Spotlight On South Jamaica And The South Coast.
Jamaica our revered island paradise is not only our everything but also offers some of earth's finest natural sites and scenes. In a bid to satisfy and quench your thirst for more knowledge this article is geared to throw the Spotlight on Southern Jamaica and the south coast. First and foremost we must give you a geographically idea of the span of Southern Jamaica. Southern Jamaica cut across the Parishes of St James, St Elizabeth, Westmoreland,Manchester and Clarendon. The hilly Cockpit Country And it's Maroon rich legacy of traditional herbal healings and indigenous culture are to be found in this specific geographical location and is actually the beginning of the South belt. Places Like Cambridge,Tangle River, Maroon Town, Flag staff and Garlands are all part of this zone. Accomponng Town is part and parcel of this area, With it's history link back to St James's, Trelawney Town Maroon Town . Accomponng like Tangle River,Carlton and Garlands are all apart of the lands demarcated under the 1738-1739 Sovereign maroon Treaty inked between Great Britain (England) and the Maroon Strongman and Chief Captain of the Ciboney Do people Iligimo Kojo. The Jamaica Tourist Board Promotes Tours to both Flagstaff and Accomponng Town in a bid to spotlight there cultural Heritage. St.Elizabeth is Jamaica's third largest parish and is deemed as the bread basket of Jamaica. Black River Town was the first place in Jamaica To recieved both electricity and piped water. The fact of the matter is that Black River it self and the YS Falls is source by the large water tables of the Cockpit Country. Black River was founded in 1685.Black River was created by the Leyden Brothers and in 1773 Black River replaced Lacovia,it's former capital, as the new capital. The Black River got it name from the darkness of the vegetative river bed. It was originally call Rio Cabana (mahogany River),it is famous for it boat tours,fishing and is a natural habitat for the Jamaican Crocodiles. The parish of Manchester was established in 1814 and is actually the amalgamation of some
part of the parishes of St.Elizabeth, Clarendon and Vere. Manchester is the last parish to be created in Jamaica and it's capital is called Mandeville and is a major business centre .The Parish of Clarendon is situated on the Southern end of Jamaica and it is bordered on the west by the parish of Manchester.The early Spanish Invaders Settled in Clarendon and name it's Grassland Savannahs. The First slavery rebellion on records actually took place on the Sutton Plantation in 1690.The first parochial board meeting of Clarendon took place in 1885. We will be leaving out a most important Spotlight if we fail to Highlight and or mentioned the south coast parish of Westmoreland. Westmoreland is the Most extreme Western parish it is located on the South side of the island and is south of Hanover parish. When the English invaded and occupied the Ciboney indigenous troglodyte land of Xamica, Westmoreland was originally a part of St .Elizabeth. Westmoreland has a lot to do with Dr. Don Drummond the plantocracist whose parents own a lion sum of farmlands in Westmoreland. Drummond according to historical records was a surgeon in the Westmoreland Rigment Of Foot from as early as 1784. Westmoreland was founded in 1703,located in the county of Cornwall it's capital is Savanna-la-mar and was created after the English occupation of 1655.The original Meskito Indians Can still be found up to this day in this neck of the woods. Savanna-la-mar is the capital of Westmoreland.It was founded by the English in 1730 the town was once destroyed by a hurricane referred to as Savanna-la-mar hurricane. After its destruction by hurricane it was rebuilded as the port chiefly supports the English slave trade.There use be an English fort in Savanna-la-mar. Savanna-la-mar courthouse was built in 1925 and can be located on Great George Street. Bluefield,Belmont and white House are also worthy to be mentioned. The Peter Tosh mausoleum dedicated to Reggae icon Peter Tosh is in Belmont.Now that we throw a spotlight on south Jamaica and the south coast tell me what you think?Spotlight on South Jamaica and the South Coast
By Fabian Stennett
Jamaica, our revered island paradise, is more than just beaches and reggae rhythms — it’s a land steeped in ancient wisdom, natural beauty, and a fierce spirit of resistance. To quench your thirst for deeper knowledge of this land we love, this article throws the spotlight on Southern Jamaica and the South Coast, where heritage, culture, and history run deep like the rivers that flow through its veins.
