By Alesia Edwards
Barbara E. Kerr is one of the few people in business, in the resort town of Ocho Rios St Ann, who were born and raised in the area, grew up in the family business and today is continuing the tradition despite the many challenge the business has encountered over the years. Ms Kerr’s mother, Marjarie Williams, better known to many as ‘Ms Mama’ had her property, a quarter acre of land on the sea side at 21 Main Street, and that’s where Ms Kerr was born and grew up, helping her mother in a variety store she operated from that location. Now the map of Ocho Rios has changed much, with the dumping of the sea, building of piers and new tourism development. (See Map)Ms Kerr explained that from very early she was exposed to, and became actively involved in, her mother’s business and that she developed her business skills from childhood. When the Government bought then prime beach front lands from those homeowners to expand what was then still a fishing village, Ms Kerr said their business was relocated to another section of Main Street, just in front of the Ocho Rios market and the family house was relocated to Buckfield.At the new location, her mother operated the 5 Sisters Bar and Restaurant. That business was later taken over by Ms Kerr on August 11, 1981 and today stands as one of the original businesses from ‘back in the days’. Five Sisters Bar was two businesses in one – one bar upstairs another downstairs – and Ms Kerr said it was the only bar in the area at the time. It also offered, back then, board and lodging.
KEPT MANY PATRONS
She no longer operates the restaurant and accommodation, but the bar now named ‘Barbie’s Bar’ is in full swing and has remained a preferred hang out spot for many of her customers, looking for a clean environment to lyme with their friends over drinks. She has a lot of patrons from the earlier days who, whenever they visit Ocho Rios, whether from overseas or elsewhere in the island, consider Barbie’s their preferred spot. Ms Kerr said she tries at all times to have her patrons enjoy their drink in a comfortable and clean environment. Ganja smoking is not allowed and customers are asked to consider other patrons and behave in a mature way. Customers can enjoy a variety of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages at reasonable cost. She doesn’t offer much high end liquor and mixed drinks are not available. However, all regular alcoholic beverages including rum, beer and stout, among a range of others are available.”I try to keep a certain standard with my business place and my prices might be low but I am not competing, I am not trying to undersell anybody, I go according to how I feel to make my prices,” she said. Everyone is welcomed once they can behave. “I don’t allow any slackness in my place and I don’t allow any ganja smoking either because under your spirit licence that is not legal and even if it was legally passed I still don’t want ganja smoking in here.”
KEEPING STANDARDS
She added: “When you have a bar, you have it to serve the public, you can’t let one customer come in and run everybody else … I am not perfect, but I try to run it at a certain standard.” There are also three poker boxes for customers’ entertainment. Additionally, on weekends entertainment is provided through a music system, and at times, there is dominoes and cookouts. She said her bartenders are usually professional workers who offer quality customer service.A lover of music, especially Jazz, Barbie’s has been treating customers over the years to various sessions and Jazz in the market place was one such hosted by her as part of Ocho Rios Jazz Week, back in 2002.
WANTS BETTER ENVIRONMENT
She has also hosted parties as well as a fun day at the Buckfield play ground for her customers. Also, she has held regular customer appreciation days. On the 32nd anniversary of the business she had a big party for her customers. “I enjoy meeting new people, as for my clients, we fight and we curse but we still respect each other and I enjoy doing this business, I really enjoy it, I have a lot of fun,” she added. She explained though that she has lost a lot of customers because of the deplorable state of the market where her business is located.”With the condition of the market, it turns away a lot of my customers, some of them are returning residents who come here and they give me money to cook for them and they will sit and eat, but from the market stay the way it is and they can’t get any parking and when you come in and park you can’t get out, you find that the people don’t really come back.” She continued: “So, I have lost a lot of business that way, I use to have about 13 to 14 persons who use to come on weekends and they would give $1000 each and I would do fish for them or whatever they want, and I put up tables at the back and they come and eat but because of the unsanitary condition of the Ocho Rios market plus the deplorable condition of the entrance and the whole yard, a lot of people don’t bother.” In addition to operating her bar, over the years Ms Kerr has worked, among other places at BNS Ocho Rios, Great House Pharmacy, and as a croupier (Casino dealer) with Carnival Cruise Line for eight years. She has also seen many changes and development of what was a small fishing village to a leading resort town today.She is however not pleased about some of the changes and development, especially since most of the improvement work seem to be concentrated towards Downtown Ocho Rios. She is also concerned about the lack of proper development planning which she believes has contributed to some of the issues affecting the resort town. Lack of proper parking facilities, garbage collection, and in some instances a shabby looking town are among those issues. She also see tourist harassment as another issue affecting that sector and she believes people, even those in tourism, do not know or appreciate the real value of the industry.Ms Kerr is a member of the St. John’s Anglican Church and has been involved in a book sale to raise funds for various charities of the church. She has also been involved in various community projects, and has a number of community groups. The mother of one adult son, she said although her siblings migrated, she remained in Jamaica to continue the legacy of her departed mother. She said she would like to see more preservation of original Ocho Rios and she has created a map showing the resort town and various families from back in the days. The counter of her bar also display a lot of history and various events about Old Ocho Rios. Ms Kerr said she keeps information about Ocho Rios to enlighten especially her customers about what the town was like before it was developed.
She said she is committed to continue doing business in Ocho Rios and she has lauded her customers and close friend, especially Gladstone ‘Dockie’ Nembhard for their continued support.
