A 244-metre stretch of coastline in Annotto Bay, St Mary, has been restored and safeguarded, thanks to recent efforts by the Government, bringing relief to businesses and residents who were previously at risk from waves crashing onto the road from the eroding beach.

However the reprieve is only partial as many homes and businesses remain on the brink of collapse, threatened by the relentless power of coastal erosion.

The $244-million project was funded by a loan from the World Bank’s Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project and undertaken in collaboration with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). It aimed to address the 40-year-long issue of shoreline erosion by placing sand and sand traps along 244 metres of the Annotto Bay beach.

The beach nourishment extended 12 metres from the existing slope.

While residents have welcomed the coastal protection project, they are calling for more comprehensive protection.

One resident who praised the initiative said it was a good move to help save businesses that were severely impacted by seawater on the roads.

“It was a good move for the fact that when the sea gets rough it tends to come up on the road, and the fact that they did that, it kind of pushes the sea a bit further back so it doesn’t affect us — even the other day when a storm came — so it’s a good move. There is no more flooding. From that was done we have no issues with flooding here,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

However, she noted that there are other areas further into the town and along the shoreline that are still under threat, and need immediate action.

A resident and restaurant owner, who gave her name as Lisa, said that upwards from the Annotto Bay Fire Station, coming into a small section of the town, the issue of flooding has been resolved but the shoreline further in the town is still at risk.

“There are some parts after where they have stopped that need help, and there are some buildings getting washed away and they’re breaking away. They need to pack there because other people have been affected by water coming into their yard,” she said.

Another resident pointed out that further into the town and along the shoreline there are many buildings and houses that are hanging on by a thread.

“They had to pack some stone under their building because the water was going way under their building,” she said, adamant that more needs to be done to address the pressing issue.

At a ceremonial ribbon-cutting in Annotto Bay on Friday, marking the completion of the climate resilience initiative, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness acknowledged that the geography of the coastline in the town has changed due to climate change. He noted that the road is a key link between Kingston and the eastern end of the island, and if not addressed could be compromised by rising sea levels.

“It is not a far-fetched possibility because in Negril we have seen the roadways there compromised by sea level rise. We have seen the road levels compromised in Montego Bay recently when we had an epiphenomenal event that occurred where a north-easterly and a north-westerly sea weather event occurred which caused the sea to override the seawalls, destroy the seawalls in many areas, in fact destroying the beach — the newly developed Harmony Park — so the threat of climate change is real,” said Holness.

The prime minister noted that while the Government has acted to build infrastructure that can withstand some of the natural occurrences, there are other areas in Annotto Bay that are still under threat. He said round two of the coastal protection project for the other affected areas is in the works, with additional plans to move the town further inland and create a new entrance.

Holness added that the Government also intends to bring more tourism to the town.

“Almost all our towns are close to the shore because almost all of them evolved out of a port arrangement to ship sugar, and therefore the commercial activity around the port spurred the formation of the town. But now we have climate change happening, and many of these townships are going to be at risk so we have to start to think how we [will] mitigate and adapt to this new reality,” said Holness.

He noted that the National Works Agency (NWA) has been tasked to examine all towns in order to start building new roads inland and on higher ground.

The prime minister also addressed the issue of coastal erosion in Hellshire, St Catherine. He shared that studies are currently being conducted by JSIF to tackle the issue, and expressed optimism that the World Bank will continue to work with Jamaica in its fight against climate change.

“We are very close now to taking some decisions as to what the Government can do to intervene,” Holness said in reference to Hellshire.

Member of Parliament for St Mary South Eastern Norman Dunn was emotional as he shared his childhood memories in Annotto Bay. He said that the disappearance of the town’s coastline was heartbreaking, and he is happy that steps have been taken to rectify the issue.

“This town has seen its share of so many things, but this town is resilient and this town is strong. This town will rise to any challenge that exists, and it is so because it’s my town,” said Dunn as he extended thanks to the stakeholders that made the project possible.

“Our clinic is now functioning better, because up to three years ago the sea was right on the wall of the clinic, and this particular project here has pushed the sea back all the way out so the clinic is there for us to see,” he said.

Dunn further noted that the preservation of the shoreline will benefit many generations. He urged residents to engage in recreational activities on the restored beach, but also to help to preserve its existence and prevent pollution.

“Plan your weddings here, have a picnic with your family, and let the children run free. This is now a place of civility, a place of joy, and a place of peace and love,” said the MP.

Lilia Burunciuc, country director for the Caribbean, World Bank Group, said that building resilience in the Caribbean is a key priority of the World Bank.

“Resilient communities have a better future; resilient communities have the possibility of creating more jobs and upgrading the quality of life of people in the Caribbean. We are happy to partner with the Government of Jamaica and with JSIF,” she said.

Chairman of JSIF, Wayne Henry said the project, “is about more than constructing coastal barriers — it is about ensuring safety, strengthening resilience and preserving livelihoods, particularly for our fisherfolk and other residents whose lives are closely tied to the sea”.

Managing director of JSIF, Omar Sweeney said that in Jamaica approximately 75 per cent of the productive industries and 82 per cent of townships are near to the coast. He said JSIF has conducted a study of eight critical coastal towns in Jamaica that are similarly vulnerable to this type of soil erosion, including Hellshire, Savanna-la-Mar, Ocho Rios, Alligator Pond, and Manchioneal.

“This solution that we have provided here is very important. It may not look like much but what has happened since we have completed this project is, you can see new sand has already started to accumulate on the beach,” said Sweeney.

He said that the area is no longer vulnerable and that JSIF will continue to invest in climate resilience.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness (centre) cuts the ribbon at the official handing over ceremony for the Annotto Bay Coastal Protection Project last Friday. He is joined by (from left) Omar Sweeney, managing director, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF); Norman Dunn, member of parliament for St Mary South Eastern; Wayne Henry, JSIF chairman; and Lilia Burunciuc, country director for the Caribbean, World Bank Group. Photos: Garfield Robinson

Lilia Burunciuc, country director for the Caribbean, World Bank Group, telling guests at last Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Annotto Bay Coastal Protection Project that resilient communities have a better future.

Member of Parliament for St Mary South Eastern Norman Dunn addressing last Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Annotto Bay Coastal Protection Project.

A section of the coastline in Annotto Bay, St Mary, is restored through the Annotto Bay Coastal Protection Project.