Crime? What's that? St Thomas community isolated from scourge
Published:Monday | November 15, 2010 | 12:00 AM
IT IS A community nestled in the hills of St Thomas with multiple directional signs that read 'Sunny Hill' and 'Sunning Hill'.
While the double names may cause confusion for some, one thing was certain to residents such as Felix Drysdale, who sat on a crate outside a corner shop on Mount Felix road.
"We don't have crime," he stated point blank. "Ask anybody."
Drysdale, a 77-year-old resident of the community, has been listening to the gurgle of the Plantain Garden River his entire life.
"We nuh kill people. Somebody might pick a breadfruit or coconut and there might be one and two fight, but other than that, nothing."
In his younger years, Drysdale used to farm and rear cows, pigs and goats. He now spends his days socialising with friends in the community and recalling the days of growing up in Sunning Hill when even whistling was off limits.
"We couldn't whistle," he said, the lines in his face hardening with seriousness. "Those were the days though, you know. But times change."
Respect, a thread of unity
While some aspects of the community have changed, Drysdale noted that a thread of unity among seniors and youngsters was respect.
"We can talk to one another," he said. "And when we see anybody doing anything they shouldn't, we talk to them.
"You see these young people?" he asked. "These younger generations still have respect."
Clement Batiste, St Thomas parish governance coordinator for the Social Development Commission, agreed, citing community cohesion as a strong support system.
"The older set of people are more the leaders of the community," he said. "They maintain a long tradition of offering guidance and being there."
Sunning Hill is home to 1,134 residents, two basic schools, a primary school, playing field, post office, community centre and clinic. Residents typically travel to Bath to attend high school.
"The road network is somewhat average," Batiste added.
Regardless of the infrastructure, community residents bond over music and sports.
"It's a very strong cricket community, very strong. And, of course, it's an agricultural community that plants traditional crops. There is even a coconut nursery," Batiste added.
A group of young people gathered around two vans carrying goods from farmers, while a shopkeeper weighed some pumpkins and sorted through scallion.
Laughter erupted from the group and Drysdale glanced at them.
"We show the younger people how we run things and crime stays down," he said. "We always look out for one another."