THE recent allocation of funds to municipal corporations for the cleaning of public cemeteries across Jamaica has been deemed inadequate by Mayor of Port Maria Fitzroy Wilson, who said that years of neglect and abandonment by previous Administrations have caused the burial grounds to be in a serious state of degradation.

In March this year the central government announced that $200 million was distributed to municipal corporations for the cleaning of 39 cemeteries across the island. However, Mayor Wilson told the Jamaica Observer that the funds his municipal corporation received were insufficient to clean cemeteries under its jurisdiction.

“The money that we have received is not enough. We have gotten maybe a little over 50 per cent of what we estimated could clean the cemeteries and put them in a certain position but we will just have to make do with whatever we have. But, I mean, 50 per cent is better than nothing at all,” said Wilson.

While he could not state the exact figure given to St Mary Municipal Corporation, he said, “I know that we can do better with the cemeteries. Many of these persons have contributed to our country, our economy, and this is how we put them to rest? I say we need to do better than that.”

Last week the Sunday Observer visited three public cemeteries in St Mary — Annotto Bay, Port Maria, and Tremolsworth. The once-sacred burial grounds were obviously bearing the weight of abandonment, transformed into haunting scenes of degradation.

Gone are the days when people could walk on tended pathways to pay respects to their departed loved ones. Now, they are met with the eerie sight of graves swallowed by foliage and tangled vines. Garbage and debris mar the landscape of the the three burial grounds, a reflection of the indifference of the authority mandated to keep them properly maintained.

Broken fencing, an incomplete wall at the entrance, and the absence of a gate leave Annotto Bay Cemetery wide open for stray animals. Cardboard cut-outs of deceased individuals, placed on colourful graves, were the only signs of an effort to brighten up the space.

Port Maria Cemetery, while enclosed by a wall, was also in deplorable condition. Here, graves are tightly packed together and overgrown trees rest on headstones, almost concealing some graves entirely.

Tremolsworth Cemetery was in a worse state — no walls, fencing, or sign in place. There is no clear entrance or pathways, leaving visitors with no alternative but to dig their heels into slippery mud to enter.

The recently elected mayor said that previous Administrations have allowed the burial grounds to get to this state, and he said he will do everything within his power to ensure this level of neglect is not repeated under his tenure.

“The cemeteries are gonna be cleaned. We have already notified the respective councillors and we are getting them on board… I should be able to speak with the superintendent for roads and works who has the portfolio for the work, and within a week or so the work will start,” Wilson said.

When asked about the absence of caretakers at cemeteries visited by the Sunday Observer the mayor said that all public cemeteries in St Mary have caretakers, however they are not stationed at the burial grounds.

“When there are persons who have appointments with them, they would go to the cemeteries. For example, if somebody comes and they have paid for a spot [we] would communicate with the cemetery keeper that somebody would be coming there, or give them a number for the cemetery keeper. But it would be unfair to have them there all day doing nothing,” he said.

“Once there are activities in the cemetery, meaning grave-digging or preparing graves, then the cemetery keeper would be there to monitor what is happening,” he added.

Section 6 (a) of the Public Cemetery Management and Regulation Act states that “the [parish] council shall enclose the cemetery by a suitable wall, railing or other fence”.

When asked about the lack of a wall at Tremolsworth Cemetery, Mayor Wilson said he was not aware of any plans to construct one, nor was he aware that a wall was needed. “But I will tell you, if there are any deficiencies going forward in my stewardship it will be remedied. If there should be a wall and there is no wall, we will seek to put a wall there,” he said.

“I think that we just have to look at how we are going to get the funds to do proper management and proper maintenance in the individual cemeteries. I think that not allowing them to go into the [state] they are now, and using preventative methods is the better option. I think if we do proper maintenance and stuff we should be able to maintain them to a higher standard than they have been doing over the years,” Wilson added.