Beautiful North Clarendon- (Question 10)

Clarendon College is a beautiful place.  Tourist might get some satisfaction from just visiting our school.  The panoramic view around the school is breath taking.  Our graduates enjoy the naturally beautiful backdrop for their pictures.  Just look at the pictures that you see at this link http://clarendoncollege.photosite.com/viewscc/ and tell me if you agree.  Our email address is clarendoncollege@lycos.com.

Once again the parish of Clarendon host more beautiful places that tourist should enjoy visiting.

The Rio Mino is so beautiful and useful when it is used properly.  From time to time people from all over go there to have picnics.  In March of last year a few of the Clarendon College teachers hiked to a section of the river in Suttons to have a cook out and to have great time. 

We splashed and swam around.  Those who could not swim just frolicked around and just had a good time. 

Enjoy the pictures seen at this link http://clarendoncollege.photosite.com/RioMinhoSuttons/ 

A place that is unnoticed is a fall located in the Brae head section of Crooked River. This is a beautiful view.  On Ash Wednesday some members of the tourism action club and some members of the Go-local club had the privilege to view this site.  It is called the Survival Entertainment Center and Waterfall.

Next stop was the Bull Head Mountain.  This is another beautiful site; I would invite any tourist to view this site. The vehicle left us approximately 3-4 miles away from the peak. We had to hike to the main plateau where a digicel transmitter is located.  There were many people selling original Jamaican food such as; jerk chicken, jerk pork, roast fish, salt fish and yam, rice and peas, curry goat, stew peas, vege chunks stewed in pumpkin and manish water.  What ever you want they have it cooked up there.  Fresh fruits and vegetables could be bought.  Craft items and other miscellaneous items were for sale too. 

Every age group could be found up there absorbing the terrific view; the coolness and he loud music, which was the center of attraction.  People were just everywhere camping out, eating and enjoying themselves.  The hike was long and I guess I walk six miles.  3 each way but all in all it was a day well worth it.  No pictures were taken on Ash Wednesday with the throng of people at Bull Head mountain, however CCITCC photographer – Dereefe Stephens and I went back on the evening of March 10, 2004 to take some pictures.  Click this link to view the pictures http://clarendoncollege.photosite.com/TA1/BULLHEADWFALL/

Fires on Bull Head

We met up with two staff members, of the Ministry of Agriculture – Forest Reservation - as we were about to leave, riding up on a bike to investigate a bush fire that was occurring in the Reserve at the time.  They are Mr. Samuel Martin, Forest Warden and Mr. Paul Green, Forester.

Staff members are constantly grappling with bush fires on the Reserve, which spans over 1000 acres.  Today was one of the days that they had to be calling the fire brigades from the communities with fire stations.  According to Mr. Martin, he telephoned the Kellits and the Frankfield Fire Brigade stations and none of their units were working, therefore he had to call the May Pen station, which sent one unit; however that unit was no where in sight when were leaving the site minutes to five.  Fresh fire scars could be seen on both sides of the area that the Digicel satellite transmitter pole is located, ashes were floating around in the air and the crackling of burning bushes could be heard close by. 

If you took close notice of one of the pictures, in it there is a sign that reads:

This area has been set aside as a forest reserve for its natural beauty, unique ecosystem, and an importance as a water catchment.  The forest act, 1996 provides for the creation, protection and maintenance of the country’s system of forest reserves.  The act specifies the use and activities permitted inside forest reserves.  Persons guilty of an offence shall be liable on summary conviction before a Resident Magistrate to a fine of not exceeding $200,000 and in default of payment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 24 months.

The picture also shows the things that users should not engage in.  However it was evident that farmers were busy cutting down trees, burning and clearing land to plant other vegetations.  Numerous yam cultivations could be seen growing in areas where evergreen pine trees should have been.  Is there anyone monitoring the activities that are taking place in this area? Is the planting of other vegetations legal?  If not, why are farmers allowed to do as they wish?  When we were going up to take the pictures, we saw a farmer waiting on his ride that came up behind us to take him out of the Reserves.

Email this to a friend | Print this Page | Join the discussion about this article