PORT MARIA, St Mary — The St Mary Municipal Corporation and the Department of Correctional Service (DCS) have joined forces to tackle the daunting task of de-bushing the Port Maria Cemetery.

Gone are the days when people could walk on tended pathways to pay respects to their departed loved ones cemetery. Now, they are met with the eerie sight of graves swallowed by foliage and tangled vines. But the municipal corporation has long argued that it has not been provided with money to maintain the cemeteries in the parish.

That has not changed this time around but Mayor of Port Maria Fitzroy Wilson says the partnership with the DCS is a game changer for the burial ground.

According to Wilson, there is a dual benefit from the initiative which was launched on Tuesday.

“What is important is that we have collaborated and the cemetery is in dire need of de-bushing. The [prison] inmates are given an opportunity to be reintegrated into normal society,” said Wilson.

He pointed out that the council will be providing the necessary material, while with the prison inmates providing the labour, the money that would have been allocated for cleaning of the cemetery can be redirected to address other pressing needs, such as fixing sanitary conveniences.

“The Port Maria Cemetery is almost filled to capacity and the earning power from the cemetery is not there,” added Wilson.

The mayor was supported by chief executive officer of the municipal corporation Ethlyn Douglas who told the Jamaica Observer that it is estimated that it will cost approximately $1.6 million for tools, equipment and refreshments to support the work of the inmates.

In the meantime, Alfred Duncan, superintendent in charge of Richmond Farm Adult Correctional Centre, said it is a pleasure to collaborate with the municipal corporation.

Duncan pointed out that the inmates will carry out the clean-up over an extended period.

“We will have a crew working out here for three months working Mondays to Thursdays. The number of inmates that will be working will all depend on the number of correctional officers that are available,” said Duncan.

Meanwhile councillor for the Port Maria Division, the People’s National Party’s Corrine Dillon-McDonald — who has long lobbied for improvements in the condition of the cemetery — commended the mayor and the municipal corporation for taking on the project.

“I am elated as first impression is lasting and seeing the state of the cemetery before it was an eyesore and now as you enter into the town, I am pleased [with the work being done],’ Dillon-McDonald.

“I have further made suggestions to have a long-term solution to keeping the cemetery in a decent manner where people can visit their loved ones who are resting here,” said Dillon-McDonald as she argued that there is a need for sustained efforts to keep the cemetery in good condition.

The entrance to the Port Maria Cemetery (Photo: Ingrid Henry)

A new day for the Port Maria Cemetery was launched by (front row, from left) assistant superintendent in the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) Joseph Small; CEO of the St Mary Municipal Corporation Ethlyn Douglas; DCS Superintendent Alfred Duncan; Mayor Fitzroy Wilson; councillor for the Port Maria Division Corrine Dillion McDonald; and Richard Mason of Mizpah Funeral Home. (Back row) chief technical director of the St Mary Municipal Corporation Dwayne Johnson (Photo: Ingrid Henry)