STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
Ed ito r's No te St re e t Vi e w s Ma g a z in e is a b o ut th e pe o ple wh o trave rs e and wo rk on the st re e ts of K in g s t o n a n d Ol d Harbo ur s h aring th e ir s to rie s and e xpe ri ences. T h e se st ori es wil l ed u c a t e a n d ins pire o th e rs . Eve r y s to r y in th is m aga zi ne sp e aks to ch a l l en g e, o p p o r t u nity, and trans fo rm atio n and I’m e xcited to sh are th em wit h yo u . Pu l l i ng to g e th e r th is bund le o f s to rie s and p h otog r ap h s a n d s h a r i n g t his tang ible gift with yo u is g re at fun. Pic tures that c ou l d s pea k a t ho u s a n d wo rd s , picture s th at co uld s ay wh at words cou l d n ot .
2 ISSUE 1
D E R E T T SHA S M A E R D
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" Having a ch ild at an e arly age w as difficult and I didn’t have anyone to e ncourag e me to go out and tr y to d o some th ing, i j ust stayed at h ome and w ork".
n ie G ay le re s b y K am o tu ic p d an A ll ar ti cl es
When Veron ica Ru m ble wa s much yo unger te e na g e r pre g na ncy ch an g e d h er life, m uch o lder now the 61 yea rs o l d , wh o h a s b ee n se l l i n g for over 3 deca des ca n be f o und o n Towe r St re e t Sa t u rda y mo rn -
n ear t h e corn er of Pri nces s Street i n Down Town, Kng s t o n.
I
an yo n e to e n c o u r ag e m e to
i n g s I re ac h he re a ft e r 7 b u t d u r i n g the we e k a ft e r 8 o r 9
ha d my fir st
go out an d tr y to d o s o m e thi n g ,
tho s e ti m e s an d o n Fri da y e ve-
child w hen I
I j ust s taye d at ho m e an d w o rk.
n i n g s we l e ave he re a t 6 p m a n d
w a s 15 yea r s
To be ho n e s t, I' m s o r r y that I
d u r i n g the we e k we l e a ve a t 4 : 3 0
old a nd my
ha d my f i r s t c hi l d s o yo u n g.
p m .I d o n ' t have a re l a t i o n s h i p
a d vice for
Tha t was m y m i s take . Bu t w he n
w i th o the r ve n d o rs I o n l y h a ve
young people
you h ave yo u r f ai l u re s , yo u ju s t
o n e f r i e n d o u t h e re , s o me o f t h e
i s to w a i t on t im e beca use it
ha ve to ge t u p an d s tar t al l ove r
o the r ve n d o r s are t e rri b l e . I h a ve
doe s n’t re ally go a long w a y.
a ga in. W he n l i f e i s u p, i t' s u p,
had tro u b l e w i th t h e p o l i c e a t
T h e re f o re , you s hould wa it a nd
a nd whe n i t' s d ow n i t' s d ow n .
ti m e s the y take a w a y o u r g o o ds
e l evat e yours e lf be fore ha ving
w hi c h we have to p a y a s u m o f
c h i l dren. Whe n I wa s younger, I
I ha ve b e e n s e l l i n g f o r ab o u t
$ 2 0 0 0 by the p ari s h c o u n c i l t o
w an t e d t o be com e a ha ird resser,
30 year s n ow, I w as i n Sp an i s h
g e t i t b ac k.
b u t I didn’t ge t t he cha nce.
Town b e f o re . I m ove f ro m Sp an-
Ha v i n g a child at an ea r ly a ge
ish Tow n to l i ve i n tow n an d
w as di ff i cult and I d id n’t ha ve
then s tar te d s e l l i n g he re . On
3 ISSUE 1
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B L O S S O M 'S FRIED FISH oni e Ga yle All ar ticl es and pic tur es by Kam
"I w ould ch ange th e cr ime in Jamaica and for you ng p e op le to ge t work if I could be cause Ja maica is a nice coun tr y".
s e l l i n g , an d I u s e d to c o m e w i t h h e r i t w a s n i c e r b u t thi n g s an d ti m e c ha n g e . So me d ay s I s e l l w he n an d s o m e d ays I do n 't a n d w hat I d o n ' t s e l l I n o r m al l y k e e p t h e m f o r tw o d ay s an d af te r that, I t h row t h e m aw ay. I n e ve r had an y c hal l e n g e s g rowi n g u p. I d o n ' t have an y c hi l dre n i t w a s n o t by c ho i c e , I ju s t c o u l d n ' t g e t p re gn an t. I w an t to re ti re w he n I' m 6 6 ye a rs o l d an d w he n I re ti re I w i l l be s t a y i n g Bl o ssom Kepp e 6 5 yea r s o ld, grew up s eei ng h e r m o t h e r
ho m e b e c au s e I d o n ' t have an y t h i n g e l s e
s el l i n g f ish an d d ec ided tha t i t wa s s o mething s h e wa nt e d
to d o an d n o o n e w i l l e m p l oy me a t t h i s
t o do. She c u rren t ly s ells f r y f i s h i n the tow n o f Ol d
ag e , b u t w he n I' m ho m e I w o u l d l i k e t o
Harbou r.
s e l l s o m e thi n gs . I w o u l d c han g e t h e c ri me
I
i n Jam ai c a an d f o r yo u n g p e o p l e t o g e t h ave be e n selling fish from the a ge o f 2 5 . T hi s i s
w o rk i f I c o u l d b e c au s e Jam ai c a i s a n i c e
s om e t h i ng tha t my mother w a s d oi n g , an d I to o k
c o u n tr y. T he Par i s h Co u n c i l is n o t do i n g
it ove r and I ha ve been selling in t hi s s p o t f o r
an y thi n g , an d I d o n ' t thi n k th a t t h e y a re
t h e pas t 40 yea r s. I d on’t ha ve a ny p ro b l e m s w i th
d o i n g a go o d jo b b e c au s e yo u n g p e o p l e
anyone an d no one bother s me eith e r. I d o n’t
c an n o t g e t jo b s an d the re are a l o t o f
h ave any problem with the police b e c au s e I p ay
yo u n g b oy s o n the s tre e ts that h a s n o t h i n g
m y m a rke t f e e , I p ay $150 ever y d a y a nd I se l l r i g ht he re becau s e you can' t s e ll fr y fish in the ma rket o n l y r aw f i s h a re s ol d in t h e m ark et. Ba ck then when my mo m w as 4 ISSUE 1
to d o that i s w hy the c r i m e c a n n o t e n d.
