By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Works Minister Neko Grant yesterday said the poor upkeep of the Southern Cemetery at Cowpen and Spikenard Roads is “nothing short of a national disgrace” as some graves have been left open with rusty caskets visible.

Mr Grant questioned whether companies were still being contracted to maintain grave sites or if there were still routine inspections, as was the case when he headed the Ministry of Works under the previous Ingraham administration. 

Mr Grant said Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis should apologise to families who have loved ones buried at Southern Cemetery and further explain to the Bahamian people why it has been allowed to “deteriorate” to such a state.

“It is unacceptable that the loved ones of persons buried there must endure the indignity that these unkempt cemeteries have brought,” Mr Grant said when contacted by The Tribune for comment. “It must be heart wrenching for those survivors.

“I also believe that we could be facing some health hazards with the open graves. That is dangerous to have exposed caskets. There is normally a layer of concrete slab to seal it up.

“Under my watch contracts were issued to competent individuals for upkeep and before they were paid the work was inspected by senior works officials.

“Mr Davis owes the public an apology and an explanation as to why it has been allowed to deteriorate to its present state.

“If the Southern Cemetery is in such bad shape, I don’t even want to begin to think of what other government grave sites look like throughout this country.”

The Tribune sought Mr Grant’s opinion after it was made aware of the condition of graves at the Southern Cemetery by relatives who buried a loved one at the site last weekend.

Once they arrived there, they said they were “appalled” that the government had allowed the graveyard to become overgrown with weeds and shrubs. 

When The Tribune visited the site, at least three graves had been left open with the caskets in plain view. Others were covered with old pieces of board. Grass and weeds in certain sections had also grown taller than tombstones.

Several calls were placed to Ministry of Works Permanent Secretary Colin Higgs, however none was returned up to press time.

However, an employee at the ministry confirmed that Southern Cemetery fell under the government’s purview.