Kendal crash monument to be upgraded

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — A museum and park are expected to be built at the Kendal train crash monument site in time for the 70th anniversary commemorative ceremony next year. Permanent secretary in the Culture Ministry DeanRoy Bernard said the monument, bearing 177 names of the close-to-200 people who died in the September 1, 1957 train crash, has already been declared a national heritage site. “Once a site is declared that means there is a special interest that the [Jamaica National] Heritage Trust takes to ensure it is preserved and developed.

There is a programme of development that we are going to be looking at as we look forward to the 70th year. There are some things that we are going to do. You notice that there is no electricity and there is no bathroom,” he told the Jamaica Observer Tuesday on the sidelines of the 69th anniversary commemorative ceremony in Kendal.

He pointed to an agreement between the Culture Ministry and the Manchester Municipal Corporation to facilitate upgrading of the monument site. Permanent secretary in the Culture Ministry DeanRoy Bernard addressing the 69 th anniversary commemorative ceremony for the Kendal train crash on Tuesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams) “There needs to be a common area and bathroom facility, at least, and the [memorandum of understanding] that we have with the parish council is that we have continued work on the site.

We will look at the MOU and work with the Manchester Municipal Corporation and you will see some improvements next year [with] a proper park and museum,” he said. “We are in the business of museums. Peter Espeut, Roman Catholic deacon and pastoral administrator of St Anne’s Church, welcomed the announcement and said plans are also being made to have a large turnout from the church.

Members of the Manchester Scouts Association at the 69th anniversary commemorative ceremony for the Kendal train crash on Tuesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams) “My understanding is that the ministry wants this to be a site of memory, a pilgrimage site. Our dead are here… For next year we want to bring a few bus loads of people from the church,” he said.

“The people who died here were not from Manchester, but look at how …