The Old Harbour Clock | Is this colonial relic still worth keeping?

Today, the clock is far removed from its majestic and pristine best, a colonial relic seemingly left to decay by the elements and time.  It no longer works these days, in fact for more than a quarter of a century, leaving many to ponder its relevance in an era where everyone can keep abreast of the time from a wide range of smart devices.

But has the time come to do away with the clock?

“I would be sad to see that clock go. No, no, no, we have to keep it,” said Justice of the Peace Audrey Maragh, a well-respected community figure and member of the Bushy Park Community Development Committee.

Maragh was incensed by the very thought of the discourse, contending the future of generations will be blighted should the clock go.

“When we get rid of these historical things we are chipping away at our history of our people. We cannot afford for our young generation growing up not knowing where they are coming from,” she said speaking to Old Harbour News.

For expatriate Andrea Randall, who now lives in Canada, the Old Harbour Clock is “like my dad’s accordion I remember watching him playing it as a child”.  Only a few weeks ago Randall was in Old Harbour, visiting her father who is now in his 80s. Walking through the town brought back lots of fond memories for the little girl of Burke Road, especially when she sees the clock and the police station.  “I wouldn’t say the relevance of it has diminished,” she said via telephone after returning to her Toronto home. “I would say because of economic pressure it is not a priority but for cultural pride though it’s so nostalgic.”

There are others, however, who are prepared to accept the idea of the clock being uprooted from his present location, but under certain conditions only.

Randy Finnikin, a renowned social activist, who has been a constant voice crying out for greater and better development planning of the nation’s fastest growing community, shared his thoughts on the debate. Arguing from the standpoint that there is no plan yet in place from the National Works Agency that the clock is impeding traffic, Finnikin said: “I wouldn’t remove it because it is outdated. It is Old Harbour’s signature. Currently it is not blocking any progress.”

“It can be the signature of the town and be relocated,” he posited, while pushing the concept of Old Harbour becoming a community tourism hub.

While Finnikin and perhaps others could live with the idea of the clock being relocated, residents like Royston Myles – a prominent taxi operator better known as ‘Uncle Roy’ – believe it is more of an obstruction and that its relevance is better placed in the history books.

“Everybody has a phone with the time on it, so it no really relevant,” said Uncle Roy who has been living in Old Harbour for more than 20 years. “Unless it’s going to stay as a landmark,” he added. “I hardly see anything historical about it. I think we could have a better layout without a clock. It doesn’t serve as a tourist attraction because there are not a lot of amenities in Old Harbour to attract tourist. And I think it is an impediment for vehicular traffic.”

The veteran taxi driver’s comments have found favour with Old Harbour native Jace Jobson, a software engineering first-year student at the University of Technology.

“The clock is a symbol of the town of what it once was. But to me it makes no sense to keep it if they not going to fix it and take care of it,” he said in an interview with Old Harbour News. Jobson said he understands both sides of the debate, but is convince by the government’s inaction and perceived unwillingness to make such monuments relevant in the 21st Century. 

In most major towns across the country, exist a clock built by the British colonial masters or in honour of those Jamaicans who fought and died in World War I and II.  Clocks are also protected heritage sites under Jamaican law and managed by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT). JNHT deputy chairman Lenford Salmon told Old Harbour News of “a proposal being put together as we speak” to renovate and re-commissioned all town clocks on the island. Will we ever lived to see this materialized in our lifetime, though? No one quite knows, even Salmon, as the scope, budget and timeline for implementation are yet to be determined.

Jobson, meanwhile, isn’t holding his breath about such plans materializing.

“The clock hasn’t been working for years. I born come see the clock not working, from I know myself the clock has not been working,” said the 20-year-old university student and Old Harbour High School alum. “So it’s not like the government doesn’t have ample time to fix it they just not doing it. So if you not going to fix it why not take it down.”

Despite the arguments for the removal or the relocation of the clock, Old Harbour Community Development Committee youth representative Chevaughn Brown believes it should remain.

“When anybody thinks of Old Harbour that’s the exact spot we think about. As for the relevance it just need to be fixed and actually give accurate timing. As it relates to the structure itself I think it’s a cultural landmark for Old Harbour residents and it really should be there as a symbol of the hardship we’ve been through. The town is coming from a far way to where we are now,” said Brown, the national co-ordinator for the Caribbean Youth Environment Network and also vice president for the parish of St Catherine on the National Youth Council of Jamaica.

“I still think it should be kept,” Brown continued. “Removing the clock all together I don’t think it would be a good decision especially for young persons like myself growing up seeing the clock. The clock has literally become a part of the image of Old Harbour that we would want to preserve for future generations.”

But in a country that has done a very poor job preserving and teaching its history there’s no denying the point that a whole lot more in this respect can be done. For example, speak to the average adult in Old Harbour and ask them about Colbeck Castle, the clock or the arrival in Old Harbour Bay of the first batch of 200 native Indians from the sub-continent in 1845, and their lack of knowledge will startle you. The demolition of colonial great houses at Marlie Mount and Thetford have been lost on many natives in the south west of this parish, neither do a lot of persons see them as relevant. Some have even argued what’s so special about keeping and maintaining clocks or great houses of slave masters who inflicted so much pain on black people which represents 92 percent of the current population.

Of those ancient structures still seen as relevant to this day are the ones that have undergone renovation, such as the Anglican churches.

In 2019 the Cross Roads Clock in Kingston was restored to take its pride of place when Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams led its revival in honour of World War II soldiers. Following this much deserved and long overdue facelift, this memorial monument is now a main attraction in the nation’s capital to locals and tourists alike.

#CrossRoadsClock I must thank the @JamaicaConstab, @JDFSoldier, @ksamcorp & everyone who helped to make the rededication & wreath laying ceremony a success this morning. We will continue to work on the improvements to the space and identify others to do likewise. #StillBelieving pic.twitter.com/UTspVNRTy4

— Delroy Williams (@MayorWilliamsJA) February 28, 2019

Could the same be done for Old Harbour? Absolutely, Finnikin remarked.

He said: “A 200-year-old clock doesn’t have to be working to be significant. It’s the history and the stories around it that is important to its value.

“Not enough people in our space have enough knowledge of our space.

“If it is that the artifacts and the structures in Old Harbour have significant value that could raise up an industry by all means leave it.”

“What about restoring the clock to its former glory?” asked Maragh. “That is a part of our history and it is very significant to the town. It is not just it being a relic. We must have modern day engineers that can fix the traffic in the town without destroying the clock. Where in the world you see they destroy historical pieces like that? They preserve them. I want that clock to stay in the town.”

Maragh believes the main players such as the local government ministry, the JNHT and community-based civic groups, should come together and establish committees to begin working on restoring the Old Harbour Clock. 

“It has everything to do with us, painful as it might by, as sick as it might be. That is what make us as a people wherever we go… our history is essentially upon which your future is built. If you know your history you know exactly where you are going. If you don’t know your history then you are going to repeat it,” she said in making an impassionate plea.

“Even though it might not be working and it hasn’t been maintained, doing away with it doesn’t make it right,” added Randall. “Can we get people volunteer, can we get people donate and see what we can do?”

For young people like Jobson, however, another landmark monument that truly represents Jamaica is worth contemplating as replacements.

“The clocks weren’t Jamaica’s idea. If they want to replace it, why not come up with a natural Jamaican idea with Jamaican symbol and put it in all the major towns,” said the future engineer. “Replace the clock with something Jamaican with our symbol.”

What is evident listening to the arguments on the matter is that a renovated and fully functioning town clock is more acceptable than having an ancient time piece that’s derelict and decaying.