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Southern St. James in Crisis: A Call to Action
Decades of Neglect, A Community's Plea for Change
By Fabian Stennett
Artist & Cultural Anthropologist | Chief of Furry Town Maroons
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Introduction: The Crisis That Won’t Go Away
In the southern belt of Jamaica’s St. James parish, beneath the shadows of lush mountains and rich cultural history, lies a truth that the nation has too long ignored: a community crying out for survival. For over four decades, Southern St. James has been mired in neglect—without consistent access to clean water, facing crumbling infrastructure, and burdened by failed political promises. It’s a quiet crisis, overlooked by the headlines, yet resounding in every household, every empty pipe, and every sick child.
This is more than a story—it is a call to action.
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The Weight of Neglect: A Generational Burden
Walk through the districts of Cambridge, Maroon Town, Bickersteth, and Welcome Hall, and you’ll hear the same refrain: “Wi cyaah get nuh watah.” For many residents, access to clean and reliable water has been a dream deferred for decades.
What should be a fundamental human right has become a daily struggle. Many families are forced to collect rainwater, dig rudimentary wells, or purchase expensive bottled water just to cook and clean. In dry seasons, tensions rise, diseases spread, and children stay home from school—not out of laziness, but because hygiene becomes a luxury.
This isn’t a recent development. Residents vividly recall the promises made during every election cycle—pledges to fix water mains, build clinics, repair roads. Yet today, rusted pipes line the roads like monuments to betrayal.
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The Human Cost: Lives in the Balance
The consequences of this neglect are tangible, visible, and often tragic. Healthcare services are sparse, with understaffed clinics unable to meet the needs of a growing population. In some areas, residents must travel over 30 kilometers to reach a doctor. For pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, this distance becomes a life-threatening barrier.
Schools in Southern St. James suffer from poor facilities, water shortages, and understaffing. Teachers are overworked, and students are frequently absent—not because they don’t want to learn, but because basic infrastructure fails them.
Sanitation is another pressing concern. Without proper waste management and clean water, communities are vulnerable to outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as gastroenteritis, leptospirosis, and dengue fever. These are not rare occurrences—they are cyclical and expected.
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A History of Silence, A Future of Resistance
Despite the adversity, the people of Southern St. James have not remained passive. Community leaders, cultural custodians, and concerned citizens have repeatedly raised the alarm. Petitions have been signed, town halls held, and letters sent to Members of Parliament and government ministries. Yet the silence from those in power has been deafening.
“This crisis is a canvas of contradictions—promises unkept, hopes deferred, and lives impacted,” says one elder from Maroon Town. “We are not asking for luxury. We are asking to live.”
What’s worse is the feeling of abandonment. For many, the government’s neglect feels deliberate—a form of environmental and infrastructural apartheid that prioritizes tourist zones and wealthy districts over rural, working-class communities.
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Key Concerns Identified by Residents
The following are the most pressing issues faced by Southern St. James, as echoed by community members, activists, and local leaders:
Lack of Access to Clean Water: Some communities have been without piped water for over 15 years.
Poor Sanitation and Waste Management: Overflowing garbage and contaminated water pose major health risks.
Inadequate Healthcare Access: Clinics are far, under-equipped, or entirely absent.
Limited Educational Resources: Many schools are underfunded, poorly maintained, and under-resourced.
Neglect of Infrastructure: Roads are impassable in some areas, making transport of goods, emergency services, and school attendance difficult.
Broken Political Promises: Election campaigns bring temporary hope, but rarely lasting change.
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The Role of the State and the Silence of the MP
The sitting Member of Parliament, whose duty it is to represent the interests of all constituents, has failed to offer meaningful solutions. Multiple terms in office have come and gone without any large-scale development or investment in Southern St. James. The question many now ask is: If not now, when?
It is time for accountability. Communities must not continue to accept photo ops and shallow consultations. They deserve clear timelines, public commitments, and legally binding development plans.
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A Cultural and Historical Legacy at Risk
Southern St. James is not just a community—it is a cradle of heritage. From the spiritual and political strength of the Maroons to the artistic brilliance of local artisans, musicians, and farmers, the area is rich with untapped potential. But this cultural legacy is under threat.
Youth are migrating to urban centers or abroad in search of opportunity. As they leave, villages are hollowed out, and ancestral knowledge is lost. Without investment, what remains may wither.
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A Call to Action: The People’s Movement Begins
Now is the time to mobilize. We can no longer wait for change to trickle down. It must be demanded, organized, and driven from the ground up. Here are a few steps forward:
1. Community Councils and Town Halls
Rebuild grassroots democracy. Host public forums to voice issues and formulate solutions.
2. Public Pressure Campaigns
Use social media, journalism, and petitions to apply pressure on elected officials.
3. Legal Advocacy
Explore constitutional and environmental law to demand state accountability.
4. Strategic Alliances
Partner with NGOs, universities, and development agencies to amplify our cause.
5. Cultural Empowerment
Use music, art, and storytelling to preserve identity and mobilize support both locally and internationally.
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Conclusion: A Future Worth Fighting For
Southern St. James does not need pity—it needs partnership. It needs resources, infrastructure, justice, and dignity. Most of all, it needs the unwavering commitment of its people and allies to rise above decades of injustice.
This is not just about water. It’s about survival, sovereignty, and self-respect.
As Chief of the Furry Town Maroons and as a son of this soil, I am committed to standing with every resident, elder, and child until the day comes when no family must wonder if clean water will reach their tap—or if their government still remembers them.
The time is now. Let us rise together.
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Fabian Stennett
Artist, Cultural Anthropologist & Chief of Furry Town Maroons
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