‘I’m going to fight it!’

SILVER SANDS, Trelawny — A 75-year-old wood sculptor, who says he has made a living from a shop he erected at Jacob Taylor Beach 34 years ago, is vowing to fight a bid by Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) to remove him and other shop operators from the property.

Walton Spence was among about a dozen shop operators served with 30-day notices by the NRCA on Monday. The State agency, which identified itself as the owner of the property, said the land was needed “for a public purpose” and “for the purpose of being repaired and improved”.

But Spence said he will not leave without a fight. It is a common sentiment among other shop operators.

“My next move is not to leave. I’m going to fight it!” said the senior citizen.

He explained his history with the property locals often refer to as Silver Sands.

“I start to come down here from 1990 come demonstrate my work. What I used to do is carry them down in a box and carry them up back in the evening. But from 1992 I have been permanently based on this beach. I build a little shop and lock my things in from 1992,” Spence told the
Jamaica Observer Friday.

According to the existing legislation, a case can be made for adverse possession of government land if it is openly occupied, undisturbed for 60 consecutive years.

On Friday, Spence painted a grim picture of what will happen to him if he is forced to leave the location.

Wood carving, he said, is his only viable vocation. He said that years ago he worked as a mason, but had to abandon the trade because of ailments and challenges dealing with cement dust.

“I suffer with arthritis, blood pressure, [I’m] diabetic, and my sinus bother me. So less dust I can encounter with, me better off,” he explained.

Spence questioned being able to find employment at his age if he can no longer ply his wares at Silver Sands.

“My question to all of these people who trying to undermine my movement is to ask them, ‘What plans they got for me?’” he said.

“My question is, ‘After you lock me off with the one-month notice that you gave me, [are] you willing to start maintain my life from right there until God ready for me? Or you intend to really put me out there to suffer?” he asked.

Spence stressed that he is not seeking charity, just an opportunity to earn an honest living.

“I’m not looking for no handout or whatever. I’m a decent citizen of this land. I was born here, I grow here, and I’m intending to die here, but I have no intention of leaving Jamaica,” he said.

A day earlier, he and other shop operators had a meeting during which they decided to seek legal advice on how they can challenge the notices and secure their tenure on the beach.

“We will be seeking legal representation to fight this issue. This is our bread and butter,” one of the shop operators, who asked not to be identified by name, told the Observer.

Fisherman Leroy Gilzene, who runs a bar with his wife, Cordella, is among those refusing to leave without a fight. Cordella said Leroy has been operating there since 1984 and their business developed gradually from modest beginnings.

“This part of beach [was] full of nickel tree, lots of bush, before some of those shop made up there. So we’re coming from a long way. This is our livelihood. We don’t know anything more but this,” she explained.

Juliet, who has operated a cookshop on the beach for more than 20 years, said four generations of her family have occupied the area.

“My grandfather, my father they were also here. And my son grow here too. And now they want to come and take it from us,” she said.

Rohan Watson, a 39-year-old fisherman who also operates a craft shop, said he had seen businesses passed down through generations.

Rackquay Small, who is employed to Silver Moon Convenience Store, said the 30-day notice came at a difficult time, with back-to-school expenses approaching and some families still recovering from Hurricane Melissa which hit sections of the island last October.

“It will have a domino effect. It will affect everybody,” Small said.

“Back-to-school a week after next. Then they give people 30 days. What can we do in 30 days?” she asked.

Meanwhile, some fishermen who operate on the beach are now left wondering if after the shop operators are removed, the NRCA will turn its attention to them. But one fisher was unconcerned, saying fisherfolk were authorised to use the beach.

“Even if them have it in mind [to remove fishers], them nuh say nothing about that. And if they don’t say nothing about that, I will not assume because here was given to fishermen. It wasn’t given to no restaurant, no bar, nor no craft shop,” he insisted.

He was quick to add: “Don’t get me wrong, I am not against them, I’m just saying they did not give fishermen any eviction notice.”