Jamaica Underwater

I haven’t had the chance to write in awhile, seeing as my internet at home NEVER works and my internet at work is spotty at best, but I’m writing now. Today’s topic:  the impact of built form on the natural environment annnnddddd the reality of living on a tropical island. This combo creates havoc in Jamaica and has been discussed at nearly every meeting I’ve attended. Arriving just after hurricane Nicole, I witnessed the aftermath and impact that heavy rains have on the region. Some major roads were completely washed out leaving debris and scattered fragments, preventing travel and leaving people stranded without food, water or assistance. Minor roads were either completely washed out, flooded or had become so riddled with pot holes that they were barely passable. Many houses, churches and schools were submerged in three feet of water. Some are still under a foot of water two months after. Stagnant water leads to an increased risk of disease, foul smells and a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

I was not prepared for the amount of flooding and damage that had occured, especially in St. Elizabeth.  The parish is home to the Great Morass, a vast network of swamps, rivers and floodplains. Black River is actually located on the boarder of these swamps, and the Black River of course, as well as the ocean.  During the rainy season, flash storms/floods are frequent and hurricanes are a definite reality. Naturally, flooding is a risk for Black River, and the rest of St. Elizabeth.  I mean there’s only so much one can do to protect against mother-nature and the damage she can inflict in a short period of time.

However, flooding becomes a major problem when infrastructure is left to develop in a relatively unchecked fashion, especially in a region as geographically complex at St. Elizabeth.  I suppose a good portion of the development in Black River could be considered a form of urban sprawl, although not the type of sprawl one would see in say, Toronto. For example, I’ve seen houses that have clearly been erected in a flood plain and subdivisions that exist entirely in marshlands. I’m no expert in determining what a “marshland” is, but usually if a national map labels an area as marshland and there’s more than one proposed “lot” underwater, chances are its some type of marsh.  St. Elizabeth lacks any sort of formal growth plan, and with city planning being a relatively new occurrence in Jamaica, many development projects have proceeded without fully understanding the impact they might have on the natural environment and the local community. For example, in the past some developers have purchased a piece of land that is located in close proximity to a flood plain, filled it in with gravel so it sits on higher ground, and re-sell it so it can be developed. Not only is this property still at risk of being flooded, but it creates an impermeable surface with increased run-off exacerbating the overall problem.

Unfortunately there is another side to the story, or as the popular Jamaican radio station  by the same name would say, we need to hear "both sides of the story". I should note that I only know this radio station because I hear it every day in the office from about 1-4, and its theme song is "Hands" by Jewel, which is played during every commercial break.  The flip side is that many Jamaicans can't afford land resulting in residences which are constructed on lands that aren't officially owned by the family. In fact a national program was started last week to help people acquire land titles, to simplify the process and make it more affordable for people to prove their owndership. In some circumstances, residents constuct houses in the communities they were born or have access to using any available land. Often these residents are at risk of flooding, or other natural disasters. This applys to both residential and commercial development of course, both resulting in a development pattern that really has no rhyme or reason. Similarly local governments have lacked the necessary resources, financial or other, to enforce any sort of plan that may have been developed. With limited resources efforts must be focused on basic needs such as road networks (which I'll talk about in a later blog), running water, hospitals, education etc.

Many of the detrimental development patterns are from previous years where city planning wasn’t given much consideration. Working with the planning department, I’ve experienced first -hand the efforts of the planning department and local leaders that are striving for a more sustainable means of development. I’ve also met countless community members who recognize the need for proper planning and who understand the inherent connection between built form and the environment. Living in a tropical climate does come with certain risks. However these risks can be mitigated by providing development that is sustainable and considers the physical environment and its natural limitations. As planning continues to be recognized across the country healthy development patterns should follow. 

B