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SCOLIOSIS TURNED ME DOWN e es by Ka m on ie Ga yl Al l ar tic les an d pi ct ur
2 7 ye a r old Joh n n or y Ca mpbell, wo rks o n l owe r K i ng s St reet in Down Town, K i ngs to n. The a sp i r i n g en gin eer i s cur rently a s eco nd ye a r U Te c h st u d en t .
I
cons i de r fa ilure a s I d id it a nd w hat I’m not going to d o a ga in, I ha ve alre ady done it a nd I ca n’t und o f ai l-
"I ch ose se curity be cause I am a ve r y vigilant p e rson an d I alw ays se e th ings most p eopl e w ouldn’t se e . I didn’t ne cessarily w ant to be come a se curity office r w ith guardsman; I tried th e ar my scoliosis tur ne d me dow n so my se cond ch oice w as j ust a se curity force " .
ure s o once I fa il, I know tha t thi s i s whe re I went w rong, a nd this is w hat I’m not supposed to d o a ga in tha t’s
how I re ally de al w ith fa ilure. As a teena ger, I real l y li k e d p lum bing, so I w a s d oing plumb i n g f or 4 ye ars , t he n decid ed to go to school to d o e n g i n ee ri ng t o f ur ther my ed uca tion in plu m b i n g a n d g oing t o s chool a nd d oing plumbing w o rk you’re not going t o find the sufficient funds to p ay m y s chool f e e so I ha d to get something c o ns i s t e n t , s o I ch os e secur ity beca use I a m a ve r y v i g i l a n t p e rs on and I a lwa ys see things most p e op l e wouldn’t s e e. I d id n’t necessa r ily w an t to b ec om e a s e curit y officer with gua rd sma n; I tr i e d t h e a r my s colios i s tur ned me d own so my se c o n d ch oi c e was jus t a s ecur ity force. I found ou t tw o a n d h alf ye ars ago when I d id the a r my med i c al t e s t th at I had s coliosis. 5 ISSUE 1
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The cha llenges I fa ce d a ily a re lo n g ho u r s , l o n g- s tan d i n g , a l o t o f p e r s o n s yo u ta k e
b u lls hit f rom beca use you a re in your u n i f o r m b u t that i s ju s t a p ar t o f the l i f e . My f ai t h h a s b e e n t e s t e d all the time on the j ob, but thi s i s ju s t a s ho r t- te r m jo b u n ti l I f i n i s h u n i vers i ty. I’m goi ng into my second yea r a t UTe c h, m an ag i n g s c ho o l an d w o rk i s d i f f i c u l t b ec a u s e I s tar t h e re at 7 a m a nd it goes up to the m an ag e r l e ave s the b an k an d that' s w he n m y du t y en ds . A s f or s chool, I d o school on Tues d ay s an d T hu r s d ay s , s o I d o n ' t w o rk o n tho s e da y s a n d I work day shift so a s soon a s I 'm h o m e , I have to hi t the b o o ks ; I p u s h thro u g h my w o rs t t i m e by j ust pr a ying a nd rea d ing. I had to take c are o f m y yo u n g e r s i s te r i t w as n’t a n i s s ue be caus e mommy’s a wa y, d a d d y is he re an d the re , he’s aw ay an d he’s he re , f ro m ti me t o ti me t h e y h e lp out they w ill send somethi n g b u t the n s he i s yo u n g s o as a b i gge r b ro ther I h a ve t o t ak e ca re of her, she’s going to Qu e e n s Hi g h Sc ho o l . T han k the l o rd s he’s i n he r fi n a l ye ar, s he’s i n 6th for m so a fter a ll this c ap e m o n e y s p e n d i n g I c an n ow f o c u s o n m e an d do me . A f t e r wards, she must know wha t she w an ts f o r he r s e l f, I’ve he l p e d he r thu s f ar, s o s h e h a s t o f inis h h er j our ney now, she's now 1 8 an d by r i g ht I s ho u l d n o t b e taki n g c are o f h e r. T he bigge s t m ista ke I ma d e wa s ta king a p e r s o n al l o an f o r ho u s e re n ovati o n an d I b o u g h t my ex a car f or he r bir thd a y a nd tha t’s som e thi n g that I re g re t al s o b e c au s e s he d i d n o t d e se r ve i t . At t h e t im e she w a s specia l, I loved he r, an d I w an te d to gi ve he r a gi f t s he c o u l d ac c e p t . T hi ngs didn’t work out the w a y I w a nte d i t to , b u t s he c u r re n tl y s ti l l has the c ar.
6 ISSUE 1
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7 ISSUE 1
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
DISCIPLINARIAN oni e Ga yle All ar ticl es and pic tur es by Kam
Re t i red St eved ore 82 yea r s o ld Leo na rd Gros s e t t , e njoy d o ing pu z z l e s w h ere h e is mo s t da y o n the co ner of K ing s St re e t b esi d e t he Ban t of Nova Sco ti a .
