Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Reporter
Left: Aluminium Dutch pot, spoon and fork made by Errol Jarrett of May Pen, Clarendon. - PHOTO BY SHELLY-ANN THOMPSON
Right:
Stove burners and pikes for grilled gates. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ERROL JARRETT knows how to milk the value out of aluminium. Almost everything that can be made from aluminium and used by Jamaicans is produced by him. From scraps of aluminium, Mr. Jarrett melts and moulds dutch pots; car rims, vehicle parts such as crash bars; coal stoves, gas stove burners, stove top racks; pikes for grille gates; patio sets and garden lounge chairs; man-hole covers; clothes hangers; and ballista for construction blocks.
LOVE THE WORK
"I just love the work, when at the end of the day when I realise what I get out of scrap and each customer is satisfied, I feel good."
He is the man who several taxi men and tradesmen seek when they want a "strong part" for their vehicle or work. "All the time taxi drivers come here and sey he wants this for his car and I will design something ," Mr. Jarrett told Lifestyle.
The 40-year-old who is known in his community of Four Paths, Clarendon as the 'Dutch pot man' churns out 47 different sizes of 'Dutchies'.
His registered establishment, Pot World, supplies several stores, shops and wholesales throughout Jamaica with Dutch pots and other products. Entities such as Super Plus, Sinclair's Bargain Centre have his labelled creations in their stores.
He has been making aluminium products for 18 years and likes to work with aluminium because of the quality of the material and the wonderful products it provides. "Aluminium is easier to melt than cast iron. We can make cast iron but the process is harder than aluminium. I had plans to build a furnace for cast iron but it didn't work out," he said.
"I also love to make patio sets. When I finish with them they look so pretty and once a month I get demand for the chairs."
Mr. Jarrett has not kept the trade to himself. Included in the group to which he is transferring the skill is his son, Dermaine Jarrett.
Young Dermaine aged 17 and out of high school, currently works full-time with his father. In his workshop he makes pots but more often than not he's supervising the process. "I enjoy it because most of the time I actually get involved in making the products. It is satisfying to see the finished product," young Jarrett said.
ENCOURAGEMENT
And how does Dermaine feel about learning the skill? "Sometimes Daddy feels like giving up but I always encourage him to continue because I want to be my own boss," he told Lifestyle. Mr. Jarrett's younger son, Errol Jarrett Jr., is also around in the workshop making aluminium products.
