Paul H. Williams, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Esther Fuller-Simms never dreamed that she would get a watery grave, and that 12 years after she had made the transition, the earth that surrounded her tomb would have been eaten away by the Pear River, which runs behind the Maroon Cemetery in Charles Town, Portland.

But, the waters, which had been flooding eastern Jamaica last week, exposed her six-by-four-foot final home and those of her deceased neighbours. It was a watery twist to their eternal rest.

Last week, when the members of the Charles Maroon Council realised that the tombs were at risk of being desecrated by the river, they sought help from Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz, who promptly responded. A decision was made to divert the water from the cemetery through a nearby piece of land.

On Thursday, February 12, after about three hours of digging and blocking, the job was complete, and The Sunday Gleaner was the only news medium on spot to see man changing the course of nature to preserve the graves and Maroon heritage. Here are some pictures.

From left:

(1) The flooded graves in the Charles Town Maroon Cemetery, on Thursday.

(2) Men from the Charles Town community bale water from around the damaged graves.

(3) The damaged graves after the river was diverted.

(4) This excavator, operated by Bernard Constantine, digs the channel for the new water course.

(5) The new river channel.

paul.williams@gleanerjm.com