Fear of cremation pervasive even as cemeteries run out of space

 

With Jamaica currently facing a burial crisis and several cemeteries completely out of space, cremation has been proposed as a possible solution to ease the situation. 

 

However, many Jamaicans remain opposed to the idea, with biblical beliefs often cited as the main reason for their resistance. 

 

According to the Right Reverend Leon Paul Golding, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, this opposition largely stems from differing interpretations of the scriptures.

 

"How people interpret scripture and how people understand the resurrection at the last day - those are the main reasons - and also what has been the practice, certainly in Jamaica, through the years you inter your loved one into the ground. So people are not open to doing things differently. And I think for some persons it may just be that although you're dead, they just have a fear of the whole thing of cremation," he explained.

 

Bishop Golding also noted that some church cemeteries are running out of space, forcing instances of double burials to take place.

 

"Some of our cemeteries are full. Even where some persons are buried, you will find that there are two or three graves there. And in some instances, we're also looking at how we can extend cemeteries to accommodate persons," he said.

 

Currently, only about 26% of the land needed for burials in Jamaica is available and roughly 68% of cemeteries are already full. 

 

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) warns that this shortage is increasing burial costs and urges Jamaicans to consider alternatives like cremation, presently chosen by just 8% of the population, and other innovative methods to ease the strain.