Carolyn Cooper | Wa a gwaan a Rockfort Bath?

CHAKA-CHAKA SPELLING

It look like seh nutten nah gwaan a Rockfort Mineral Bath. From March 2020, it lock down sake a Covid. All now it nuh open back. Covid lockdown done long, long time. From January 2022! Wa mek mineral bath still lock down? Nobody no business wid it? A Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) response fi di mineral bath an di fort. One real-real fort out a Rockfort.

Ina 1992, govament mek Rockfort bath one national monument. Milk River Spa inna Clarendon an Bath inna St Thomas, dem a national monument to. Ascorden to JNHT, “a site is declared a National Monument, if in the opinion of the Trust its preservation is a matter of public interest by reason of its historic, architectural, traditional, artistic, aesthetic, scientific or archaeological value.”

Di mineral bath dem a healing stream. An nuff a wi dip inna dem. Mi did go a Rockfort bath every week. Di mineral water feel so good when it beat pon mi body. An mi sleep laka baby. Heritage Trust nuh understand di value a di bath fi di whole heap a people weh a dead fi it open back?

CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

Inna January, Hilary Nicholson email JNHT an aks when di bath a go open back. Miguel Fairman, Director, Project Management & Implementation answer her: “We appreciate your interest and we do sympathize with the many that has been affected by the closure and will ensure that we provide a newly renovated space to the public once we are all convinced that the location is fit and proper for public use. We will have you back in the space in no time.”

All now “in no time” nuh come. Hilary email back JNHT dis month an beg dem, “JNHT please come clean with members of the public.” Fairman seh: “We do not have a political problem, Carib Cement problem nor do we want [to] commit to a date and not deliver.” By di way, JNHT lease di fort an di bath to Carib Cement. Di company supposen fi look after di property. It look like seh JNHT did have a “Carib Cement problem” fi true.

Mi bex so til when mi see seh JNHT nuh waan gi no date fi open di bath. Mi call di Executive Director, Michele Creed Nelson. Praise God, she seh di bath a go open inna December. 2023! But when mi aks her if any work start, she admit seh, “Quantities for the work to be carried out have been prepared. Actual work will begin shortly. The JNHT and the Cement Company are committed to the December 31 deadline.” Dis a August. Wa never do inna 20 month a go done inna four? Christmas miracle!

PRAPA-PRAPA SPELIN

It luk laik se notn naa gwaan a Rockfort Mineral Bath. Fram Maach 2020, it lak dong siek a Kuovid. Aal nou it no opn bak. Kuovid lakdong don lang, lang taim. Fram Janieri 2022! Wa mek minaral baat stil lak dong? Nobadi no bizniz wid it? A Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) rispans fi di minaral baat an di fuort. Wan riil-riil fuort out a Rockfort.

Ina 1992, govament mek Rockfort baat wan nashinal maniment. Milk River Spa ina Klarindan an Bath ina St Tomas, dem a nashinal maniment tu. Azkaadn tu JNHT, “a site is declared a National Monument, if in the opinion of the Trust its preservation is a matter of public interest by reason of its historic, architectural, traditional, artistic, aesthetic, scientific or archaeological value.”

Di mineral baat dem a iilin schriim. An nof a wi dip ina dem. Mi did go a Rockfort baat evri wiik. Di mineral waata fiil so gud wen it biit pan mi badi. An mi sliip laka biebi. Heritage Trust no andastan di valyu a di baat fi di uol iip a piipl we a ded fi it opn bak?

KRISMOS MIRAKL

Ina Janieri, Hilary Nicholson iimiel JNHT an aks wen di baat a go opn bak. Mr Miguel Fairman, Director, Project Management & Implementation ansa ar: “We appreciate your interest and we do sympathize with the many that has been affected by the closure and will ensure that we provide a newly renovated space to the public once we are all convinced that the location is fit and proper for public use. We will have you back in the space in no time.”

Aal nou “in no time” no kom. Hilary iimiel bak JNHT dis mont an beg dem, “JNHT please come clean with members of the public.” Fairman se: “We do not have a political problem, Carib Cement problem nor do we want [to] commit to a date and not deliver.” Bai di wie, JNHT liis di fuort an di baat tu Carib Cement. Di kompini supuozn fi luk aafta di prapati. It luk laik se JNHT did av a “Carib Cement problem” fi chruu.

Mi beks so til wen mi si se JNHT no waahn gi no diet fi opn di baat. Mi kaal di Executive Director, Mrs Michele Creed Nelson. Priez Gad, shi se di baat a go opn ina Disemba. 2023! Bot wen mi aks ar if eni wok staat, shi admit se, “Quantities for the work to be carried out have been prepared. Actual work will begin shortly. The JNHT and the Cement Company are committed to the December 31 deadline.” Dis a Aagos. Wa neva du ina 20 mont a go don ina fuor? Krismos mirakl!

For an English translation, visit carolynjoycooper.wordpress.com

Carolyn Cooper, PhD, is a teacher of English language and literature and a specialist on culture and development. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and karokupa@gmail.com