The old Sheffield Cemetery in Westmoreland.WESTERN BUREAU:
TWO FARMERS in Sheffield, Westmoreland, have reached an agreement with Government to give up lands they now occupy for farming purposes to be used as the new Sheffield cemetery.
The old one-acre cemetery is filled to capacity, according to Councillor Derrick McKenzie, who represents the division. He said the newly-acquired land in adjoining Nompariel district, which both farmers have agreed to exchange, amounts to about five acres and will serve Sheffield and surrounding communities. Farmer, Zephiniah Parkinson, who along with Lecroft McKenzie, has agreed to exchange his farming land in order to provide the cemetery, said he is willing to part with the lands he acquired from Government over 20 years ago to make it available to be used as the community cemetery.
"We really need a new cemetery," said Mr. Parkinson. The 71-year-old farmer says he feels he has made a good trade as the new land they have identified is in a much better location. "We went and looked at the land and it is in a much more popular place than where we are now," he said.
Councillor McKenzie reiterated that the extent of the present situation at the Sheffield cemetery might soon force them to start "burying bodied on top of bodies." He said the new site is ideal because it is some distance from the community.
The parties involved he said are now waiting on the Commissioner of Lands to finalise the exchange.
Mr. Parkinson indicated that the sooner the exchange is finalised the better as he is now unable to farm on his land because he cannot predict when the government will be ready for it.
