Robert Lalah, Assistant Editor - Features

Left: The towering house in Bushy Park, St. Catherine, attracts crowds everyday.   Right: When the dome in the Indian section is completed, it will light up and spin. There is also a prayer room in this area. - Photos by Robert Lalah

It's not uncommon for Alphonso Latchman to be sitting on the balcony of his home, looking at the mountains in the distance and be interrupted by the sound of screeching tires. It happens at least four times everyday when drivers traveling through Bushy Park in St. Catherine get their first glimpse of his massive home.

"I don't mind it. I just like when my house is different from everybody else house," he chuckled.

And different it is. You see, Mr. Latchman is a well-travelled fellow who's intent on making his home, which isn't finished yet, into a monument of sorts. Something like the shrines and castles he's seen on his many trips across the globe.

He was born in Jamaica but spent 30 years living in and working 16-hour days in England.

"At first, I worked on the railroad and then I worked at a factory. The work was hard, but I knew what I wanted to achieve," he said.

Mr. Latchman is married and has 10 children and several grandchildren. The family has been running a successful nursing home in England for many years, and now Mr. Latchman has come back to Jamaica to build his dream home.

"I have been blessed very much and I want to leave a historic mark for people to see," he said.

The house has 15 bedrooms, most of which have bathrooms and kitchens complete with microwave ovens and refrigerators.

"I want all the bedrooms to be self-contained so that if any of my family members visit, they can have everything they want right with them," he said.

But what gets the stares from passers-by is the unique exterior design. Mr. Latchman has sepa-rated the house into three sections: Indian, European and African.

He has designed each section accordingly. The Indian section of the home has a large dome that will light up and spin when it's finished and it also has a prayer room.

The African section has several small pyramids and is painted in red, green and gold.

The European section was inspired by the homes that Mr. Latchman admired while living in England.

"This is how I look at it. I was born in a British dependency and I lived in England for many years. My ancestors are Indian, and Jamaica is mainly an African country, so the house pays tribute to all of that," Mr. Latchman explained.

Light theme

Latchman

The theme and name of the house is Lakshmi, which is the Hindu goddess of light. Mr. Latchman, a devout Hindu, has installed hundreds of lights all over the home and is now trying to find the right lights to install in the dome.

"When that is done and spinning, it's going to be beautiful," he said. He also has plans to construct a water fountain with bright lights in the front yard.

"It's about honouring my religion and making a comfortable place for my family that reflects who we are. People will have their own opinions but, at the end of the day, it's my dream home," he said.

robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com.