A river to soothe the soul

Chrisan Archibald and her children are ‘water babies’, so it's not unusual for them to be seen taking a swim or washing in the Miners River in Clarendon. 

When THE STAR visited the river, several fishermen had their bait waiting patiently for the fish to bite. Archibald was washing her third load of clothes, some of which she scrubs on a rocks nearby. The Miners River is where she comes to clear her head or just meditate, she said.

“All when me nuh have no clothes [to wash], me down here just to relax. There is something about this river that soothes the soul. Nuff time we just stay down here and fish and catch river shrimp and fry. Dem really nice,” she said.

The river that runs through the community of Providence in the parish is also a haven for other community members, some of whom earn a daily income from its clear waters.

“On weekends, especially Sunday, down here full a people. You see like how people have party on the beach, so we party on the river. Me never hear bout anybody drown down here yet because this river teach a lot of people how to swim,” she said.

“Nobody can't hungry round here so unless dem nuh eat fish. But a lot of time the people dem get a way and poison the water, and yuh just see fish  a come up so,” she added.

Similar sentiments were echoed by another female who decided to cool off as a few fishermen laid their nets metres away.

“Is really a nice place. All baby make down here so, enuh. If it ever dry up, dog a go nyam a whole heap a people supper,” she said before shedding her clothing for a swim.