03-24-2023, 02:31 PM
I was in Negril during the time of the Mariel Boatlift when Cubans descended on Miami. April 20, 1980. Not only boats from Cuba sailed for Florida!! Unlike today back in the 70's and 80's there were not many boats on Negrill Beach. Let me rephrase that. There weren't many motorized boats plying the waters off Negril. Today is different but back then the wealth hadn't yet arrived. I remember seeing the odd sailboat moored in Long Bay but rarely was there the type of boat common to Florida, the 40' to 60' fishing boat or pleasure boat with twin diesels powering them. But leading up to Oct. 20th, 1980 that was different. Every day I noticed more and more boats parked a mile or so off shore up on the Northern End of Negril Beach by Rutland Point. By the 18th or 19th there were probably 12 or 15 boats waiting offshore and every night dug out canoes and small row boats could be seen under the glow of the moon heading off the beach with their cargo wrapped in tarps. One night I remember finding myself on the beach and walking upon a small boat being prepared to head out to sea and saying to myself just keep walking with my eyes straight ahead. I can only imagine how much Ganja and otherwise made it ashore in America over those days!!