Although I have traveled extensively, there are few places in the world that have had as much of an impact on my early life as Black River in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.
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| A section of the peaceful harbor in better times. |
The bustling coastal town of Black River has been my parish's capital since 1773. It was then an important port of trade and export center. By the early 1900's it was second only to Kingston in terms of development.
In fact, so rich and developed was that parish capital in the early years that it was the first place on the island to have a private home with electricity.
Due to the proliferation of structures in Black River with Georgian and Victorian architecture, in 1999, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust designated the town a Protected National Heritage District.
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| The once majestic Waterloo house was the first private residence in Jamaica to get electricity. Due to the destruction brought on the historic town on October 28 2025 by hurricane Melissa, that Black River, the really historic town no longer exists neither can it be reconstructed. My fond memories of the town don't date back to the very early days though.😊. |
I grew up in the rural, backward district of Malvern which is some 18 miles from Black River. In those olden days, the now booming town of Santa Cruz was mostly undeveloped farm lands.
I was therefore never exposed to any development possibilities, unless I went to Black River, for the nation's capital, Kingston, was 100 miles away via mostly unpaved, winding and mountainous roads, so we never went there very often.
In fact I don't remember going to Kingston for the first 12 or so years of my life!
So, the capital of St. Elizabeth, Black River was it for me.
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| The wide, peaceful, bountiful Black river is the longest navigable river in Jamaica. |
There they had a hospital, elegant architecturally designed homes and government buildings, professional dental service, numerous shops selling everything, restaurants and guest houses etc.
I even remember it had a popular Mineral Bath.
That spa had warm sulphur baths where my parents would go to relax and soak, as it was said to have healing waters that treated ailments from rheumatism to intestinal problems.
For me however, it is the big blue sea and magnificent, peaceful, river that brings back the happiest memories.
My father had been the Collector of taxes for the parish and was based in Black River. In those days, everyone worked on a Saturdays but that was the day I loved most while growing up.
For that was when I was taken to Black River to learn how to swim and after, just enjoy the wonderful water.
Every Saturday, I was put on a rambling bus in the care of the driver, and while the trip felt like it took forever as the big bus lumbered slowly around corners, even having to reverse at times to traverse dangerous mountain curves, once I reached the bountiful destination, it was heaven on earth.
Once there, some responsible person from my dad's office would escort me to the sea where they interacted with the fishermen, selecting, scaling and preparing fish for my him while I had the time of my life in the water, for probably hours.
That's where my lifetime love of the water came from!💪
Unfortunately it's from that same sea that the destruction of Black River came, when Melissa the largest storm in the history of our lovely island, having gale force winds up to 195 miles per hour, joined the raging Black River sea, and river, to flatten the town and erase much of its history and my childhood memories.
The pictures and videos are devastating.
The destruction appears complete and it's going to take decades for the current residents to ever recover and return to normalcy.
You know I see and hear platitudes from comfortable people talking about how resilient we Jamaicans are and how we will soon rise.
Big deal.
When the world and the rest of us move on, what happens to the already destitute?
How will children who must suffer without even schools, as they watch their parents living in penury and suffer for the next few years to just put back the basics in their lives, cope mentally in the interim?
Jamaica has plenty of goodwill worldwide and help and aid has been flowing in but for how long?
Hopefully the aid now being received will be channeled to those who really suffered and not end up further enriching politicians with sticky fingers, the powerful and greedy!😡
Yes. the town of Black River like other affected areas will one day be rebuilt.
However many lives will remain shattered, probably for decades.
Black River will never be the same picturesque, historical place where I learnt so much and enjoyed some of the best years of my youth.
But life goes on and both the sea and huge river will continue to give sustenance and pleasure to all as everything evolves.
