Efforts on to revive Roaring River as tourist attraction

"We are in negotiation with DBJ for a lease and believe we are pretty close to an agreement," Earl Patrick, executive director of TPDCo, told Western Focus. "It's a great property and, if we get hold of it, we believe we can really make it into a star attraction. But, until then, we can only wait."

According to Patrick, his team has already done its own due diligence, created a development plan and has presented a draft MOU to the DBJ board.

The location also boasts a gigantic cave, which was once a popular attraction with both local and international visitors. However, within recent times, there has been a significant reduction in the number of people visiting the facility.

Challenges

The decline in visitors is said to be as a result of the deplorable state of the road leading to the facility, and the numerous complaints of visitors being harassed by residents of the area. Health concerns were raised about the established settlements on the riverbank, as Westmoreland is endemic to the waterborne disease typhoid, which had its last major outbreak in the 1990s.

In 2002, former member of parliament for Central Westmoreland, Dr Karl Blythe, sought to bring some viability to the attraction. The plan then, he said, was to have residents play an integral part in restoring the image of the facility. The facility is owned by the Sugar Company of Jamaica.

The park holds much heritage and is sited on the Roaring River Estate, which belonged to the Beckford family.

Roaring River runs underground before appearing near the mouth of the Roaring River Cave - a series of limestone caverns with a small mineral spring inside.

The Roaring River Citizens' Association, a local community group, looks after the caves and provides guided tours for visitors. There is also a freshwater sinkhole where visitors can swim, and a landscaped private garden where visitors are welcome for a small contribution.

The river provides the parish capital, Savanna-la-Mar, with its water supply and it is the most important source of water in Central Westmoreland and the George's Plain.