I
was a St e ved ore but now I a m a reti re d p e n s i o n e r. A ll t h e t h ings tha t ca me from fore i gn I had to h andle i t on the wha r f. My positio n the w har f w as a union de lega te, so I ha d a lot of res p o n s i b i l i ti e s to de al wi t h w ho represented the worke r s , that w as m y m ai n obje ctive to represent the w o rke r s u n ti l I go o n
pe n s i o n . I did 44 ye a r s on the j ob, they sent m e ab o ard o n jo b ov u l at i n g at dif f e re nt por ts to get exper ience.Whe n I w as w o rk i ng I g ot ove r t i m e , but now tha t I ’m on a pen s i o n I g e t o n e bas e p ay, but pe ns ion ca n ca r r y me. I bud get m y s e l f b e c au s e m y ki d s a re bi g, and I don’t ha ve a ny ba by, ever yo n e i s b i g , s o m e a re a b o a rd, and e ve r yone is working so w hen yo u c he c k i t o u t e ve r yon e look s af t e r d a d d y. I ha ve a son comi n g the e n d o f thi s m on t h (Fe br uar y 2018) a nd I know he will b e b r i n gi n g c l o the s a n d e ve r y t hing be cause I d on't buy clothes so I' m n o t i n that d es p er a t e m ood all I think a bout is my gr a ndc hi l d re n .
I love re ading, I rea d my Bible, my Gle an e r an d an y-
t h i n g t h at I cat ch up on I rea d , a nd I d o a lo t o f p u z z l e s that' s m y t h i n g now. Wh y I d o it sometimes I go a ro u n d an d he ar pe o p l e i n argum e nt and w ha t they a re sa ying i s ju s t “g u e s st u res” “t h e y jus t t e ll you they hea r this a nd that an d I d o n’t l i ke th at argum e nt”, I like when you tell me that yo u re ad i t a n d b rough t p roof f or it.I d on't enter ta in " m i he ar s ay " an d yo u ca n ' t p rove i t , t h os e a r guments I d on't enter t ai n , s o m o s t o f t h e ti me s be caus e p e o ple know I d o a lot of re ad i n g w he n the y a re i n a n argum e nt t hey come a nd a sk me if I d i d re ad “that” i n t h e St ar or “t h at” in the Glea ner so tha t’s how I l o o k at i t, I d on’t take word of mouth business. 8 ISSUE 1
"I h ave tw o types of p e op le q ua l ity and q uantity, I d eal w ill th e q uality peopl e I don’t de al w ith qu antity p e op le and if I h ear you curse bad w ord ".
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Eve r y thi n g I d o , I thi n k b e fo re I do i t , I
s i t d ow n an d thi n k ove r i t an d ano t h e r t h i n g I
If you com e a nd tell me a nything yo u have to
d o n’t re al l y w atc h how p e o p l e l i ve i f I s e e yo u
b r i n g fact s , e ve n t he bible tha t’s why Chr isti an p e o p l e
d r i vi n g a c ar, i t’s n o t a p ro b l e m to me I w o n’t
I don’t m e s s wit h them beca use most of the m are te l l-
s ay I w an t a c ar b e c au s e I s e e yo u w i t h o n e . I
i n g yo u about God a nd this a nd they ca n’t te l l yo u
d o n’t w atc h the p e r s o n ' s l i f e s ty l e . W h a t I w a t c h
a c h a p te r i n t h e Bible to go home a nd rea d s o I c al l
i n p e o p l e i s the i r atti tu d e , the i r w a y s a n d h ow
th e m “m as s produc tion people” a nd they a re “m as s
the y o p e r ate . If I e ve r s e e a w o m a n a n d s h e’s a
p ro d u c t ion pe op le” so I d on't listen to Chr i s ti an s .
m o n e y d i gge r ( g o l d d i gge r ) the n I do n 't de a l
If you are Ch ris t i an I will listen to you, bu t i t go e s
w i th he r b e c au s e the s e p e o p l e o n l y h a ve t h e l ove
th ro u gh one e ar and come ba ck through th e o the r
o f m o n e y. I d o n ' t w an t the m , I w a n t p e o p l e w h o
b e c au s e how I s e e Chr istia ns living now (mas s p ro d u c-
d e al w i th l ove an d re s p e c t, the y c a n h a ve me
ti o n ), i f God was l ike the ma n most of them w o u l d
b u t o the r w i s e , the y c an m ove o n . I do n 't l i k e t o
d i e w he n t h e y re ach the pea r ly ga te, so if yo u are a
ke e p c o m p an y, I d o n ' t ke e p c o m pa n y b e c a u s e i f
C h r i s t ian don’t t e ll me a bout Chr istia nity b e c au s e I
yo u d o s o m e thi n g that i s w ro n g, I ’m g o i n g t o
w o n’t be lie ve you. My pr inciple in life is if I s e e yo u
te l l yo u the tr u th an d the re are s o me p e o p l e t h a t
d o n’t have any dignity in you I d on’t ta lk to yo u .
w i l l ge t ve x o r u p s e t w i th yo u i f yo u t e l l t h e m
I h ave t wo t y pe s of people qua lity a nd qua n ti ty, I
the tr u th s o that’s w hy I tal k to yo u i f my s p i ri t
d eal w ill t h e q uality people I d on’t d ea l w it h q u an-
take s yo u ( g r avi tate s to yo u ) . I e xc h a n g e w o rds
ti ty p eop le and if I hea r you cur se ba d word . If I he ar
w i th yo u an d i f I s e e yo u g o i n g th e w ro n g w a y
a w o man t e ll a m an ba d I d on’t ta lk to her, i f yo u’re
o r we c an’t c o r re s p o n d I d o n’t d e a l w i t h yo u . I
l ou d mout h, I don’t ta lk to you I keep you at a d i s-
al s o d o n’t w o r r y ab o u t an y thi n g I s e t my s e l f i n
tan c e b e caus e I don’t like the “old na a ga sy s te m”. I am
a p ar ti c u l ar w ay w he re I d o n’t have t o w o rr y, I
a d i s c i p li ne d m an so if I find tha t you’re “o l d n aag a”
d o n’t han g m y hat w he re I c an’t rea c h i t , u n l i k e
I w on ' t de al wit h you a nd so I ta ke this a s a ho b by.
