Nine months later!

I have always had a special love for the town of Black River, as growing up in deep rural St. Elizabeth, Black River was the closest place we could experience anything close to civilization.  

 I expressed my love and extreme sadness in a blog, shortly after Melissa destroyed our town.

https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2025/11/i-weep-for-black-rivervictims.html?m=1. 

Naturally when I returned to Jamaica, nine months later, Black River was a must visit for me.

That trip brought back the deep sadness at losing such an important part of our diverse history and great disappointment, as it appears so little has been done to try and address the devastation. 

For nine months later, Black River I remains a picture of pure desolation.

The vivacity of the town seems also gone and everything seems lost.

How are people even surviving when commercial activity remains almost at a standstill and people's abodes remain so inadequate and depressing, I wondered .

Yes the government has said it will build a new town away from the raging sea. But 9 months later, what has been done to even try and bring back a little normalcy and comfort to the lives of the thousands thousands who lost their homes and small businesses and need  to survive while the grandiose plans are being made?

Clearly the lack of action has nothing to do with the availability of funds, since the reports are that hundreds of millions of donated money, sit in the government's coffers while people sink deeper into despair.

It is disgrace too that there is so little sign that the infrastructure is being restored before the next hurricane strikes. 

 Not even the sea wall has been rebuilt or shored up to protect whats left of our beloved town. 

The bridge which had been our pride and joy for so many decades, and which attaches Black River to numerous satellites districts in St. Elizabeth, looks like it can fall into the river at any time.

 Driving along the Crane Road to Parotee is even more heart breaking as no structure, residential or commercial seems to have escaped Melissa's wrath.

 That area is vulnerable, but living humans have to exist there while the plans are being made.

Nine months later, very few structures look in anyway habitable and in the interim, the area has become one big garbage dump.

Does the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) exost to deal with garbage or is that just a fancy name for another ineffective government agency?

I ask as every inch of that area is covered by nothing but hurricane debris, nine months later. 

That same debris which will most likely end up in the water when the next big breeze blows and further destroy whats left of the fragile environment there.

I lived through another major hurricane called Gilbert. That was in 1988, and not only did Gilbert only devastate a few parishes but indeed the entire island. 

We got a lot of support from near and far, but even before lights were restored everywhere, you could see signs that a serious and efficient government was in place, as people were quickly employed in every parish to clean up and restore the infrastructure. 

Why didn't we see any people at work doing any cleaning up in Black River and its environmens? That area just seems to be at  a standstill!

Who cares?

And don't tell me that the NSWMA is busy, as no where in south west or north west Jamaica did we observe even one garbage truck at work. 

In fact, in town after town through which we drove from Montego Bay to Black River, we saw signs that people were being responsible, as garbage was neatly piled into huge receptacles along the roadways. 

But they were all overflowing as clearly trucks were not coming through to clear the containers.

Jamaicans are supposed to be religious people and one has always heard the phrase cleanliness is next to godliness, but no one seems to have told the comfortable directors in the offices of the NSWMA about that!

Even in Duncan's, Trelawny where not too much hurricane damage was done, when you walk on the streets, the stench of garbage is overwhelming, for since the NSWMA does not seem to collect garbage anymore, people have resorted to dumping their garbage in the drains or that's where it ends up when the collection bins overflow. 

Blocked drains and rain are incompatible, so I shudder to think of what awaits people as the government coffers overflow with donated funds, while the garbage piles up and the infrastructure remains vulnerable because nothing is being done while the money sits in banks as the people perish.

Yes, Melissa was a major disaster but the lack of government action which has followed has made life even more hopeless for thousands of our fellow Jamaicans😪. 

It's a crying shame.

 

Age no deterrent!

 Would you undertake a major construction project if you were lucky enough to live to your ninties?

I am 80 and would never dream of taking on the task of dealing with contractors and workmen as it would probably send me to an early grave!.

Not the Wallaces though!👍

Mrs. Nellie Wallace is a 95 year old retired educator and her husband Everald, a farmer.

Miss Nellie

They beleive that no challenge is too great or impossible nor is age as a deterent when the circumstances call for action. 

Mr. Everald 

Mrs Wallace is a graduate of Moneague Teachers College who spent more than 70 years in the teaching profession.

 Most of that time was teaching at Fyffes Pen Primary in Brompton, St. Elizabeth and later at Clapham Primary and Infant School in Brighton St. Elizabeth. (she did a few short stints at other schools over the years too).

When Hurricane Melissa struck, Teacher Wallace and Mr. Everald who should have been relaxing while enjoying their long years on earth, literally experienced hell on earth.

For the four bedroom home on the hills of Brighton where they had happily and quietly spent most of their lives, was totally destroyed within hours.

The remnants of their home.

Teacher Wallace told me the hurricane hit around 9am and the entire roof left in no time. So she and her husband spent the next 4 to 5 hours standing in a corner in one of the rooms. Her husband stood in front of her to try and shield her as much as he could, but they both got thoroughly soaked.

It was terrifying.

