Eastern Promise: St. Thomas, Jamaica

Following up on my last post on the wonderful community projects that the Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre is involved in over on the eastern side of the island, I thought I would share just a few more of my photographs of the districts of Trinityville and Somerset in St. Thomas. I hope this gives you a feel of Jamaican country life.

Country people speak slowly. There is a latent energy, a quiet spark in the eye, a laconic humor that is not on the surface. Very different from the nervous energy and sharp talk of Kingston dwellers…

Here are a few articles about Trinityville and Somerset that I think you will enjoy. Two great little communities.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110219/news/news3.html Somerset welcomes community centre: Gleaner, February 19, 2011

Trees are precious… A sign sponsored by the Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC) and the Somerset Community Development Committee.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20101013/lead/lead93.html Landslides averted in Somerset by residents: Gleaner, October 13, 2010

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080713/news/news3.html St Thomas prepares for disaster: Gleaner, July 13, 2008

http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20121109/news/news1.html Duppy photo taken on phone? Jamaica Star

http://www.governorgeneralsawardsjamaica.com/st_thomas.php?subaction=showfull&id=1199740050&archive=&start_from=&ucat=17& Governor General’s Awards 2007: Ms. Nona Williams, Instructor/Coordinator, Skills Training Centre, Trinityville

Protecting Wood and Water: Women in St. Thomas (petchary.wordpress.com)

Another worker pretending she hadn’t noticed me…

Across the valley: Somerset.

Women construction workers take a break, arms folded: Somerset.

Hillside: Somerset.

Looking for a cocoa pod that hadn’t been eaten by fruit bats (“rat bats”).

A man and his goats: Somerset.

Bark, moss, leaves…The cotton tree root.

The cotton tree’s roots straddled deep, dark holes, folds like rough grey flesh, roots like human legs. There are many duppy (ghost) stories about cotton trees. Not sure I would like to spend the night sitting amongst its roots. What would come crawling out? 

Looking up into the branches of the mighty cotton tree: Somerset.

Lunch time: Pots cooking in Somerset. Braised chicken with thick gravy, rice and peas, and homemade carrot and orange juice laced with ginger. Country food always tastes better – must be the fresh air!

The promise of rain in the mountains.

 

Side of the abandoned house, Trinityville. This house made me sad. A lovely, solid house with a firmly locked front door, and broken windows in the front. It could be a lovely family house – must have been. Can someone save it, please?

Houses on the hilllside, Trinityville.

Abandoned house, Trinityville.

Going up the road: Trinityville.

Small house, Trinityville.

A goat doing what goats do best. Hanging around.