s o m e p e o p l e that w atc h how o the r p e rs o n s l i ve
An d mos t of t he t i mes when young people tal k to m e
an d the y d o n’t kn ow w he re the y g e t t h e mo n e y
i t a l l d e p e nds , wh en I sit a nd listen to you p e o p l e , i t’s
to l i ve that l i f e an d s o the y g o o ut t h e i r w a y t o
b e c au s e you p e op le look like two d ecent gir l s , b u t i f
l i ve that l i f e the n s o m e thi n g hap p e n s , I do n’t
you b ot h looke d li ke “ Ra gga muffin” I 'd tel l yo u to go
b e l i e ve i n that I b e l i e ve that w he n t h e t i me
a b o u t your way s , I d on't w a nt to hea r a nythi n g f ro m
c o m e s w hate ve r I have I s ati s f y w it h i t t h a t’s
you .
how I l i ve .
Be caus e t he young people now they d o n ' t have an y m an n e r s , the y d o n ' t re s p e c t
t h e elde rly and t ha t’s why I d on’t too mingl e w i th the m , b u t w he n yo u r u n i n to the de c e nt one s you ha ve to exercise your d ec e n c y w i th the m , yo u u n d e r s tan d ? Bu t I don’t de al wit h t hem a s I sa id they d on’t have an y m an n e r s an d the y d o n o t re s p e c t t h e elde rly and s i nce you d on’t respect the e l d e r l y I’m n o t i n to yo u . I w as l i ke yo u , I res p e ct e d t he e lder ly a nd these young peo p l e s ay yo u’re o l d e r yo u s ho u l d d i e , tho s e k i d s , I walk f ar awa y from, I d on’t even w an t the m to te l l m e m o r n i n g s o that’s w hy I s tay away. 9 ISSUE 1
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"I d i d n’t l e a r n a n y t hi n g f ro m m y pa st e x p e r i e nc e s b e c a use I t oo k i t a s n o t hi ng " .
T N E M E R E T I R A R LY E E M A C n ie G ay le re s b y K am o tu ic p d an es A ll ar ti cl
In t he nex t 5 years R a cquel Ma tthews 45 ye a r s old , w ill be ha vi ng a n ea r ly reti rem en t f rom sellin g o n Tower Street i n Down Tow n , K in gsto n where s he pla ns to s t a y h o me an d en j oy her li fe.
I
h ave be e n selling for more t h an 20 yea r s. I d id n’t envis i on m y self selling a nd I ca n’t re m e m ber w ha t I wa nted to be com e w hen I w a s younger, I’m old now, my ner ves going. I
u s e d to work at f re e zone, I think if Free zon e w a s h e re t he co untr y w ould n't be l i k e th is i t would be better. Selling is not a l o n g -t e rm t h i ng f o r me, I 'm going to st op w h e n I' m 50 i n the next 5 yea r s. I 'll b e re t i re d and jus t sta ying home, it's not a j o k e, i t’s s om e t h i ng ser ious, I ’m stop-
p i n g w h e n I’m 50 f o r rea l. Don’t you
p r i n c e s s s tre e t, b u t s i n c e the y to o k u s o f f the s t re e t I e n de d
b e l i e ve m e ? Eve n i f my la st child wa s 15
u p at thi s l o c ati o n an d I’ve b e e n he re f o r the p a s t 1 5 ye a rs .
I ’d s t op alre ady, and I ha ve three child ren.
No b o d y p rovo ke s u s he re , o n l y s o m e ti m e s i f t h e y di s re s p e c t
I don’t have a s pe ci fic time when I get here
the p o l i c e m an u p the s tre e t, the n the y w o u l d c o me dow n
b e c au s e I h ave t o s end my little gir l to
an d p rovo ke u s , b u t o the r than that the y d o n o t t ro u b l e u s .
sc h ool be f ore I come here, a nd I d on't live
I d o n ' t have p ro b l e m s w i th the p o l i c e b e c au s e w h e n I s e e
h ere i n K i ngs t on. I pa ck a wa y my stuff by
the m c o m i n g I s tay o u t o f the i r w ay b e c au s e i f I do n 't t h e y
4 : 3 0 i n t he e ve ni ngs on Mond a ys to Thur s-
w i l l take aw ay m y s tu f f w hi c h I d o n ' t have th e mo n e y t o
da y s b ut on Fri day s a nd Sa turd a ys, I sta y
p ay f o r i t. So , the y d o n ' t re al l y tro u b l e u s u nl e s s s o me o n e
l at e r. I t ak e care of my spot by sweeping
re al l y p rovo ke s the m . Eve r s i n c e the c han ge o f g ove rn me n t ,
i t u p i f I f e e l li k e it, but if I d on't I j ust
we c an re l ax an d s e l l o u r go o d s . I p u rc has e g o o ds e ve r y da y,
se t u p th e s am e way, I j ust follow my mind
s o I s e l l , s o I b u y the m ag ai n . An y thi n g that do e s n 't w o rk
an y th i n g I f e e l lik e d oing, I d o.
o u t I s ay that Go d l e t i t hap p e n . I d i d n’t l e ar n a n y t h i n g
10 ISSUE 1
It w as n’t he re that I s o l d at f i r s t, I u s e d t o s e l l o n
f ro m m y p as t e xp e r i e n c e s b e c au s e I to o k i t as n o t h i n g .
