Catadupa Heritage and Eco Tours to Revive Community

A feeling of nostalgia and pride permeated the air in the lush, green hills of Catadupa, St. James, on July 17, at the launch of the Heritage and Eco Tours.

The Catadupa Heritage and Eco Tours initiative seeks to share and preserve the legacy of National Hero, the Right Excellent Samuel Sharpe, as well as promote the rich collection of natural and cultural heritage assets that exist within the community.

Participants can expect a vibrant and authentic community tour, breathtaking views, Jamaican vibes and great local cuisine.

The tours will be hosted every other Wednesday, with its next iteration being held on July 31.

The Catadupa Tours is being operated by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), in conjunction with the Catadupa Tourism Cluster.

Community Tourism Manager at TPDCo, Desmond Saunders Jr., told JIS News that the tour is important, as it falls under the organisation’s Tourism Cluster Development initiative.

In 2022, the TPDCo established the Catadupa Tourism Cluster as a group of enterprises and experts interested in developing tourism experiences. After two years of support, the Tourism Cluster has evolved into a tour company, ready to offer these experiences to locals and visitors alike.

“Catadupa is one of those communities that put a lot of effort, care and pride into what they are doing, and we are here officially launching a tour that visitors from near and far can come and enjoy,” Mr. Saunders Jr. said.

The community, which was a coffee plantation and a bustling station on the Jamaican railway system, is now most known for its connection to Sam Sharpe.

According to the National Library of Jamaica, Samuel Sharpe was most likely born into slavery on the Croydon Estate in the Catadupa mountains in 1780.

“Back in the day when you used to have the train that went from Montego Bay to Appleton Estate [in St. Elizabeth], here (Catadupa) was a major stop along that tour, so a lot of the community members – seamstresses, craft persons, other artisans, and tour guides – used to benefit from that business. However, that sort of activity would have slowed down eventually, stopping from the 90s, and from the 90s the community has not benefited much from tourism,” Mr. Saunders Jr. said.

He argued that the Catadupa Heritage Tours is a “rebirth” of the community’s tourism potential and showcasing its history, much of which is connected to Sam Sharpe.

“We are here to promote the rich history of Catadupa, but also to bring the livelihoods of Catadupa back as it relates to tourism,” he said.

Mr. Saunders Jr. further noted that the project also received significant support from the Social Development Commission (SDC) and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (West) and Member of Parliament for St. James Southern, Hon. Homer Davis, who he said, had a hand in getting TPDCo on board to undertake the project.

Mr. Davis, for his part, commended TPDCo and the Chairperson at the Catadupa Tourism Cluster, Claudette Glegg, for ensuring that the project was done, and pledged his continuous support of the initiative.

“I commend Mr. Saunders Jr. and his team for how they have diligently worked on this project. My greatest disappointment would be if it does not have that longevity, because I know a lot has been put into this project,” Mr. Davis said.

“Whatever I can do as their Member of Parliament, whatever advocacy I can do I will do it, because I know if we are able to retain the economic buoyancy here in Catadupa and elsewhere, then we can avert some of the rural drift into the urban centres, and that is something that we have to look at very seriously,” he added.

For her part, Ms. Glegg told JIS News that the launch of the tour, which was eight years in the making, was a “blessing”.

“I know the community is welcoming of this effort; they have made the sacrifice with us, and we are very proud to reach this far. We also would like to [thank] the TPDCo, because without them holding our hands we wouldn’t be able to achieve this occasion,” she said.

“The time that we are starting now is also welcoming, because we are approaching back to school, so this will help our vendors in supporting their children and their families. Our community is one that has been dormant on the economic side for quite a number of years because [years ago] we had our tourist train that used to come and support the residents here in selling their craft items, so they are very happy for this,” Ms. Glegg added.

She pointed out that the TPDCo also recently spearheaded residents’ tour guide training and certification, as they are instrumental in giving the tours around the community.

Several vendors who were also present in the 1970s and 80s selling goods to visitors who passed through the community on the train, have returned to take part in the tour.

The vendors were excited as they reminisced about their time selling to visitors who came through the community on the train.

Vendor, Marva Blake, recalled being a child and helping her mother who had assisted in the making of outfits for guests who arrived in the community by way of the Governor’s Coach.

She added that the other children and herself also made small craft items for the guests.

The Governor’s Coach was a special rail service offered to tourists wishing to tour the countryside of Jamaica.

Ms. Blake told JIS News that she appreciated the backing of the TPDCo and lauded Ms. Glegg for her tireless effort in ensuring that the tour came to fruition.

To book a tour or request more information on the tours, persons are encouraged to call the Catadupa Tourism Cluster at 876-510-6621 or send an email to catadupaheritageandecotours@gmail.com.