Kenneth and Martin Bingham | Jamaica’s spas are gold mines

The announcement of plans to divest the Milk River Spa in Clarendon ought to be placed on hold at this time. Instead, the Parliament – Government and the Opposition – should take very seriously a German geologist’s comment with respect to our spas. “Jamaica is sitting on a gold mine”, he observed, following a study of our spas.

It is imperative that Parliament establish a task force of eminent persons to identify relevant spas and to propose a comprehensive plan to develop these spas as commercially viable entities capable of providing Jamaica unprecedented boost to its GDP. It will require substantial investment in infrastructural development. This must be undertaken by the country. With that in place, local and foreign investors can then be induced to join us in our “gold rush”. We cannot continue the dependence on other nations while it is well within our grasp to create enormous wealth for the people of this country through timely development of our natural resources. Let the Parliament lead the way to a new Jamaica that no longer has to go with cap in hand, and more often bucket on head, to secure sustenance for our people.

In the mid-1980s, then Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) TV aired a documentary on Jamaican spas. It featured a German professor of geology. He found, through his studies, some 64 spas on the island. He commented in that documentary, “Jamaica is sitting on a gold mine.” In that documentary, a number of persons shared their experiences particularly of the Milk River Spa in Clarendon. Mr Harold Smith, then proprietor of Smith’s garage on Orange Street in Kingston, spoke of his visits to Milk River. He had developed arthritis in his fingers, and that impeded his ability to ply his trade. However, after a number of visits to Milk River, the pains and discomfort disappeared.

STRIKING ACCOUNT

However, the most striking account was given by an American woman. She had surgery on her back in the United States and was distraught when told she might never walk again. A Jamaican colleague at her workplace, upon hearing her plight, recommended a visit to Milk River. Reluctantly she complied, arriving in Jamaica in a wheelchair. After a number of weeks at the spa, she was ready to discard her chair and return to the USA. Upon return, she visited the hospital where the surgery had been performed.

She recognised a number of nurses on the ward. They, too, recognised her with decidedly different emotions. She hastened to assure them that it was real. She had been at a Jamaican spa! What is most disconcerting is that in the nearly four decades since that documentary, there has been no attempt to develop these spas – a vital natural resource with almost endless possibilities to create unprecedented wealth for our people. Is there a copy of that study available at the Geological Survey Department or the Scientific Research Council? Can a copy of that documentary be located in the former JBC archives?

These writers developed a keen interest in our spas since that documentary was aired. We had thought of Milk River, in particular, as something special since a relative had a years-long back problem cured after attending the Milk River spa back in the early 1970s. We try to engage other visitors to Milk River upon our visits there. A German couple told us, over two decades ago, that it was their 37th visit. Regrettably, we did not seek to determine their reason. A Clarendon resident told us how she regained her sight there and returned to Milk River every year in celebration. She gave us her name: Mrs. Juanita Smith.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

What of personal experiences? There are many to talk about. A family member damaged her right shoulder in a fall in the US. Surgery was planned, but a visit to Milk River was chosen instead. After a few days she could once more lift her hand above her head. Upon returning to the US, the surgeon was pleased but remarked that it might still be necessary for her to do the surgery. That was perhaps 15 to 16 years ago, and she is still fine. Another relative had strained a calf muscle and endured much pain. After one visit to Milk River, he was good to go.

There are also personal experiences of the miraculous healing powers at the Bubbling Spring in Middle Quarters, St Elizabeth. A family friend accompanied us to the spring. She was wheeled into the pool, grimacing in pain as she went. After a couple of hours, her husband announced that he was ready to leave. He was going to fetch the wheelchair. She requested the ‘walker’ instead. As she exited the pool, she was seen chatting and laughing with a friend. An untapped “gold mine” in the form of these spas is awaiting our urgent attention.

Kenneth Bingham is a retired human resource consultant. Martin Bingham is a strategic management consultant. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com or maresour@gmail.com