By the time it was all over (about 5pm) they realized they were homeless for the first time in their long lives. 

She said it was God who sent some men from the community, including former students, armed with machetes to see how they were.

As she has difficulty walking, the men put their hands together to make a chair so she could sit, then they carried her to a neighbor, friend and church sister, Mrs Judith Warren who graciously welcomed them.

That's where they have been living for the past 9 months.

But the Wallace's are proud, independent minded people and decided that they had to build a new home as they couldn't impose on a good neighbor forever.

While most of their family scoffed at the idea because of their age, as Mr. Wallace had level land in the flatter section of Brighton, they decided were going to build a new house, come hell or high water. 

And that's what they are doing with the assistance of Mr. Warren jr who is Mrs Wallace's godson. He is helping to supervise the project for them.

 The new home being built is smaller than the one they lost but it will be much sturdier.

Relatives and friends are now so sold on the project that they are also helping them as much as they can, to realize the dream of a new safe, sturdy home. 

You know what is the only tragedy in this story of good neighborliness, resilience, community, spirit, independence and courage?

The tardiness of the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) to assist. 

 You really only get a true impression of the usefulness of an organization by how it treats its professional associates.

Teacher Wallace paid dues and was a faithful member of that organization for almost seven decades.

After the hurricane, the JTA  announced that it had a fund to assist its members who had been affected by Melissa. So she filled in a pile of paperwork and applied.  A relative in Kingston has even followed up by telephone several times.

Would you beleive that nine months later, not even a cent has come from the JTA to assist this dedicated educator!

That is really shameful as the JTA is so strident when it wants something but  clearly falls short when it comes to helping educators who have done so much for the country. 

That is totally unacceptable.

On another note, Jamaica could easily win a prize for having the most potholes in the world. 
The road to Brighton demonstrates perfectly what happens when potholes are ignored far too long.  Inevitably they become monstrous gullies😡.

Sumfest 2026

 Thanks to the destructive hurricane Melissa which wrecked everything in its path in Jamaica in 2025, Sumfest this year had to be moved from Montego Bay to Plantation near Ocho Rios.

This is the same venue where Rebel Salute used to be held annually, but I understand it is not being held any more and other events there are discouraged. 

I actually like this venue better but everyone who uses the main road or lives nearby, object to events being held there because traffic congestion makes life frustrating and even dangerous for them. 

 So the authorities don't normally give permission for things to be held there. But I guess they agreed to allow Sumfest this year because of the situation. 

Maybe they should have postponed the entire thing though, for this is the worst Sumfest I ever attended.

Why? 

Because for the entirety, they had no live bands but only recorded music!

 And for the first three hours or so, they used no artists but just screaming DJ's. 

I must admit though, the female Magnum dancers were extremely talented.👍

Queen Ifrica

When the live artists started to perform, the only one who was really impressive was Queen Ifrica and when the big stars, Vibes Kartel and Movado came on, only Movado had been worth  the wait, in my book.😡

 It was extremely well attended though so maybe the young people liked that crap, but I didn't.

We went, we listened but we were really not well entertained this year.

Ps. A friend brought to my attention the following statement which was posted to the organizer's webpage.

"Updates on the Return to Traditional Live BandsDownsound Entertainment has explicitly stated that this condensed format is a one-time, one-night emergency staging.Why it changed: The shift away from the traditional multi-night, live-band festival was entirely due to severe infrastructure and venue damage at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay caused by Hurricane Melissa [05.1].The Future: Festival organizers have reassured fans that Montego Bay remains the permanent home of Reggae Sumfest. They plan to return to Catherine Hall for the July 2027 festival, restoring the traditional multi-night lineup that features full backing bands, comprehensive reggae nights, and traditional dancehall nights."

Pity I never saw the info re the change in program format before we bought tickets!😡

From Dancehall to Church Hall!

 I love Lady Saw. 

Her high energy, command of the stage, voice.......She has everything that makes a great performer. 

However, it's not simply her performing skills which have caused me to be a lifelong fan, but also the fact that she is such a generous and caring person. For ever since she declared publicly that she couldn't have children, she has adopted so many needy ones and even stray animals as well.

I have never seen or heard her since her conversion to Christianity, which caused her to turn to gospel music, ditching her moniker Lady Saw and performing under her own name, Marion Hall.

About three years ago, we went on our regular trek to Sumfest, hoping to get a taste of the transition of Lady Saw to Marion Hall, but she never came on stage until after 6 am and as we had to drive back to Trelawny, we had to skip her performance.

Well she is the main reason why I decided not to miss the fund raising concert put on at Faith Chapel in Florida last night.

It was billed as another fundraiser for the victims of hurricane Melissa where all the artists were performing free of charge.

These fundraising events are coming fast and furious. I only hope the people we are all trying to help, get the assistance!

See how many ways they tell u to donate!

The affair was anchored by Jamaica's Consul General, Oliver Mair and Bishop Hernandez, who is known for his fund- raising skills.