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
Fo r l o c ati o n yo u have to w al k b e c a u s e
yo u’re n e w, yo u w al k u n ti l yo u c an f r i e n d s o meo n e , b u t yo u have to f r i e n d s o m e o n e w h o i s n o t s e l l i n g the s am e thi n g that yo u are s e l li n g b e c au s e i f yo u f r i e n d m e an d yo u a re s e l l i n g b r as s i e re yo u c an’t s i t b e s i d e m e , i f yo u’re s e l l
Hone s t ly, le t me tell you I ’m not a pe r s o n
i n g b l o u s e an d yo u f r i e n d m e yo u s i t b e s i de me
w h o c r i e s ove r s p ilt milk, you see from the
b e c au s e yo u’re n o t s e l l i n g w hat I’m s el l i n g . T h a t
mom en t s om e t h i ng ha ppened I looked a t it as
i s o n l y go i n g to c au s e c o n f l i c t that’s wh y t h e y
Gods doi ng. He nce , I d on’t cr y over spilt mi l k.
are al w ay s f i ghti n g o n the n e xt s tre e t b e c a u s e
"W h y am I goi ng t o cr y, a nd I ca n’t scoop it
the y tr y to c o m p e te w i th e ac h o the r, s o t h e y a re
u p ? ” I jus t s t e p ove r it a nd move on. I ’m no t the
al w ay s f i g hti n g.
t y p e to f re t and s t ress myself, I a lwa ys tr y to b e h a p p y. I don' t have a ny fa ilures, I d on't regard an y th i ng as a f ai lure. Wha t d o you ca ll fa ilu re ? I don' t re gard a nything a s w or st mista ke ei t h e r be caus e any t hing ha ppened , it’s beca u s e God s ai d i t s hould ha ppen, so I d on’t ca ll a n yt hi n g a m i s t ak e , God ha s ord a ined tha t for yo u , so n o th ing is t he wor st mista ke. He kne w yo u were g o ing t o m ake it before you d id . I d on’t k ee p m a ny f ri e nds , so I d on’t ha ve a rela tion s hi p w i t h th e ot he r ve ndor s. I only ha ve tw o fr ie n d s h ere, s o wh e n you c ome here a nd looking fo r me , you can alway s a sk two people. For someon e th at want s t o s ell, they would ha ve to wal k t he w h o le s ale and s ee the things tha t they li ke . Bu t th e y m us t h ave a n id ea of w ha t they w o u l d w a n t to s e ll, s uppose you wa nt to sell blouse yo u w o u l d com e t o m e a nd a sk where the best plac e s are to buy blous e and I would sa y buy it a t thi s p u r p l e place and around the round there sell c h eap er.
11 ISSUE 1
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
East their she you now above going stand for th. He pretty future afraid should genius spirit on. Set proper ty. Kept in sent gave feel will oh it we.
12 ISSUE 1
MA KIN G ENDS M E E T
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
A l l a r t i c le s and p ict ures by Ka monie Ga yle Fo rm er Freezon e employee 66 yea r o l d, Pa t ric ia Wellin gto n cur rently w al ks t h e st reet s of Down Town, K in g st on sellin g c u ps to ma ke a l iv i ng .
I
h ave be e n selling for m any ye ars now since the
" It' s par tially due t o th e h ardsh ip a s t o w h y I got p re gna nt at th at e arly age b e c a use I didn' t re ally u nde rstand" .
clos ure of the Free Zone.
Zo n e
I us e d t o se w j ea ns pa nts f or t h e A mer ica n compa ny
the y ma de u s s ave o u r m o n e y. T he y
Git ano t ha t’s where I lea r n to w ou l d gi ve u s b o n u s l i ke $ 5 0
s e w an d s i nce i t h as c losed it a ffected
tha t the y w o u l d take o u t o f o u r
m e a l ot , s om e t im e s I w ould go home
pa y an d w he n the e n d o f the
g ove r n m e n t al w a y s s u p p l y a n d
10 o ‘c l ock but at le ast I w a s getting my
yea r c o m e s the y w o u l d g i ve u s
w he n i t e xp i re s I g o b a c k i n
pa y. I g ot m y pay at week time a nd if I
a nd ke e p a p ar ty ; the y c am e w i th
an d w r i te ove r a n d g e t a n e w
h a ve a n y proble m t hey a lwa ys help us
thei r c ow b oy b o o ts an d w hi p s ,
o n e . I have c hi l dre n t h e y a re
o u t a n d if we had a fa mily tha t d ied ,
thos e thi n g s we re n i c e . As o l d as
al l b i g , I have a da u g h t e r t h a t
t h e y g ave us m one y tow a rd s the funer a l
I a m, I w o u l d l i ke to have s o m e-
we n t to UW I, s h e n ow w o rk s
a fu n er a l grant t h at they w ould pa y the
thin g to d o i f i t’s e ve n hal f d ay’s
at the Re g i s te r Ge n e ra l De p a r t-
pa r l ou r be caus e t h e y d on’t give you it
w ork to s ay I have thi s o r thi s . To
m e n t ( RG D ) . Th e y t a k e c a re o f
d i re c t l y b ut now if you d on’t ha ve a ny
me, the c o u n tr y w o u l d b e b e tte r
m e s o m e ti m e s n o t a l l t h e w h i l e ,
m on e y t o bur y a f amily member you
becau s e the Am e r i c an s m o s t ti m e
the y have the i r k i ds , s o I do n’t
ju s t h a ve t o bur y t hem sa me w a y. And
they w o u l d s e l l thi n g s an d yo u
re al l y b o the r th e m, t h a t’s w h y
now I’m s e lling on t he streets fend ing
cou l d tr u s t an d p ay f o r i t l i ttl e by
I tr y an d he l p m y s e l f b e c a u s e
fo r m y s elf.
little . T he y w o u l d al s o take a c e r-
I’m n o t g o i n g to s i t a n d w a i t
ta in am o u n t o f m o n e y o u t o f yo u r
f o r the m to c o me a n d g i ve me
pa y l i ke $ 1 0 0 an d p u t i t i n a b e n-
an y thi n g , s o I tr y t o do a l i t t l e
I save and t e ach them to sa ve
t oo, i f you don' t s ave, you ca n’t sur vive efit f o r yo u an d i f yo u ge t s i c k o r i n t h e w o rld and be ca use my mother
I have a h e a l t h c a rd t h e
thi n g by w al ki n g a n d s e l l i n g .
