Lack of trains slows Breadnut Walk craft businesses
Published:Saturday | June 25, 2011 | 12:00 AM
André Gordon, Gleaner Writer
BREADNUT WALK, St Elizabeth:
WHEN THE train made its final creaking journey through the community of Breadnut Walk in St Elizabeth in 1992, the sight of the disappearing train represented the slipping economic reality of the people.
For years, Breadnut Walk had existed as a quiet rural town driven by tourism. "The tourist would arrive by train," said Cyril Martin, one of the many craft builders who once survived by this trade.
"The community had two assets that attracted tourists: the Ipswich Caves and our craft," he informed.
Breadnut Walk had become one of the true gems of St Elizabeth and its exotic environment was a draw for tourists.
The sudden halt of the train dealt the community an epic blow, which until today it has not recovered. According to Martin, education levels in Breadnut Walk have been traditionally low due to the fact that most young people would drop out of school to become involved in the lucrative craft business, which took place at the Ipswich Caves.
He also points to the fact that since that revenue has stopped flowing, the community has found itself in a precarious situation where low education levels prevent residents from finding reasonable employment elsewhere.
Collapsed
After tourism collapsed, many craft builders turned to farming and a few continued in the trade they had come to know and love.
"We now act as wholesalers for craft vendors in places like Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston and before 911 (September 11 attack on the United States), we did good export business," he told The Gleaner.
"The roads were always bad in Breadnut Walk, but the fact that the main means of transportation in Breadnut Walk was the train, people did not mind much. But since we lost the train, we have now come face to face with one of the worst roads in the parish," opined Martin.
A journey along the two-mile strip of road, which leads from Jones River, can take as much as 35-40 minutes by car, but most taxi drivers have refused to use the road, resulting in the citizens having to walk most times.
"I guess it makes us healthier. But on the other hand, when we want to bring our products to the market, we are faced with a daunting situation, and the fact that we have an ageing population means we have to be concerned."
Despite the challenges faced by the residents of Breadnut Walk, the craft builders are upbeat about the return of the train.