NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 2 Paul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer IN 1773, Black River replaced Lacovia as the capital of St Elizabeth, one of the oldest parishes in Jamaica. From there, logwood and other much-sought-after produce were exported. The Hendricks Wharf was a hive of economic activities in its heyday. The crocodile safari that sits on the Black River has also contributed significantly to the town’s economy in one way or the other. The river supported an important shrimp and freshwater fishery in the earlier 20th century. There were colourful balls and banquets, and an annual circus that attracted visitors from far and wide. And thought it was the first place in Jamaica to get electricity and motor cars, its development has never been rapid and solid. It’s a laid-back, easy-going place, away from the major road networks. Yet, it was once the biggest transport hub in the parish, with main roads leading to Westmoreland in the west and Manchester to the east. Now, 60 years after Jamaica gained Independence fromBritain, Black River is all but dead, and is oft-referred to as a ‘ghost town’. Its very location, the establishment of a bypass, the growth of other towns, such as Junction and Santa Cruz, labour migration, and the closure of Hendricks Wharf are the major reasons the research has found for the decline of this historic place. When The Gleaner visited recently, the team chanced upon Sylton Sibblies, manager for the market, which is operated by the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation. He spoke candidly about the state of affairs in Black River in general, and the market in particular. Located on Jamaica’s southwest coast, Black River is not much visited by people from satellite communities for work, school, business, and shopping. It does not have many of these pull factors, and there are alternatives. In essence, people would not want to go to Black River unless it is absolutely necessary. “It is the people who do a little buying and selling who come into the town,” Sibblies stated, “There is no appetite for people to come here.” Junction, serving the south, and Santa Cruz, the hub for the north, central and east, are the alternatives to Black River. Even some government and non-government entities have relocated their branches to Santa Cruz, which is more centrally located. People from Black River itself are now going to Santa Cruz to do business. Also, it is not a dormitory community from which people leave in droves to return in the evenings after work. This has caused a scarcity of public passenger vehicles. In fact, those who still work and do business in Black River try to leave before nightfall, as there might not be any transport to take them out after a certain time. The bypass from Luana to Sandy Ground means that some vehicular traffic do not have to pass through it. Sibblies lamented, “Dem bypass the town now, so those people that used to come by [now] go straight ‘round the town now; so a just the small village people who still here.” When The Gleaner visited recently, life seemed to have stood still. Unflattering shacks A section of Black River on February 1. PHOTOS BY NICHOLAS NUNES/PHOTOGRAPHER jamaica at Black River needs AN INJECTION JAMAICA AT 60: ST ELIZABETH
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