THE BLUE LAGOON.

PARADISE LOST?

Trip Report, Friday, May 25, 2012

We went to the World Famous Blue Lagoon, one of Jamaica’s heritage sites. A paradisiac enclave – the type of place you dream to be stranded with your paramour.

TEMN has joined the “brain trust” to ensure that this natural treasure is developed in an eco-friendly manner

The lush vegetation is in keeping with the high level of rainfall (144mm per year) that typifies the parish of Portland Trees attain great heights as they compete for sunlight emerging from the sliver of land at the base of the cliff that borders the coastline

A section of the western perimeter is a base for craft vendors and fisherfolk attached to the fishing beach, which is sandwiched between the restaurant to the east and several up-scale dwellings to the west

The still blue waters about 170’ deep beckoned

Courtesy of the JNHT and the coast guard we were treated to a boat ride that took us offshore San San to the west, skirting the shoreline before returning to the lagoon pier

But alas! All is NOT well

in paradise

This national treasure is in need of help

The amenities are severely run down

Just offshore, what appeared to be dead coral was observed.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Algae, lots of it is everywhere – on the shoreline

In the shallows

On an abandoned raft

In the pool created by damming the spring that enters the southwest corner of the lagoon

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

The toilets are non-functional

So where do the fishers and vendors go?

Come to think of it –

where does

everybody go?

So how do we restore paradise?

The wonderful thing about the environment is that it can heal itself as long as the stressors are removed To solve a problem though, we first of all have to recognise that there is a problem and determine the extent of the problem

Here, the problem is essentially one of sewage As long as there are visitors we must have proper toilets

As an immediate solution we should consider chemical portable toilets and hand sanitisers, aiming to install the VIDP toilets in the longer term

An assessment of environmental conditions within a radius of 200m of the lagoon to include: 1. Characterisation of water quality in the lagoon as well as

coastal water quality 2. Review of the types of sewage disposal systems used by

dwellings 3. Assess actual/potential impact on water quality/chemistry 4. Review of arrangements for servicing of sewage

treatment/disposal systems

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