a nythi n g the y m ad e u p the m o n e y
d i dn’t h a ve it , s he used to wa sh peoples' you have , n ow i t’s n o t l i ke that cl o t h e s , s o we alway s ha ve to knit them
the g ove r n m e n t d o n’t kn ow w hat
up. So , i f we h ave a $ 50 we sa ve our
they are d o i n g .
m on e y and whe n I used to work in Free
13 ISSUE 1
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
I l i ve d w i th m y m o the r at the ti m e w h e n I h a d my
f i r s t c hi l d . It' s p ar ti al l y d u e to the hard s hi p a s t o w h y I g o t p re g n an t at that e ar l y ag e b e c au s e I d i dn 't re a l l y u n d e r s tan d . I' m s o r r y that the Am e r i c an s ha d t o l e a ve b e c au s e m y l i f e w o u l d b e b e tte r, I w as a m ac h i n e o p e rato r. I w an te d to b e c o m e a d re s s m ake r b e c au se I k n ow h ow to u s e the m ac hi n e , I s e we d r u n n e r an d thi ng s l i k e t h a t an d n ow that the m ac hi n e s to p p e d w o rki n g a n d my h u sb an d d i e d i t’s ju s t m e al o n e an d al l m y c hi l d re n a re b i g , s o I ju s t hu s tl e m y f o o d i n the d ay an d at n i g ht I g o h o me . T he g ove r n m e n t n e e d to d o m o re , the tax i s t o o h i g h t h a t’s w hy n o o n e i s n’t i n ve s ti n g . T he m an that' s n a me d Edw a rd Se ag a i s the b e s t m an to r u n the c o u n tr y, i n t h o s e t i me s I d o n ' t kn ow ab o u t n ow b e c au s e i t' s a d i f f e re n t t i me n ow. I s e l l c u p s b e c au s e i t g o e s f as te r, yo u have thi ng s t h a t g o fa s t an d thi n gs that go s l ow s o I c ho s e thi s , b e c a u s e $ 1 0 0 fo r the s e an d I ju s t m ake the thre e f o r $ 1 0 0 . So fo r t h e da y I c an f i n d m o n e y to l o o k af te r m y f o o d , b u t I c h o s e t h i s b u t i t’s n o t w hat I u s e d to d o b u t s o m e ti m e s I c a n’t b o t h e r a n d I d o s o m e thi n g e l s e . I am at thi s l o c ati o n s ome t i me s w h e n I c o m e to l o o k f o r m y f r i e n d b e c au s e I l i ve in t h e De n h a m tow n are a. I d o n ' t re al l y have f r i e n d s i n tow n b e c a u s e I
In t he 60’s it was much better beca use
I h ave a d a ugh t e r t hat I d id n’t know tha t she wo u l d exc el unt i l s h e went to U WI , she took h e r e du c at i on s e ri ous ly beca use she kne w tha t I di d n ' t h a ve any m oney a nd she excelled . Sh e h a s t wo ch i ldre n, o ne going to U WI a nd th e ot h e r is doing s omething else. They d on’t l i ve i n De nham Town with me they live in Cl a ren don . I h ad m y f ir st child a t 16 a nd it wa sn ' t r u f f lik e now beca use the gover nment h a d a s c h e m e t hat gave us milk powd er, La sco an d al l th os e t h i ngs . You would get a book an d w r i t e your nam e and your ba by na me a nd ever y t w o we e k s you go a nd collect it. It used to b e u p by Edna Manley a nd ever y clinic. M r Seag a made a h e alt h centre for the a rea so l i ke h ow I' m in De nha m Town I would go to th e c l i n i c t he re and collect my things. 14 ISSUE 1
w al k an d s e l l .
E H T O T BER N A M S T ROO
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
n ie G ay le tu re s b y K am o ic p d an es cl A ll ar ti Ca l ber t Sm it h , 4 6 ye a r s o ld ha s been s elli ng ro o t s , wine and bu sh es t h at can be us ed f o r medi ci na l o r t e a pu rpo s e near t h e t rain t rac ks, he ca n be s een o n the l e f t s id e o f th e road h ead in g t owa rds Old Ha r bo ur Tow n.
W
elcome to “ Inta k e” Be r to ro o ts pla ce, this pla ce i s al l ab o u t roots, whine a nd he r b s an d w hen I sa y her bs I m e an b u s he s tha t you use for m e d i c al p u rposes. I sell a ll b i tte r b u s h l i ke
Me d i n a, Ce ras e e , R ice Bitter s, Mea n bush a nd Bi tte r Wo o d , Al o e Ver a als o m ainly for tea p u r p os e. I s e ll di f f e rent t ype s of bi t t e r bus h, b u s h f o r cold, t oni c, c l e an a n d bui ld yo u r s y s t e m and all t h o s e th ings . I s e ll t h e ro o t o f t h e h e rb or d i f f e rent t y p e s of h er b s t h at grow under
"Wel come to “Inta ke” Ber to roots place , this place is all abou t roots , whin e and herbs and when I say herbs I mean bush es that you use for medi cal purp oses par tialit y".
