MONTEGO BAY, St James — With no revenue coming in from the 15-acre Pye River Cemetery, which was closed last year, and no budget to cover its operating costs, St James Municipal Corporation is assessing other public cemeteries for future burials.

“Pye River Cemetery is in less-than-desirable condition, and we have to be honest with ourselves that we do not have the budget to really maintain a 15-acre cemetery space. We are no longer earning revenue from it so we have to seek funding from elsewhere to take care of the cemetery,” mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon told the Jamaica Observer.

“The cemetery is now closed and only has reserved spaces, purchased many years ago, and for those we regard as paupers or persons under poor relief care. We have a few spots, probably about 10 spots or so, left for paupers. Now we have to be looking at alternatives to Pye River cemetery,” he added.

Located in Bogue on the outskirts of Montego Bay, Pye River has for years been the main resting place for those who have died. The mayor said they are being very careful in choosing an alternative that has enough capacity.

“We will not be short-sighted in this selection; we have to be meticulous and patient with that selection,” Vernon emphasised.

He explained that an audit done of the roughly 15 cemeteries in St James showed that there is space available in several public cemeteries. One option being mulled is to distribute future burials across a number of them.

The largest public cemetery in St James, Pye River in its heyday had weekly funeral processions, however, it has now fallen into disrepair. Sections of its perimeter wall are broken and the facility has become a source of consternation for relatives who complain that they are unable to locate loved ones’ graves as they are covered by brush.

The mayor acknowledged that there is cause for concern.

“There are many people calling from the Diaspora, from within the country, and they have been calling for several months, years. They want to access the burial spot for their relatives or family member and they do not have proper access,” he lamented.

“Cemeteries are also sentimental features of our city; people have certain sentimental beliefs, values where cemeteries are concerned,” Vernon said, as he cited the importance of maintaining such facilities.

The plan is to spruce up the burial area on Labour Day, even though the mayor acknowledged that it will be a challenge to clear the significant overgrowth that now exists.

“We are going to fix up Pye River Cemetery, paint it up, put in lighting in some sections so that it is visible in the nights and it can be properly monitored,” Vernon told the
Observer.

“The theme for Labour Day speaks to access, and that falls squarely underneath the theme — fixing up the area, restoring dignity to the dead, providing access, being compassionate about those persons who want to visit their loved ones,” he explained.

He is urging residents to come out and help with the Labour Day project. With that done, he anticipates that it will be much easier for the municipal corporation to maintain the cemetery.

“They have family there, and we want them to come and help us on Labour Day to clean up the cemetery, ramp up the operation there so that we can all appreciate and embrace a clean, nice Pye River Cemetery that we can look at as a main feature in the city until the next 50 years,” said Vernon.