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Defining the South: Geography and Legacy
Southern Jamaica stretches across the parishes of St. James, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, and Clarendon — a belt rich in both natural and cultural wealth.
The Cockpit Country, marking the gateway to this southern region, is a rugged, forested landscape carved by limestone hills and hidden valleys. This area is sacred — the stronghold of the Maroons, particularly those of Accompong Town, who signed the historic 1738–1739 treaty with the British. Chief Captain Kojo, known as Iligimo Kojo, led this sovereign agreement, securing autonomy for the Maroons and preserving their ancestral lands.
Places like Cambridge, Tangle River, Garlands, Flagstaff, and Carlton still echo the legacy of that resistance, preserving traditional knowledge, herbal healing, and indigenous culture. Today, the Jamaica Tourist Board promotes visits to Flagstaff and Accompong, ensuring that these powerful cultural sites remain celebrated.
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St. Elizabeth – The Breadbasket of Jamaica
Next in our spotlight is St. Elizabeth, Jamaica’s third-largest parish, proudly wearing the title of the “Breadbasket of Jamaica.” Its rich, fertile soils provide much of the island’s produce. But St. Elizabeth is more than farming — it's a place of firsts.
The town of Black River was the first in Jamaica to receive both electricity and piped water. Founded in 1685 by the Leyden brothers, it became the capital in 1773, replacing Lacovia. The Black River itself, once called Rio Cabana (Mahogany River), is named for the dark vegetation lining its bed. It's a hub for eco-tourism, offering riverboat tours and close encounters with Jamaican crocodiles, while nearby YS Falls, sourced by the Cockpit Country’s underground water tables, remains one of the island’s most breathtaking natural attractions.
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Manchester – The Newest Parish with an Old Soul
Manchester, created in 1814, is the youngest parish in Jamaica — formed from parts of St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, and the old parish of Vere. Its capital, Mandeville, is a modern business and administrative center nestled in cool hill country. Historically, Mandeville has been a retreat for returning residents and a symbol of upward mobility.
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Clarendon – Land of Rebellion and Renewal
Clarendon, bordered by Manchester to the west, is a key part of Jamaica’s southern backbone. It was an early site of Spanish settlement, and its savannah grasslands were named by those early invaders. Importantly, Clarendon was the site of Jamaica’s first recorded slave rebellion, which took place on the Sutton Plantation in 1690. The parish’s first local government board meeting occurred in 1885, marking its importance in administrative history.
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Westmoreland – Where Roots Run Deep
No spotlight on the South Coast would be complete without Westmoreland — Jamaica’s westernmost parish, rooted in deep history and resilient spirit. Once part of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland was formally recognized in 1703. Its capital, Savanna-la-Mar, founded in 1730, was once a fortified port used by the English during the height of the transatlantic slave trade. The town was flattened by a devastating hurricane, remembered as the Savanna-la-Mar Hurricane, but it was rebuilt and remains vital today.
The Savanna-la-Mar courthouse, built in 1925, still stands proudly on Great George Street, a testament to Westmoreland’s enduring legacy.
You’ll also find villages like Bluefields, Belmont, and Whitehouse, each offering their own charm. Belmont, in particular, is home to the Peter Tosh Mausoleum, honoring the reggae legend and revolutionary thinker who was born in the parish. Westmoreland’s contributions to culture, from music to farming, are impossible to overlook.
Let’s not forget the whispers of history that tell us the Miskito (or Meskito) people, Indigenous to Central America and the Caribbean, once walked these lands — some of their descendants are still said to live here today.
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Conclusion: More Than A Coastline
The South Coast of Jamaica is not just a scenic stretch of land — it is the spiritual spine of the island. From the Maroon warriors in the Cockpit Country to the fishermen of Black River, from the rebellion fields of Clarendon to the musical vibrations of Westmoreland — this region is a living, breathing chronicle of Jamaica’s soul.
So when we shine the spotlight on Southern Jamaica, we illuminate the roots of resistance, resilience, and rich cultural pride.
Now that we’ve cast this light — what do you see?
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By Fabian Stennett
Jamaica, our revered island paradise, is more than just beaches and reggae rhythms — it’s a land steeped in ancient wisdom, natural beauty, and a fierce spirit of resistance. To quench your thirst for deeper knowledge of this land we love, this article throws the spotlight on Southern Jamaica and the South Coast, where heritage, culture, and history run deep like the rivers that flow through its veins.