 He is even reputed to have raised funds in record time for his Lear jet, but that's for another discussion.😁

Bishop Fernandez And Oliver Mair.

The target for the night was US$175,000 and I am sure they met it, for I left immediately after Lady Saw finished her explosive performance and they were at $140,000.

There was a surprise appearance by Father Richard Holung who is often thought of as Jamaica's male Mother Theresa.

This is because, though born into wealth and privilege, he gave it all up to establish Brothers of the Poor, which operates in the ghettos, bringing relief to the poorest, the indigent and neediest. He has been doing this for perhaps more than 50 years!

Consul General Mair introduces Father Richard Holung.

Father Holung is not just a do-gooder but also a very talented musician and songwriter whose concerts I never missed while living in Jamaica.

His appearance at this event was to promote an upcoming concert they are having in Hollywood, Florida next week to raise funds for his organisation.

Three of his brothers showcased their skills for the upcoming event.

Bwoy, am I happy I attended for it exceeded my expectations or as we say in Jamaica " it sell off."👏🥳.

Interestingly, it kicked off with a dynamic performance by Omari, whom I had never heard of before, but he touched the nerve of Jamaican Christians by bunning (condemning) obeah.

Obeah is a West African ritual brought to Jamaica by our enslaved ancestors centuries ago.

Obeahmen use spirits and indigenous elements, herbs, oils, candles and supposedly supernatural forces, to heal or cast spells, give protection etc.

 It was banned by the slavers but recently in Jamaica there has been calls for the Obeah Act to be repealed. 

This is something objected to by many spokespersons in so-called Christian community at home and apparently in Florida too, as Omari certainly stirred up the passions.

A TASTE!

                                                                        Omari

                                                                      Carlene Davis

As expected, Lady Saw, sorry, Marion Hall, brought down the house.

It has affected us all!

We Jamaicans are scattered throughout the world. Two things remain true about us though.

 Firstly, no matter how far away from home we migrate to, most of of hang on for dear life to our Jamaican roots. 

Secondly, many of us either received a devastating blow from the most vicious hurricane to crash into the Caribbean, destroying much of the south west section of our beautiful island home, or have friends/family who were.

 That was hurricane Melissa which struck on October 28 2025. (https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2025/11/i-weep-for-black-rivervictims.html?m=1)

In our family, those who received the worst blow were my 91 year old cousin Nellie a retired teacher, and her 92 year old husband.

Third from right, 91 year old Nellie, beside her is 92 year old husband EV, and beside him my cousin Dor, who keeps the family fire burning on the island👍.


When our African ancestors were freed from slavery in 1834, most had no education.

For you see, the devout Christians who had enslaved them for centuries after kidnapping and bringing them across the Atlantic, had deliberately kept them in ignorance.

Fortunately, there was a handful of Christians who did not subscribe to the religious dogma, that Africans were not human.

Among them was a religious sect called Moravian.

Recognizing that the newly freed slaves needed to be educated, in 1861 they established a teacher training College for women, named Bethlehem, in Malvern, the rural district in which I was born.

Although my great grandmother had no formal training, she had become a teacher.
However her daughter, my grandma, who got the opportunity for higher education,  attended Bethlehem teacher training College as did many other female members of my father's family.

 In fact, I recall with some embarrassment how when I was horrified that my daughter wanted to become a teacher after I had spent so much money sending her to college, she reminded me that the family has a tradition of teaching and it had nothing to do with money!🫢🫣.

As usual, she was right.

I even traveled to nearby Cuba some years later, to meet many cousins who were born there, as a grand aunt had migrated to that neighboring island to teach English.

So yes, Nellie proudly carried on the family tradition for decades before retiring to Brighton near the St. Elizabeth /Westmorland border. This district is some 35 miles from Black River, the epicenter of that miserable hurricane.

At age 91, she and her 92 year old husband

spent many terrifying hours in the night of October 28, trying to stay safe and dry, as the hurricane peeled the roof of their home piece by piece.

Fortunately they were eventually rescued by kind neighbors. 

This is what is left of their home today.😭.

It took Dor (who lives in the city and fortunately was unaffected by the monster), weeks to locate them, and even now, three weeks later, the area still has no electricity or Internet and only spotty cel service. 

I guess many will say they escaped with their lives so they should be grateful.

But how do you really rise and rebuild again after 90?

Many Jamaicans are in similar situation, but when you have your youth, it's a natural advantage, psychically and psychologically.

A section of Bethlehem Moravian College.

Update 31st December 2025.

Although it appeared incredulous that my 90 plus year old relatives would be building new accommodation, they sure are!!

Hope they will feel much safer here. 🙏

I weep for Black River/victims

 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.

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.

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.

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 in government offices 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 like even shelter from the elements, 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.

This excellent video by Allison records for posterity the Black River that was.

Great contribution to history Allison 👍👏. Thanks

https://youtu.be/_2XQ4kvV9GM?si=x1mOEgIe20LrjgLQ

https://youtu.be/hdpyDlcaiAQ?si=k9pVm2zjDK5YV17D