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On
the 150th anniversary of the first arrival of Chinese immigrants
to Jamaica, many events are being designed to commemorate the occasion.
The immense contribution of the Chinese community to the development of
Jamaica is evident in various sectors of society: commerce, industry, science
and technology. The Chinese Cemetery in Kingston is the resting place for
many generations of Jamaican Chinese, including several of my own ancestors.
Unfortunately, the cemetery has largely fallen into disrepair largely due to the deterioration of the surrounding communities as poverty and crime have consumed these areas. Many Jamaican Chinese have either forgotten or do not know where their loved ones are interred, or are afraid to go there and bring along with them their children and grandchildren to pay their respects. The
development of this Necropolis project will create a digital database
of the Chinese Cemetery, using archive records in conjunction with GIS
technology, incorporating GPS and satellite imagery. This will create a
comprehensive database and digital archive of the cemetery, but also create
a virtual environment where Jamaican Chinese may browse to find their loved
ones, take a virtual tour through the cemetery, or, perhaps most importantly,
track for themselves the rich history of the Chinese in Jamaica.
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Location of the Chinese Cemetery, Kingston
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