Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer

OCHO RIOS, St Ann:

The St Ann Parish Council is seeking the help of churches, citizens' organisations and funeral parlours to ensure that cemeteries in the parish are properly maintained.

Mayor of St Ann's Bay, Ivan Anderson, said revenue earned from burials was well below maintenance costs. He said without the assistance of various interest groups, the burial grounds in the parish will continue to be deplorable.

The mayor was speaking during an interview with The Gleaner last Thursday following a tour of 10 of the 20 public cemeteries in St Ann.

He acknowledged that most of the cemeteries visited were in an appalling state.

Anderson expressed concern about the unplanned use of cemeteries which contributed to a serious shortage of burial space. At some cemeteries, he said, graves were covered with thick vegetation. Furthermore, he said it was difficult to gain access to some of the burial sites because of the poor state of the roads.

The St Ann's Bay mayor said that although the parish council will be trying to do what it can to clean up the burial ground, civic groups, such as citizens' associations, churches and even relatives of those buried there, will have to play their part in the overall maintenance.