---
Defining the South: Geography and Legacy
Southern Jamaica stretches across the parishes of St. James, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, and Clarendon — a belt rich in both natural and cultural wealth.
The Cockpit Country, marking the gateway to this southern region, is a rugged, forested landscape carved by limestone hills and hidden valleys. This area is sacred — the stronghold of the Maroons, particularly those of Accompong Town, who signed the historic 1738–1739 treaty with the British. Chief Captain Kojo, known as Iligimo Kojo, led this sovereign agreement, securing autonomy for the Maroons and preserving their ancestral lands.
Places like Cambridge, Tangle River, Garlands, Flagstaff, and Carlton still echo the legacy of that resistance, preserving traditional knowledge, herbal healing, and indigenous culture. Today, the Jamaica Tourist Board promotes visits to Flagstaff and Accompong, ensuring that these powerful cultural sites remain celebrated.
---
St. Elizabeth – The Breadbasket of Jamaica
Next in our spotlight is St. Elizabeth, Jamaica’s third-largest parish, proudly wearing the title of the “Breadbasket of Jamaica.” Its rich, fertile soils provide much of the island’s produce. But St. Elizabeth is more than farming — it's a place of firsts.
The town of Black River was the first in Jamaica to receive both electricity and piped water. Founded in 1685 by the Leyden brothers, it became the capital in 1773, replacing Lacovia. The Black River itself, once called Rio Cabana (Mahogany River), is named for the dark vegetation lining its bed. It's a hub for eco-tourism, offering riverboat tours and close encounters with Jamaican crocodiles, while nearby YS Falls, sourced by the Cockpit Country’s underground water tables, remains one of the island’s most breathtaking natural attractions.
---
Manchester – The Newest Parish with an Old Soul
Manchester, created in 1814, is the youngest parish in Jamaica — formed from parts of St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, and the old parish of Vere. Its capital, Mandeville, is a modern business and administrative center nestled in cool hill country. Historically, Mandeville has been a retreat for returning residents and a symbol of upward mobility.
---
Clarendon – Land of Rebellion and Renewal
Clarendon, bordered by Manchester to the west, is a key part of Jamaica’s southern backbone. It was an early site of Spanish settlement, and its savannah grasslands were named by those early invaders. Importantly, Clarendon was the site of Jamaica’s first recorded slave rebellion, which took place on the Sutton Plantation in 1690. The parish’s first local government board meeting occurred in 1885, marking its importance in administrative history.
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Westmoreland – Where Roots Run Deep
No spotlight on the South Coast would be complete without Westmoreland — Jamaica’s westernmost parish, rooted in deep history and resilient spirit. Once part of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland was formally recognized in 1703. Its capital, Savanna-la-Mar, founded in 1730, was once a fortified port used by the English during the height of the transatlantic slave trade. The town was flattened by a devastating hurricane, remembered as the Savanna-la-Mar Hurricane, but it was rebuilt and remains vital today.
The Savanna-la-Mar courthouse, built in 1925, still stands proudly on Great George Street, a testament to Westmoreland’s enduring legacy.
You’ll also find villages like Bluefields, Belmont, and Whitehouse, each offering their own charm. Belmont, in particular, is home to the Peter Tosh Mausoleum, honoring the reggae legend and revolutionary thinker who was born in the parish. Westmoreland’s contributions to culture, from music to farming, are impossible to overlook.
Let’s not forget the whispers of history that tell us the Miskito (or Meskito) people, Indigenous to Central America and the Caribbean, once walked these lands — some of their descendants are still said to live here today.
---
Conclusion: More Than A Coastline
The South Coast of Jamaica is not just a scenic stretch of land — it is the spiritual spine of the island. From the Maroon warriors in the Cockpit Country to the fishermen of Black River, from the rebellion fields of Clarendon to the musical vibrations of Westmoreland — this region is a living, breathing chronicle of Jamaica’s soul.
So when we shine the spotlight on Southern Jamaica, we illuminate the roots of resistance, resilience, and rich cultural pride.
Now that we’ve cast this light — what do you see?
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