Doing his utmost to bring about change and foster community-based development
CHRISTOPHER Clarke is 73 years old, and he is among the first settlers of Block 22 Wismar Squatting Area, Linden. He relocated there 23 years ago when the place was underdeveloped, and it has grown from then to now into a semi self-sufficient community.

He has been married for 15 years and these days, he tends to his crops, is in his farm often and takes care of the yard work and assists his wife in tending to their shop.

Clarke is a Community Development Council (CDC) member and joined the project two months ago when fresh elections were held.

He was also a part of the Community Policing Group, which has become inactive.

When the Pepperpot Magazine visited, he was picking some ripened vegetables from his trees which decorate his front fence.

These days, Clarke takes things easy and doesn’t “fight up” with certain things over which he has no control.

He is originally from Kitty, but grew up in Kingston and relocated to Block 22 Wismar Squatting Area 23 years ago after exiting some difficult circumstances.

“I always dream of living in Linden and here I am and today, I can say I am living life to the fullest and it is quite fulfilling to see your grandchildren grow and be able to play a part in their lives,” he said.

Clarke reported that the CDC has 25 members and they have in stream some community-based projects to be rolled out eventually, but their main focus is getting an upgraded access road in the village.

He stated that the drainage situation also needs to be looked at and the issue of erosion, as well.

The village leader stated that there isn’t much to complain about in the community, apart from the road and drainage, things are reasonably good and the people do what they have to do to earn honestly.

Clarke told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is the father of five, but one of his children has since passed away and he has 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He has a farm aback the village near the creek and he grows ground provisions, pineapples, legumes, fine-leaf thyme, broad-leaf thyme, tomatoes, ochroes, and peppers.

Clarke added that he would sell his produce right at his shop and at home he has a bearing garden of fresh fruits and vegetables.

He also has hundreds of seedlings he has to transfer to his farm in his yard, but he is watching the weather before making a move.

Clarke also has different types of cherries in his yard and it is one of the cleanest places you will ever see.

His grandchildren assisted him in pulling weeds from the garden that day and he was just supervising and also lending a helping hand.

“Crops grow rapidly up here because of the soil composition. Certain things grow well, but we have a real problem with the acushi ants which would destroy most of my crops, but I would spray it and try to control their movements,” he said.

Clarke reported that Block 22 Wismar Squatting Area is home to teachers, nurses, wood-cutters, weeders, shop owners and other professionals, and ordinary folk, who use their skills to earn.

Since moving to Linden, Clarke said his life has changed, and he is at peace. He is assisted by his wife, Wendella Benjamin-Clarke, who was away in the city doing some bulk shopping for their shop.

Back in the days when Clarke first relocated to Block 22 Wismar Squatting Area, it had a few small houses, cottage-style, modest homes and just a handful of people were living there.

It had a small track leading into a clearing and the place was heavily wooded, but over time more people came and constructed bigger and more modern houses and the place developed into a village.

“Most of the elders, the ones that first came here to live, have passed away, but some of their offspring are still living there,” he said.

Clarke describes life in that section of Linden as good and it is a nice place to be contented with a simple life that entails hard work, but rewarding to do something meaningful with time.