The Ministry for Communications and Works is looking for land to buy in Bodden Town to ensure enough graves for future deaths.
So far no land has been found that is suitable for a cemetery.
‘In the meantime, to alleviate the problem the Ministry is looking at purchasing about 75-100 feet of land at the back of the current cemetery,’ said Bodden Town MLA Osbourne Bodden. ‘This should take care of burial needs for the next 15-20 years based on the rate of deaths in the district.’
‘There have been some discussions between the Ministry and property owners, hopefully a deal can be struck and the project started and completed by the end of the year.
‘The purchase of this property should alleviate all the concern for the near future. A retaining wall made of sheet metal, similar to the one in East End, will also be installed to protect against hurricanes and bad weather.’
The cemetery across the road from the Bodden Town Police Station has been full for some time.
According to retired caretaker Freddy Watler, Government does not think so.
Over the weekend it was discovered by Mr. Watler that Government had indeed tried to squeeze more vaults into the already packed burial ground.
It was during this excavation that a vault side was broken off a disintegrating coffin. The remains were covered with a big blue tarpaulin.
Mr. Watler said he told Government that already the vaults were too close to the entrance and any more digging in the area would result in some sort of damage and collapse of sand around more of the vaults.
According to Environmental Health officials repairs to the old cemetery vault, which was damaged, have been completed.
The incident happened when work at the cemetery was being carried out by a private contractor, retained by the Public Works Department on behalf of DEH.
‘Unfortunately, during excavation, one of the old vaults collapsed, exposing human remains. The remains were immediately covered and stayed that way until the damaged wall was repaired,’ said DEH Director Roydell Carter.
‘At no time was there any danger to the public,’ he said. He noted the old vault was built without reinforcing steel bars.
DEH and PWD officials convey their sincerest apologies to the family members of the deceased and to the public, for any distress this unfortunate incident may have caused, stated a GIS press release.
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