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- Walton Spence, a 75-year-old wood sculptor at Jacob Taylor Beach for 34 years, received a 30-day eviction notice from the NRCA.
- The NRCA issued notices to about a dozen shop operators, stating the land is needed for a public purpose and repairs.
- Affected vendors and families are facing financial strains from back-to-school costs and recovery from Hurricane Melissa.
When the Natural Resources Conservation Authority handed 30-day eviction notices to a dozen long-standing beach vendors in Silver Sands, Trelawny, 75-year-old wood sculptor Walton Spence declared, “I’m going to fight it!” The state agency claims the Jacob Taylor Beach property is required for a public purpose and for repair and improvement, affecting roughly twelve local shop operators who received the orders on Monday.
Spence, who has operated his shop at the location for 34 years, is joined in his distress by other community members. Rackquay Small of the Silver Moon Convenience Store noted the eviction timing is especially difficult given upcoming back-to-school costs, while area families continue recovering from Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island last October.