Joined at the hip - social development and investment

Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

Deryck Dilworth, 85, joined the staff at the Kirvine bauxite plant in Manchester in 1954 as a process operator two years after the first shipload of bauxite left Jamaica for the overseas markets. A year later, he was transferred to Alcan, Ewarton plant, in St Catherine. Like several others, Dilworth relocated to one of the three housing developments established in the community to satisfy workers' demand for accommodation.

By 1976, he had worked his way from Orangefield Village, the lowest echelon, to Pleasant Farm, home to the plant's middle managers. Subsequent to his promotion, he occupied one of the houses at Hayfield Village where executives and top-level employees, including a number of expatriates, lived. Notably, while the three schemes were distinguished by the category of workers, common to all were clubs for recreational and social activities. Additionally, attractive remuneration packages, educational grants, and other perks positioned several employees among the elite in the society.

Great benefits

"Overseas travelling allowance and overseas training for personal development - we really enjoyed some great benefits," Dilworth, now enjoying his retirement at his Hayfield home, recollected.

Besides enriching several lives, during its thriving epoch, the industry positively affected the economy in Ewarton and its environs, resulting in the establishment and expansion of a number of small businesses. Likewise, its undertaking of health, sports, educational, community development, and income-generating projects has contributed to the enhancement of the quality of life of residents around the local conglomerate.

On the other hand, the corporate philanthropist has been compensating residents affected by dust nuisance resulting from mining operations, not only in St Catherine, but other parishes.

In the meantime, as the population around the bauxite Mecca increased in the '70s, so did the demand for housing solutions. As a result, Jack Stephenson, former member of parliament, North St Catherine, who died in 1982, was instrumental in bringing about the Charlemont and White House housing developments.

To this end, between 1978 and 1986, the Ministry of Construction developed the Charlemont Scheme comprising 494 two-bedroom and 144 three-bedroom units. Similarly, the Urban Development Corporation developed the Whitehouse Scheme, between 1981 and 1983, on behalf of the National Housing Trust. In total, 234 units - 184 two-bedrooms and 50 three-bedrooms were constructed on lands previously owned by the bauxite company.

However, while the middle-income earners fathom an admirable lifestyle, Stephenson, cognisant of the poorer class, established the Charlemont Farm Scheme 'Natty Farm Yard' in the '70s, bolstering economic opportunities through agricultural projects.

"Jack Stephenson was a real man, and him mek man like me and plenty others coulda tek care a wi family because of the farmers' co-operative," echoed 'Fish', a well-known member of the community who claimed that he was one of Stephenson's right-hand men during the resettlement.

In fact, he expressed dissatisfaction with the level of development in the scheme and indicated the desire to see more emphasis placed on the cultivators - the original settlers. He said, however, that the farmers were relentless in their quest to continue the tradition of tilling the soil to earn a livelihood.

On the other hand, there have been noticeable signs of modifications to some units, a number of the homeowners have migrated or ownership changed, and there has been a remarkable decrease in activities at the clubs in the bauxite housing developments. However, the residents have vowed not to allow this to alter the quality of their lifestyle.

Undoubtedly, the transformation of hundreds of acres of unoccupied land around the bauxite plant into housing solutions, social amenities, and institutions, such as Charlemont High School conceived by Stephenson, which opened in September, 1978, with 240 students, have opened the gateway to inevitable developments. Nevertheless, remnants of the storied past still lingers.