The Impending Disaster at Choc Cemetery

Losing a loved one is a heartbreaking experience. Tombstones are monuments and expressions of the loss and symbolize our connection to the dearly departed. They represent more than mere facts pertaining to the birth and death dates on the tomb. Which may offer a hint of why I am so disheartened by the current condition of the Choc Cemetery. As if to underscore the general lack of interest in the state burial ground, there is the sudden silence of our preservationists and climate-change activists that speak distressing volumes.  

For years we have been aware of the impending impact of climate change on our island St Lucia. Politicians attend regional and international discussions on the effects of climate change. However, rhetoric has not translated into urgent action. Where is the light?

Sad to say, the on-going impact of climate change on the Choc Cemetery over the years has been quite evident. Last year, the gabion wall installed on the Vigie shore collapsed. It seems the soil erosion caused by uprooted almond trees has compromised the gravesites, causing the partial collapse of several tombs. Human skeletal remains—bones and skulls—were washed from graves into the sea. Imagine the trauma of finding human skulls washed up the on the beach. The City Council seems unperturbed. What is to be done when beach-goers are forced to walk around the neglected cemetery because an area of the regular route has been blocked by horrifying graveyard debris?   

With the increased deaths brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Choc cemetery has borne a disproportionate share of burials. Yet, the authorities decided to build tombs within a few feet of the coastline and close to the up-rooted trees and fallen gabion wall. It did not take long for cracks to appear in the newly built tombs.

This calamitous development cannot be ignored.Why are tombs being constructed within yards of the shoreline?Did the authorities contact a professional forensic and geotechnical engineer to determine what caused the collapse of the gabion wall, perchance to ensure a new wall is built capable of withstanding the impact of climate change? Why are tombs being constructed so close to the shoreline? Would houses for the living be zoned in such an area with the knowledge we have now about the intensification of hurricanes, the possibility of uncontrollable floods, rising sea levels, global warnings and so on?

Let’s review the action taken to ensure our dearly departed rest in peace and dignity. Stones were placed near the sea along the fallen wall. However, with the rise in sea levels, and the force of the waves and tides, it is clear such action was inadequate. The waves are now even higher as they lash against the shore. Recently, some concrete slabs and boulders were placed along the seashore. Again, given the fresh evidence, that this was not enough to stem the disintegration of the shoreline. What then can relatives of the dead look forward to. More disintegration? More skulls and human bones along the beach?  

My own mother and other departed relatives, as well as the remains of countless other St Lucian families are interred at the Choc cemetery. We must have the courage to protest the sad condition of the burial grounds. To quote Nelson Mandela: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”The authorities must demonstrate some sensitivity and compassion. Our leaders must demonstrate that they have a heart, soul, and some level of humanity to protect the bodies of our loved ones. Surely, they too have relatives at the Choc Cemetery. 

Whoever is responsible for the environment, whichever Ministry, must act with due urgency. With so many cell phones always recording local disasters, every effort should be made  avoid tourist-chasing horror headlines and accompanying the photographs crumbling tombs and human remains along the Choc beach. The uprooted trees should be felled. Building a durable sea wall is urgent. While there are pros and cons to building a sea wall, the pros far outweigh the cons. Qualified engineers list the following as advantages of constructing a sea wall. On the plus side, sea walls offer protection against coastal erosion. The waves can be used as a source of renewable energy, instead of being encouraged to be a destructive force.

Unlike other coastal defences such as dikes, sea walls do not need much space for construction. They are mostly built vertically, while others are horizontal. Sea walls are long-term solutions to shoreline erosion, compared to soft beach nourishment. Sea walls are flexible in terms of adjustments and modifications. As the sea keeps posing various levels of threat that may require more defence, renovating sea walls may be necessary.

There is also a need to discuss cremation as an alternative to burial. For years we have heard successive governments speak of the need for an alternative cemetery location as a permanent solution. All bark and no bite? The time to act is now.

Government must demonstrate the necessary political will in this urgent matter and quit hiding behind its transparent “we have no money” shield. The Choc Cemetery is a catastrophe waiting to multiply.  International funding is available to developing countries like St Lucia for sustainable development and climate change resilience. Government can source funding from other institutions such as the Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), Arab Bank for Reconstruction, and European Bank for Reconstruction, to name a few. As sensitive citizens, we must find the courage to demand for our dearly departed the dignity they deserve!