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Rodney Williams was released from prison in 2016 after spending six years for the possession of guns and ammunition. He told THE STAR that he held no illusions about getting a job upon his release, but he knew he didn’t want do anything illegal again.

So, with the help of the British High Commission, through their rehabilitation programme for prisoners, he went into farming.

“It’s a programme where every ex-prisoners decide on something fi do. If yuh want fi raise some fowl, raise some fish or do likkle welding, dem set something fi yuh. Knowing seh mi come from prison, mi nuh really seh, ‘Yow, mi a go look no work out deh.’ So, mi seh mi a go do something pon my own,” he said

The 35-year-old said that he was always fascinated with animals. But after unsuccessfully trying to rear rabbits, he went into ornamental fish farming, which he has been doing for the past three years.

And, according to him, this may be his best decision yet, especially because he has a ready market for his fish.

“Because of the programme, dem will come fi fish. Nuh care how much fish yuh have, dem will come and check up if you have the amount of fish. And if yuh nuh want leggo the fish dem, you can tell dem seh, ‘All right, mi nuh ready fi export yet’, or if yuh want yuh can export dem. So, a nuh like seh a problem deh deh fi export dem or not, because the market is there,” he said, adding that the fish are exported to England.

And except for feeding his fish three times daily and changing their water, Williams said they require very little care. But more importantly, he said that his fish farm, which is located on Seventh Street in Trench Town, has not been under any threat of praedial larceny.

“A nuh like a eating fish and dem something deh, a tank fish, pet fish, fish for beauty,” he said.

Williams said that he currently has approximately 150 fishes in his tanks, including river, guppy and swordtail.

He buys the fishes in Old Harbour Bay, but he said that he also breeds some for himself.

“Dem tek at least three months to export. But if yuh deal with yuh fish dem the right way, you can export fish like every two months, depends pon how yuh ting stay,” he said.

But his fish farm is more than just a way for him to make money. It’s also a place of relaxation for Williams and a hub for youth in the community.

“Sometime mi just stand up and watch dem a swim round. It’s better than even hanging out outside. Yuh will even see two man siddung and a reason, and yuh just see dem start talk ‘bout something, and next thing a war. So it betta mi deh round di animal dem,” he said.

“And di youth dem will all help mi out, so mi just have dem round mi and show dem di business so dat dem can know ‘bout the ting dem too,” he said.