Marlene McPherson, Gleaner writer
COVER
ST. THOMAS:
SIXTY-EIGHT-year-old Hyacinth Cover is a woman with a strong sense of commitment to agriculture. Despite her other business involvements, agriculture continues to be her major career because it gives her a "new lease on life".
After working as a cashier, she became a concessionaire for the National Water Commission. While she found the task enjoyable and stayed as head of the business for more than 10 years, she migrated to Canada in 1989 to be with one of her sons.
On her return to Jamaica, she suffered two heart attacks and survived a triple by-pass surgery. But these setbacks did not slow her down. Following her recovery, she worked in a warehouse packing and weighing items.
But home was calling, so in 1995 she committed herself totally to the family's eight-acre farm at Nutts River in St. Thomas. Here, she rears different types of exotic birds, a variety of animals and grows fruit trees and flowers. Her farm not only generates income, but is an attraction, especially for school children.
Despite setbacks by natural disasters, Miss Cover is doing extremely well. "I am a worker. I can't sit down. I enjoy seeing things grow, so each time the natural elements take their toll, I rise and start again," she declared.
