Listin And Rita

The Green Boley Bar, named after a vegetable that is used to make bowls, is owned by Listin and Rita. Most afternoons I eat my lunch there, sitting on stools made from PVC piping topped with yachting cushions, I order a Roti and a Bitter Lemon. The bar is painted bright green, almost a neon electrified color. Fully open to the outside the walls are made from bamboo stalks that have been split in half and nailed to planks of wood. The bar sits 5 feet above the water, behind but level with the top of a retaining wall. A retaining wall that serves two purposes to keep the land from sliding to the sea, and to prevent rising water from sinking the bar. As Rita will tell you the water has been rising since she can remember. She says, "My mother told me to go look just beyond that dock (pointing down the beach) in the water you will find a foundation where a toilet used to sit. When we built this bar they drove a truck down the beach to deliver supplies." This foundation now sits under about 15 feet of water, and the beach that the truck drove down, well there were people swimming in that same spot this morning. I asked her what she thought might happen forty years from now, she said "There is no telling, but there will never be a beach there again (she laughs)" I fear that in forty years the Green Boley might not exist, along with all the other bars, houses, shops, and restaurants that line the harbor.

Yet some people say that global warming is a myth.

Last Day In Southside

I had promised many people prints, since they were so kind in sitting for portraits. As my time here is winding down I finally got around to delivering on my word. Many of my portraits have been shot in one area of the island, this area being Southside or Pageant Farm. Everyday since I have been here the sun has been setting a little further south each day. Upon my final visit to Southside the sun was setting just to the left of the island, as apposed to setting behind the hills. The lighting was brilliant, reflecting off the sea.

I went about my way trying to track down a handful of people. I managed to find everyone, walking from house to house or bystander to bystander asking where each person lived. I found myself in homes that I had never seen before and meeting people that were so kind to lend there time for a few more photographs. I promised them that when I return they too will receive a print, and thus begins a snowball effect of portraiture. I'm happy to make as many prints as I can and people are happy to sit for a photo as long as they receive a print.

As I made my way to my last stop I received an unpleasant greeting from three dogs. Unfortunately I got bit, not badly, I think I will live no rabies yet?!