THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE JAMAICA National Heritage Trust, notes the concern of Mrs. Shahnine Robinson, MP for the North East St. Ann constituency, to the proposed relocation of 200 families occupying lands in the 'old jail' section of the Seville Heritage property in St. Ann's Bay, as reported in The Gleaner of Thursday, January 24, 2002. We are happy to note that her objection is not to the removal, which she apparently agrees to, but rather to the distance of the relocation site from the squatters present location.
The fact is that the squatters are located on the most historically significant site in Jamaica as Seville is the birthplace of modern Jamaica. It is here that the Taino, African and European civilisations first encountered each other. The site includes four Taino settlement areas and the remains of the first Spanish settlement and capital with foundation structures dating back to 1509. Students view with awe, the remnants of the 1655 English plantation which includes the overseer's and bookkeeper's houses, a sugar manufacturing complex, pimento barbecues, packed stone wall cattle pens, copra drying kiln together with two African/Jamaican settlements with a reconstructed African/Jamaican house from the pre-1740 era things they have only read about in their history books.
Thousands of students and visitors visit the site yearly to learn more about Jamaica's history. The students get an opportunity to participate in specially arranged heritage education activities, which include archaeological digs.
The squatters' continued and growing presence on the property threatens much of this activity and evidence of our past. In fact, one of the settlements is located on top of the main Taino settlement and within the pre-1840 African-Jamaican settlement where a joint JNHT, Syracuse University archaeological team found the remains of four enslaved persons. These remains were extensively studied, providing significant insights into the way of life of our forefathers. The remains were reburied, amidst much fanfare, on the property, at our first Emancipation Celebrations on August 1 1997. One of these remains was also returned to the ancestral homeland of Ghana amidst much celebration there.
We need to point out also that the squatters pose a health risk. Surveys carried out by the St. Ann's Bay Health Department in March and April of 2000, show that many of the houses are without sanitary facilities. The report states that persons "often dispose of their faeces in nearby bushes or in polythene bags. The former causes an odour as well as an eyesore. The latter causes more of a problem, as dogs attracted by the smell, may pick up the bag and transport it to other locations, whereby the nuisance is spread along with other accompanying problems. Indiscriminate dumping of garbage is a breeding grounding for rats, flies and other vermin of which act as vectors in transmitting diseases. The squatters are also potential candidates for diseases such as poliomyelitis, typhoid and cholera".
So grave is the condition right now that the JNHT has had to abandon a part of the tour, much to the dismay of our visitors. Oftentimes faecal matter can be seen floating in the river, even as our visitors try to learn more about the site.
The Seville site is so important to our heritage and our understanding of our history, that it would be a national shame to see it further destroyed by squatters. Others outside of Jamaica know and appreciate its value as is evidenced in the requests that we have had from overseas institutions for collaborative research there. In addition, the site already provides gainful employment to over 50 persons with the potential for employing many more.
We are happy that Mrs. Robinson supports the removal of squatters from the site. We hope that she will also help to ensure that the entire 301 1/4 acres remain inviolate and in trust to the Jamaican people in perpetuity. As the Hon. Marcus Garvey, who was born nearby in St. Ann's Bay said, "A nation without a knowledge of its history is like a tree without roots". We need now to cultivate and not destroy this very important root.
I am, etc.,
REV. DEVON DICK
Chairman
Jamaica National Heritage Trust
