ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É

The roads leading into Hayfield, St Thomas, are almost single lane-wide, and the rocky ride could also have you constantly biting your tongue.

However, all of that is forgotten upon entering the quiet community that has some of Jamaica's most friendly residents.

Sonia Brown, who has called Hayfield home for the past two decades, had just wrapped up a game of 'dandy shandy' with a group of girls and was now watching several men and boys playing cricket. These activities, she says, are the norm for residents.

"The young people are the best here. Both young and old interact very well with each other. On any given day, we will cook a big pot and anyone can just stop and get a nice plate of food. Farmers will be coming or going to their bush and just get a meal. We are all one big family here," she said. She stated that violence is unheard of in these parts and "not even fist fight nuh happen".

"We intend to keep it this way. The only time police come up here is when they coming for a piece of wild hog meat. If a person know they are involved in badness, then Hayfield isn't the place for them. People try and come and settle here, and once we ever find out that they are wanted and involved in wrongdoing, they are handed over to the police. Peace is the order of the day here," she said.

No one goes to bed hungry

Brown told THE STAR that wild hog hunting is a sport among some of the young men, adding that the district is also known for having the best yellow heart breadfruit.

"And let me tell you this, in Hayfield, no one goes to bed hungry. There is always enough for everyone here, and there are times when we even help out other persons in different communities," she said. "This is where dancehall artiste Popcaan is from and him nuh leave us out. He returns regularly to play football and visit everyone. Sometimes him even cook."

Roy Hamilton admits the roads need to be fixed, but doesn't mind the peaceful atmosphere.

"Some of the young people relocate for better opportunities, but we like it this way. Me feel like if the place get develop, it a go attract all type of people here. Is about 120 people live here and all a we live like one, so little bad road a the least. We nuh really short a nutten," Hamilton said.