Trevor Palmer (right) works in his shop in Portland with his apprentice. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Trevor Palmer had a thriving farm in the Toms Hope community in Portland, and when it was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan, he was back on his feet quickly. He planted an acre of banana trees with hopes of importing, but when Tropical Storm Gustav struck last year, that was the last straw. To this day, Palmer has not been back to visit that acre.

Not that he regrets it, because Palmer now has a thriving cabinetmaking business in the Prospect community in the same parish, and is teaching young males the trade. "When we old an' gone if we nuh have nobody wheh we train fi duh dis, it wi dead out so as soon as me si di likkle youth dem kinda idle mi jus draw dem een and ask dem if dem nuh need a roast," said Palmer.

He said he has been trying to keep the youths out of trouble and so far it seems to be working.

"All di while me see dem a gwaan like seh a pure war and run up and down dem a deal wid, but mi a show dem say if me neva learn dis enuh, mi woulda a suffer right now," said Palmer, making reference to the lack of employment opportunities available and the misfortunes that befell him.

His handiwork

Some of the items that he makes include dressers, beds, cupboard and whatnots, and he shows the boys techniques of the trade on a daily basis as he monitors their work. One apprentice has been with him for over a year and three others visit on Fridays and Saturdays.

When Sedrick McGregor started working with Palmer at age 17, it was a job he only did on Fridays, as he was a student at Port Antonio High School. His cousins joined him, and Palmer housed them since they could not afford to travel back and forth from home.

"Him used to put wi up cause wi cannot afford to go up every evening and come down back 'cause mi family nuh really have it."

The young man said his cousins left shortly afterwards, but he stayed behind to make something out of the trade. However, for the past two weeks, McGregor says he has been troubled with sinusitis, which gave him swollen eyes, and flu-like symptoms. But is he deterred?

He sniffed, and wiped his nose as he spoke, sawdust blew from his shirt as a light breeze disrupted its rest. "Mi like it, an' is a work wheh it pay and everything mi si 'bout it good. Me nuh waan go siddung pon nuh corner an idle like nobody else," he said, in a matter of fact tone.

Looking at McGregor, it is hard to tell that he is 18 years old - he seems much younger - it is only when he speaks that his age becomes apparent.

"This work is like a building block for me 'cause me nuh have nutten else fi do. Mi fada nuh deh roun all di time so mi haffi try do supp'n fi miself."

Feeling of independence

He says he once lived with his mother, but now he lives by himself, and is enjoying the feeling of independence.

"T'ings wheh mi couldn't afford, mi tek time an save for it and t'ings wheh mi couldn't do, mi a do it. Mi nuh mek nutt'n hol' me dung," he said proudly.

His face was serious and he spoke again between several sniffs, sharing his dream with The Gleaner.

"Mi woulda like my workshop fi be di number one workshop inna Jamaica, whole heap a style and t'ings," he said staring in the distance, while a smile flashed across his childlike face.