old market facilities.
Current Member of Parliament Hugh Buchanan told journalists on Thursday that he will be giving an update on the market project when he makes his presentation during Parliament's Sectoral Debate on June 5. Buchanan, who narrowly defeated Tufton to take the SW St Elizabeth seat in the December 2011 election, said his comments would focus on "when I got in what I saw, where we are now and what we have to do to get to a point of completion".
Sources told Jamaica Observer Central that "many tens of millions more... 50 to 100 million dollars" will be needed to complete the market construction, including partitioning for shops and the installation of sanitary facilities.
Mayor of Black River and chairman of the parish council Everton Fisher said Local Government Ministry officials are scheduled to visit the town tomorrow to discuss completion of the project. He cautioned, however, that original plans may have to be scaled down because of the costs involved.
Back in 2011, the project, then described by Tufton as a "centrepiece of community tourism", was slated for completion in the middle of 2012 at a cost of $90 million to $100 million.
Regarding the immediate need to repair damage caused by erosion beneath High Street, west of the Black River town centre, as well as to restore a 50-metre section of sea wall which was largely demolished by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Azan said an estimated $34 million would be spent.
"We have identified the seriousness of the situation," said Azan. "We are approaching the hurricane season and if we don't move with speed, the entire road could be cut off," he said. He noted that a break in the road would effectively separate the town centre from points west, including the hospital, courthouse, parish council and Black River High School.
Crucially, Azan and the political representatives pointed to the danger of injury and death for pedestrians and motorists if the problem is not speedily resolved. Azan said his ministry would be treating the project as "an emergency". Work was slated to start in June, he said, and the hope was that hurricanes and "very heavy rain" would stay away during construction, which is expected to last about two-and-a-half months.
Azan said other breakages in the sea wall also needed work but would have to await another phase when funds became available.
Asked about the long-mooted boardwalk aimed at facilitating pedestrians as well as attracting visitors to the scenic Black River waterfront, Azan said it was a "good project" for the long term but could not be afforded now.
Buchanan, Fisher and councillor for the Black River division Mordant Mitchell all agreed that the boardwalk project, currently estimated to cost in excess of $100 million, should not be treated as priority given other more immediate needs.
"That idea was initiated from a long time ago, from Donald Buchanan (his father) was member of parliament... (but) things and times change ... I am not totally putting it away, but I am just thinking of what it is that the town really needs at this time...," Buchanan said.
Long part of a south coast development plan, the Black River boardwalk has also been strongly advocated by Tufton — who remains the JLP's caretaker for SW St Elizabeth — as a means of building Black River's fledgling tourism industry which is largely centred on boat rides up the river after which the town is named.
Regarding the town's heritage tourism potential, Fisher and Mitchell called for the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and other stakeholders to come together to develop a plan. Black River is one of Jamaica's oldest towns, with stately old buildings, some of which are said to date back more than 200 years and many of which are protected by the heritage trust. However, locals say some buildings are deteriorating rapidly and pose a potential fire hazard.
"I want to sit down with the heritage trust to see which (buildings) can be restored and some which can't be," said Fisher. Noting that funding was a major problem, the mayor said tourism agencies and citizens groups needed to be included in the discussions. "All of us need to come to the table to see how we can bring development to Black River," Fisher said.
In addition to supporting the development of heritage tourism as a product for Black River, Mitchell reiterated calls for the development of an entertainment zone for the sleepy town, which he felt would enliven economic activity.
"I am talking of a designated common area in the town where persons can host parties, dances without going through the bureaucracy of applying to the police, parish council, fire department...," he said.