I’ve b e e n at thi s l o c ati o n fo r 1 8 ye a rs
an d b e i n g he re ju s t hap p e n e d , I di dn’t n e c e ss ar i l y c ho o s e thi s s p o t b e c au s e I fi rs t s t a r t e d o n the tr ai n l i n e , the n I we n t f u r t h e r u p t h e
t h e g ro u nd or s om e on
ro ad an d the M P M p e r s o n s c am e a n d t o o k a w a y
t o p, s ti c ks and root s ; like the
m y tab l e s an d m y je l l y f r i d g e an d I w a s s e l l i n g
c h a i n ro o t , s of t s p urla , strong ba ck a nd those thi n g s an d
c as he w ju i c e b e c au s e It w as c as h e w t i me s o I
I b o i l s thos e als o t o get wha t we ca ll tonic a s Jam ai c an s
d e c i d e d to m ove an d c o m e d ow n t h i s s i de t o
w ou l d c a ll it , I als o ma ke Med ina w ine tha t co m e s s tr ai ght
s e l l c as he w ju i c e an d I ju s t e n d ed u p s t a y i n g
fro m t h e Me dina bus h, I ma ke fr uit wine like c he r r y w i n e ,
he re an d s e t u p a s tr u c tu re . Bu t di ffe re n t l y, i n
man g o wine , gui ne p w ine, pinea pple w ine, Ri b e n a w i n e an d
the b ac k o f m y m i n d , I d o n’t th i n k I w i l l do
g u a va w i ne . The s e are ea sy to ma ke, a nd I nor m al l y have
the re al thi n g r i g ht he re u n l e s s i t’s i mp o s s i b l e
t h e m f er me nt i ng f or 3 weeks or more beca use the l o n g e r
b e c au s e yo u kn ow o n c e i t’s n o t yo u r p ro p e r t y
t h e y are fe rm e nt e d t he better it will be, so I make the m
how that g o e s .
ah e a d o f t i m e and ha ve them put d ow n, so the y w i l l b e we l l ferm en t e d i n cas e I r un out of the ones tha t we re al re ad y t h e re.
15 ISSUE 1
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
I' ve be e n s e lling for 20 yea r s a nd I w o u l d
l i k e to t ake t his t o a higher level of ma nufa c tu ri n g i n a p rop e r f acility. When I wa s younger, I w a s n ' t t hink i ng ab out this, but since I got i n to i t , I a l w ay s want t o be better, I ha ve a pla n an d th e re i s lik e a bluepr int in the ba ck of my he ad o f th e re al m anuf ac tur ing. Selling on the ro ad r i g h t he re is dif f e rent from the business in the mark e t and you can never swea r for a d a y, s o m eti me s you wi ll f i nd the sa le flow a nd a next ti m e i t’s s l ow, s om e t im es it’s rea lly slow. Most tim e s you w i ll m e e t upon fa ilures or stumbling b l o c ks , b u t you jus t have to find wa ys a nd mea ns a ro u n d th at . I cons i de r t he power of the a lmighty an d th e p e rs is t e nce wit hin me to keep on going . I h a ve b e e n working on my pla n I d on’t ha ve a s e t ti me to s ay wh e n t ha t will ma nifest but I ’m ju s t h o p i n g t h at it wi ll one d a y.
I am curre ntly ma king ca she w j uice f ro m
th e s ap of t he cas he w, you ha ve the red a nd ye l l ow t h os e are t he tw o ma in colour s you c an f i n d t he m i n. If e ver yone d r inks these j uices a n d eat m ore nat ur a l things they w ill a lwa ys b e h eal th y and t he wor ld would be better a nd have l i tt l e me rcy on t h e a nima ls.
16 ISSUE 1
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
17 ISSUE 1
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
THE WAY TO YO UR H E A LT H A l l ar t i cle s and p ict ures by Ka monie Ga yle Ca m a r a Dyer, 2 8 ye a r s o ld f r i uts vendo r ca n b e f o u nd ju s t 2 m inu t e s o n t he o u t s kir t of Old Ha r bo ur Town when he a d ing t owa rd s Ma y Pe n.
I
chos e t h e loca tion beca use it’s coo l , we have w ate r he re , n o o the r ve ndors are here, I guess its j ust t he r i ght s p o t to s e l l f r u i ts . We are all conce rned a bout other per sons he al th an d f r u i ts i s n o t a s e as o n , i t’s an e ver yd a y thing, so I tr y to ke e p u p an o the r p e r s o n’s he al th. Th i s will be a long-ter m business an d i n the n e ar f u tu re , I’l l s tay m ak i ng f r uit sha kes. T he cha lleng e s I f ac e s e l l i n g f r u i ts i s that I
h a ve to be up at 5 am ever y mor ning, it’s a hard c hal l e n g e . Now an d the n t h ere’l l be t rouble m aker s coming a round , bu t o the r than that I d o n’t have a pro b l em wi t h anyone.
18 ISSUE 1
" The ch alleng es I face sel ling fr uits is that I h ave to be u p at 5 am e ve r y mor ning, it’s a hard ch alle ng e".
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
F R O M TO JOCKEY TA I L O R n ie G ay le re s b y K am o tu ic p d an A ll ar ti cl es
My dre am j ob w as to be a jockey, you se e my h e ig ht? And I got th e chance, but I w as so unf or tu nate th at I came across the crowd th at w as invol ved in dr ugs and I had to tak e myse lf away.
A nt hon y Wyn t er aka Pr i ngle, 43 yea r s o ld h a s b e e n s e wing f o r t he past 26 year s i n the Old Ha r bo ur m a rk e t l o ca t e d o n East St reet , w as n’t hi s pa s s i o n but he g re w t o l ove it .
I
' ve be e n se wing since 1992; this i s o n e o f the f i r s t t rade s I would sa y I d id n’t ha ve a n y l i ki n g f o r, m y dre am jo b wa s to be a j ockey, you s e e m y he i ght? A nd I go t the cha nce, but I wa s so u n f o r tu n ate t hat I came a cross the crowd tha t w as i n vo l ve d i n dr ugs and I ha d to ta ke myself a w ay. Bu t l e ar n-
i n g th i s t rade I wou ld sa y it’s beca use of ob e d i e n c e b e c au s e I l i s te n e d t o m y p arents. My fa ther sa w me o n e d ay an d s ai d “ Dan at y, ( t hat was my pet na me) w ha t d o yo u p l an to d o now b ecaus e I le f t school in 1990 a nd lea r n e d how to r i d e a hor s e i n 1991, 1992 I took a brea k from it an d i n the s am e t i me , h e as k e d m e w ha t d id I pla nned to d o. I s ai d I d i d n’t kn ow Daddy K , he sa id he kne w a ta ilor a nd he i s g o i n g to i n t roduce m e t o h i m. He ga ve me a bout tw o we e ks an d to l d m e w h ere t o m e e t u p beca use we d id n’t ha ve an y p ho n e at t h e ti me . A f t e r t h e tw o weeks I met him a t the p atty s ho p i n Ol d Harbour aro und 9 a m a nd then he intro d u c e d m e to a t ai l or at Fant an Wa y na me John Pa rker th at w as 1 9 9 2 an d from t h e re no t urning ba ck. Right now I d o n’t kn ow w hat I l ove l i ke t h i s and I love it more tha n the mo n e y I m ake f ro m i t . I l ove whe n I f i x someone's clothing a nd the p e r s o n i s p l eas ed.
