Hanover council eyes land buy as Hopewell cemetery at death’s door
Published:Wednesday | October 27, 2021 | 3:34 AMBryan Miller/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
With stakeholders worried that the Hopewell cemetery is on the verge of running out of space, the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) has been advised to acquire an adjoining 11-acre property to expand the burial ground.
The Hopewell Citizens’ Association and the Hopewell Community Development Committee (CDC), which have repeatedly expressed concern, are the primary lobbyists for action on the crisis.
Ever since the cemetery in neighbouring Sandy Bay ran out of burial space 10 years ago, deceased from that community have been buried at Hopewell or in the parish of St James.
Devon Brown, councillor for Hopewell, said the burial dilemma warrants urgent attention.
It would appear that the HMC efforts to get the approval of the Ministry of Local Government for the land purchase has received favourable consideration.
“The ministry has done an inspection of the cemetery and adjoining areas, and they have recommended that we pursue the acquisition of additional lands, because the adjoining lands, based on their assessment, would have been suitable,” said David Gardner, the HMC’s chief executive officer.
Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels, who is also chairman of the HMC, wants the lands to be acquired speedily to alleviate the space shortage.
No timetable was laid out for the closure of the deal.