Road works threaten Rastafari village in St. JamesCEFR B2
16 Aug 2025
Adapted from Emma Lewis, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Kemoi Brown, Unsplash
The piece was first published in Petchary’s Blog on July 28, 2025. It chronicles how a community project in St. James parish has been disrupted by recent road works and by broader development priorities in Jamaica.
The Rastafari Indigenous Village opened in 2014 with initial funding from the World Bank and land provided by the Nelson family. The author wrote about the site for a JSIF website in 2017; JSIF was founded in 1996 to support small projects that create jobs and help communities. World Bank officials visited the village in 2016. The site became a popular visitor attraction.
- Bamboo buildings and herb gardens
- Regular tours with ital cooking, drumming and river walks
- A setting near the Montego River
By 2025 construction of a bypass by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has affected the village. Heavy machinery and earthworks caused deforestation and changed the land’s contours. Runoff, rubble and damaged drains now flow toward the village and into the Montego River. Residents report poor air quality, constant noise and restricted access. At least one section of the new road will become a toll road. Promotional videos on YouTube call the project "the NEW Jamaica!" and show the bypass receiving its first layer of asphalt; some videos also show plans to redirect the Montego River.
Community members call the situation their "Time of Trial" and describe the loss of intangible cultural heritage, including oral traditions and practices linked to Rastafari life. There has been vague talk of relocating the village, but access is effectively limited. An online consultation contained a long presentation and a short Q&A in which most concerns went unanswered. The author suggested Jamaica should ratify the Escazú Agreement to improve public participation. The village’s co‑founder, Arlene Alberga McKenzie, said: "Rastafari stands in the gap to remind our present of the many journeys of our past […] The demand on the village is for connection: with the earth, the plants and trees, and with the stories of survival."
Difficult words
- chronicle — to write a detailed account of eventschronicles
- parish — a local church district or civil area
- disrupt — to interrupt normal activity or cause disturbancedisrupted
- indigenous — originating naturally in a particular place
- deforestation — the removal of trees from an area
- runoff — water that flows over land after rain
- intangible — not physical or material; cannot be touched
- consultation — a process of asking people for their opinions
- ratify — to formally approve a treaty or agreement
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might the loss of intangible cultural heritage affect daily life in the Rastafari Village? Give examples from the article or your own ideas.
- What are the potential benefits and risks of building a bypass near a cultural community like the Rastafari Village?
- Was the online consultation described in the article effective? What other steps could improve community participation?
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