19 ISSUE 1
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
Old Habour is my pla ce, I gre w up in the n e i gh-
bou r i n g com m unit y, I went to schools in Old Har b o u r s o I don’t k now any where else to live tha n Ol d Har b o u r. It’s n ot th at I didn’t wa nt to tr y a nything ne w, I ju s t d on’t w a nt t o go any w here without ha ving a bal an c e s o i f I g o to Ne gri l I s hould be d oing something I ’m n o t s u ppo s e to be t he re on a w ild goose cha se, so I kn ow that i f I ’m g oi n g t h e re I go a s a ta ilor or a j uggler s e l l i n g , b u t a n y w h e re I go I s hould be a ble to d o somethin g, that wo u l d b e m y p lan if I w a s to lea ve from Old Har b o u r, I d on’t w a nt t o le ave and be wor thless.
But at t h e s ame time I d id n’t get a chan c e to g o
a n y w h e re, e ve r y t hing wa s r ight here so I d id w hat I had t o d o. I work e ve r y da y r ight through a nd one o f the m os t c h a lle ngi ng t h i ngs is the environment I’m i n , b u t I ’m g ood wi t h e ve r yone. I d on’t ha ve a ny pro b l e m w i th t h e p ol i c e , I’m e ve n good with the ones tha t w o u l d b e o n t h e n egat ive s i de , w here they know tha t a s m u c h as I don’t h a ve on any wind ow s or d oor when I ’m n o t he re s t o p i s c los e d. I don’t ha ve a ny regrets in life b e c au s e a n y t h i n g I do, I’m not sor r y beca use cer ta in thi n g s have t o b e d o ne . Th e only thing I could see a nd it’s n o t w hat I di d i t’s wh at h appe n ed a nd it's w hen I lost b o th o f m y pa re n t s and t h e y di d their time but other w ise I c an ' t s e e a n y t h i n g I re gre t .
20 ISSUE 1
THE S E D I S N DOW G N I M R A OF F le K am o n ie G ay y b s re tu ic p d A ll ar ti cl es an
4 8 - year-old farmer Nev i lle McKenzi e s t a r t e d s e l l-
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
" T he mistak e I made w as to do far ming but some of th e time s I cannot do w ith out it".
i ng g rou n d provi s i o ns 15 yea r s a go i n t h e Ol d Ha rb o u r Market .
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have been selling for a bout 15 ye ar s n ow an d I als o f ar m, some of the prod ucts are m i n e an d the re s t I buy from other fa r mer s. I d e c i d e d to s tar t s e lli ng beca use most of the time I c o u l d n o t g e t t he cro ps to sell a nd they woul d s p o i l . T hi s i s m y liv ing so it’s a long-ter m busin e s s an d I d o n’t p l an
on s t opping any time soon, must be when I’m o l d o r b e tte r c om e. I gre w up in fa r ming, so I j ust con ti n u e d i n i t. T he m i s tak e I m ade wa s to d o fa r ming, but so m e o f the ti m e I c an n ot do wit h ou t it. T he w ork is ha rd , a n d d ro u g ht m ake s i t w o rs t . Mos t of the d a ys a re r uff but I s ti l l c an m ake s o m et h i n g. Som e t im e s we ha ve problems with the p o l i c e w he n we don’t s t ay in t h e ma rket a nd they send us b ac k i n , w he the r we s t ay i n t h e m a rket or on the roa d we sti l l have to p ay o u r m a rk e t f e e .
21 ISSUE 1
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
TA LE N T E D DR IV E R
"I le ft sch ool at 17 and got job due to my talent, I am ve r y tale nte d".
A l l a r t icle s and p ictures by Ka monie Ga yle
57 - ye a r- o l d t a xi d rive r Gl e nm o re Brown a l s o ca ll e d Joc k y o p e ra t e s wit h in t h e Ol d Ha rb o u r a re a . I d rive o n t he rout e fro m Ol d Ha rb o u r t o L o ng v il l e Pa rk v ia Fre e t ow n .
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have b e e n r u n n i n g taxi f o r ab o u t 2 0 ye a rs . W h e n I w as g row i n g u p I d i d n’t s e e m y s e l f as a t a x i dri ve r, b u t thro u g h m y tal e n t as a f o o tb al l e r an d c ri c k e t e r that i s w hy I am d r i vi n g a taxi b e c au s e t h a t’s w h a t I’m s u p p o s e d to d o an d I’m n o t a d u n c e. I l e ft s c h o o l at 1 7 an d go t a jo b d u e to m y tal e n t, I a m ve r y t a l-
en te d . I c ho s e thi s ro u te to o p e r ate a taxi o n b e c au s e t h i s i s whe re I w as b o r n an d gre w u p. T he b i g ge s t I m ad e w a s t o dri ve a taxi . I’m ju s t ki d d i n g, i t’s w he n I we n t ove r s e as a n d c a me bac k, I s ho u l d n’t have c o m e b ac k, b e c au s e the s tr u g g l e i s re a l , that w o u l d b e m y b i gge s t re g re t.
22 ISSUE 1
STREET VIEWS MAGAZINE
23 ISSUE 1