Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer

The Pear Tree Grove Post Office built by residents of the community, hidden in the hills of St Catherine. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

In 2003, more than a year after the Government had condemned their dilapidated post office to closure without offering to build a new one, the residents of Pear Tree Grove, a small community hidden in the remote hills of St Catherine, led by the immense will of one man, overcame the political divide to build one on their own.

"It was a bit of a struggle getting the people to work together," said Basil Walker, dedicated member of the Pear Tree Grove Citizen's Association, the body responsible for the construction of the Pear Tree Grove Post Office. The post office is now one of seven projects nominated for the 2008 Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance.

Issues of faith

"Initially, many did not have faith that we could do it, but even in the beginning there were a few who turned out every Monday morning to help with something," Walker said. "It's not so much that the community is divided, it is just that sometimes there is resistance to join each other. But I keep saying we are just one people, let's work together to achieve something worthwhile, no matter what the politics."

The dream began when Walker made the sacrifice of offering his own land as the base on which the building - which now facilitates the delivery of pensions to the elderly, the registration of births, deaths and other important records to residents of nine adjoining communities - would stand. In addition to Walker's donations, other persons in and out of the community offered what cash they could.

"It was all voluntary work," said Walker. "We started out by lining the building, then casting the foundation, placing the steel, and then came the block work. Everything ran smoothly."

The rest of the community became inspired to join in as the building took shape.

"Donations came mainly in the form of labour. Even people from adjoining communities came forward to assist on workdays. The ladies especially turned up in their droves to help cast the concrete," said Walker. A grant of $100,000 from the postmaster general also aided in its completion. Members of the Pear Tree Grove Citizens' Association are now in the process of bushing and laying concrete to improve the state of their roads.