Carolyn Cooper | Wa mek Two Sisters Caves lock down?

CHAKA-CHAKA SPELLING

Mi column bout how Rockfort Mineral Bath lock down mek one “Portmore citizen” email mi bout di Two Sisters Caves: “The caves, which for years were an attraction for locals and tourist alike, have been closed for quite some time. It would be great you doing an article on this property so as to get some interest in it once again.”

Mi an mi sister did go a di cave dem one time. Wen wi go a Hellshire Beach, wi woulda see di sign fi di cave dem. One day, mi seh to her, wi a two sister. Mek wi go check out di cave dem. It come een like seh wi go inna one next worl. From way back! Ascorden to di Jamaica National Heritage Trust website, di cave dem have two sink hole full a fresh water weh di Taino dem did drink from. One a di cave dem have one picture a one face pon di wall, bout 700 year old. Di cave dem full a history.

A di Urban Development Corporation (UDC) own di cave dem. So mi email di ‘director corporate communication’ an aks her wa a gwaan. She write back seh, “The Urban Development Corporation in 2014 took a decision to close the Two Sisters Caves attraction in Hellshire, primarily because some elements of the tour needed to be revisited to enhance safety and the experience. The more recent efforts to achieve this have not yet materialised, hence the property remains closed until further advised.”

‘RESILIENCE PARK’

Dat a nuh di story pon di UDC website. Mi see dis ya notice from 2014: “the Caves will no longer open on a daily basis but will be open for bookings for special events to groups of at least fifty (50) persons. This is to increase the operational efficiency of the attraction.” So if me an mi sister did waa go back a di cave dem, wi woulda ha fi find 48 more smaddy fi get een? Dat a “operational efficiency”?

Mi see one next notice from 2020: “action will be taken against persons found in breach of the ‘No Trespassing’ signs at the Cave or at any other UDC property. The Cave has been closed to the public due to low patronage since 2014.” Wa UDC did a do fi get visitor? Dem did advertise di cave dem?

UDC a go build one ‘Resilience Park’ inna Portmore. Mi seh to miself, how di name sound like a JLP slogan? So mi google “Jamaica Labour Party resilience.” See di first ting pon di JLP Instagram page: “Building on a legacy of progress and resilience!” Mi ongle hope di park nah go build pon di legacy a di Two Sisters Cave. Becau dat a nuh progress. It look like seh UDC nuh know di value a di cave dem. ‘Resilience’ mean seh yu can bounce back from a bad situation. UDC better show fi dem ‘resilience’ an open up back di Two Sisters Caves.

PRAPA-PRAPA SPELIN

Mi kalom bout ou Rockfort Mineral Bath lak dong mek wan “Portmore citizen” iimiel mi bout di Two Sisters Caves: “The caves, which for years were an attraction for locals and tourist alike, have been closed for quite some time. It would be great you doing an article on this property so as to get some interest in it once again.”

Mi an mi sista did go a di kiev dem wan taim. Wen wi go a Hellshire Beach, wi wuda si di sain fi di kiev dem. Wan die, mi se tu ar, wi a tuu sista. Mek wi go chek out di kiev dem. It kom iin laik se wi go ina wan neks worl. Fram wie bak! Azkaadn tu di Jamaica National Heritage Trust websait, di kiev dem av two singk uol ful a fresh waata we di Taino dem did jrink fram. Wan a di kiev dem av wan pikcha a wan fies pan di waal, bout 700 ier uol. Di kiev dem ful a ischri.

A di Urban Development Corporation (UDC) uon di kiev dem. So mi iimiel di ‘director corporate communication’ an aks ar wa a gwaan. Shi rait bak se, “The Urban Development Corporation in 2014 took a decision to close the Two Sisters Caves attraction in Hellshire, primarily because some elements of the tour needed to be revisited to enhance safety and the experience. The more recent efforts to achieve this have not yet materialised, hence the property remains closed until further advised.”

‘RESILIENCE PARK’

Dat a no di stuori pan di UDC websait. Mi si dis ya notis fram 2014: “the Caves will no longer open on a daily basis but will be open for bookings for special events to groups of at least fifty (50) persons. This is to increase the operational efficiency of the attraction.” So if mi an mi sista did waahn go bak a di kiev dem, wi wuda a fi fain 48 muor smadi fi get iin? Dat a “operational efficiency”?

Mi si wan neks nuotis from 2020: “action will be taken against persons found in breach of the ‘No Trespassing’ signs at the Cave or at any other UDC property. The Cave has been closed to the public due to low patronage since 2014.” Wa UDC did a du fi get vizita? Dem did advataiz di kiev dem?

UDC a go bil wan ‘Resilience Park’ ina Portmore. Mi se tu miself, ou di niem soun laik a JLP sluogan? So mi guugl “Jamaica Labour Party resilience.” Si di fos ting pan di JLP Instagram piej: “Building on a legacy of progress and resilience!” Mi ongl uop di paak naa go bil pan di legisi a di Two Sisters Cave. Bikaa dat a no pruogres. It luk laik se UDC no nuo di valyu a di kiev dem. ‘Resilience’ miin se yu kyan bongks bak fram a bad sityuieshan. UDC beta shuo fi dem ‘resilience’ an opn op bak di Two Sisters Caves.

For an English translation, visit carolynjoycooper.wordpress.com

Carolyn Cooper, PhD, is a teacher of English language and literature and a specialist on culture and development. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and karokupa@gmail.com.