Dr. Lloyd Gordon inspects the 'leaf of life' plant found at Buddafields in Mafoota, St James, one of the many herbs found on the property which he is hoping to use to assist in the healing of common illnesses.

RESIDENTS OF Mafoota, a sleepy district in the hills of St James just about 13 miles south of Montego Bay, are pushing the cause for the development of serenity and health tourism in Jamaica.

Though most of the residents in the area mainly depend on farming for survival, they admit that their tranquil and pastoral surroundings are exactly what the Ministry of Tourism needs to attract weary and worn tourists to seek refuge and rejuvenation.

The area is relatively crime free, with no reports of robberies or murders in the last five years, unlike many other communities in the western parish.

Mafoota is blessed with lush fruit trees, glorious mountains and soothing rivers and springs - there is a tributary of the Great River and three springs running through the community.

The residents, however, are concerned that the beauty of their community is going unnoticed and being underutilised because of a lack of development.

They are, however, not asking for the Government to blemish the land with massive hotels and concrete structures, but rather, are seeking assistance in marketing the area as a type of nature spa.

job prospects

The residents believe this initiative will not just provide millions of dollars in revenue to the area and wider community, but also job prospects for many of the young people living in the area who have grown despondent and dejected by the lack of opportunities for development.

There are an estimated 249 households in Mafoota, with a population of approximately 529 persons, many of whom have not gone further than a secondary education.

A recent survey conducted by the Social Development Commission in St James found that unemployment among the youth was a major problem, as opportunities for skills training and certification were not available within the community.

A visit to the district recently by The Sunday Gleaner found many youth sitting idly on the streetside, similar to those seen in the inner cities of Kingston.

A group of boys was engaged in a heated debate over the recent Gaza-Gully phenomenon. The discussion came to an abrupt end as the news team approached. Though they were reluctant to voice their concerns to the newspaper, one brave resident spoke on behalf of the group.

"Bwoy! What we really want down here, enuh, a work," the youth said, his face remarkably paler than the deep ebony tones of his arms and legs. A closer glance at a few of his friends found that almost all the boys suffered from a similar condition: bleaching.

The young men admitted that there was hardly anything productive in the community for them to do except play a game of football or cricket. Many have left school without any prospects for a job, while some have just stopped going.

Dr Lloyd Gordon, a Jamaican-born scientist who has been living in the community for the last six years, noted that there was a great need for more opportunities of development, particularly educational and employment for the young people.

The 63-year-old environmentalist and botanist, who claims he was educated in Britain and France in botany and molecular biology, has been spearheading the health tourism movement for Mafoota.

Dr Gordon, after falling ill in 1994, sought refuge in the peaceful confines of Mafoota, moving away from the hustle and bustle of Kingston to seek healing.

According to Dr Gordon, he was diagnosed with haemorrhoids and was told by doctors that he required immediate surgery. He, however, went on his own regime of natural herbs and medicine and, according to him, was cured from his condition without any kind of traditional medical attention.

Dr Gordon has since lived in solitude on a large farm owned by a family in the district known as Buddafields or Dreamfields. The family has agreed to allow him to live there while he works to discover the healing potentials of over 40 herbs found on the property and in the nearby largely untouched rainforest.

The botanist is hoping to use this knowledge to attract tourists in need of "physical, mental and spiritual healing" to the community.

A panoramic view of the community.

healing herbs

According to the botanist, he has since assisted numerous individuals throughout St James with his healing herbs. He brandished several testimonials from persons suffering from ailments ranging from fibroids to autism whose conditions have been improved or 'miraculously' healed by the herbs.

Dr Gordon told The Sunday Gleaner that the individuals he had assisted came from all walks of life, including nurses, politicians and teachers.

Dr Gordon said he hoped that a parish or even regional herbarium might be developed in the area. This, he said, could serve both educational and recreational purposes, for students of biology to conduct research and for visitors interested in eco-tours.

He has made contact with representatives from the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) in order to garner technical assistance from the Government. A team from the organisation has since visited and inspected the area, acknowledging its potential for development. According to Dr Gordon, the TDPCo has shown its willingness to render assistance to the community following the realisation of a number of terms and conditions.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com