Whither Dead End Beach?
ABOUT FOUR weeks ago, I wrote about the seeming upgrading of Dead End Buccaneer Beach at the northern end of Kent Avenue in Montego Bay. It was one of the beautiful Montego Bay beaches I grew up on, so I get upset whenever I visit and see garbage strewn all over the sands. The beach and the seawall are a popular chill spot, especially at night, and I am befuddled by the people who hang out there and leave their mess all over the place despite garbage receptacles being situated at strategic points. The area is also a fish-replenishment zone. Over the years, I wished silently that somebody would see what I was seeing and do something about it. So recently, when I saw men building a wall, I wondered whether the beach itself would be touched.
REHABILITATION
Last week, my question was answered; the beach itself is being rehabilitated. The loose rocks and fallen tree had been removed, and so had the refuse. The sand was levelled in parts, the wall that separates it from the airport had been painted, and another groyne was being constructed. A man who frequents the areas was removing bottle caps and shards from the sand. These pieces had replaced the shells, which I told a youngster who was having a whale of time were embedded in the sand in their hundreds when I was his age. He will never experience the joy of finding these little marine gems. It was a midweek morning, but locals and visitors were chilling and enjoying the cleaner ambience. I certainly did. Yet, I am still not sure what, eventually, is going to happen. Is this clean-up going to be sustained by whoever is doing the upgrade, and what about the people who use the place? Will they compromise the efforts? Also, the place needs a restroom, and if not, piped water. This is a public request.