HAVE you ever noticed the greenery lining the median on Washington Boulevard? Maybe you assumed it was the work of a neighbouring company? Well, think again. The man behind the plants, evergreen trees to be exact, is Everett Grizzle.

Everett Grizzle says he recalls hearing then talkshow host, Antoinette Haughton, say on the radio: “Many times when you see work to be done, do it. Just work, some days to come you will get (your) pay.”

Upon hearing those words, “It come ‘een like is plant a tree plant inna mi head, you understand,” says Grizzle. Interestingly, he is the one doing the planting.

A resident in the vicinity, he has dedicated himself to “the beautification”, as he calls it, for approximately three years now. He trims the trees roughly every three weeks, and waters them. In fact, during a drought, he explains, “I get a three-wheel bicycle mek and I carry di water from my yard and I water dem morning or evening”.

He explains that his task is a difficult one. After cutting, he also has to rake up. He has even had to pay people to help him. As for supplies, in addition to a broom, rake and shovel, Grizzle needed a weed whacker in order to help him go faster. Just in time for Labour Day last, Dairy Industries (Jamaica) Limited presented Grizzle with the weed whacker.

Grizzle explains: “Some people pon my avenue seh dem a go check the boss over the cheese factory, for him always help dem…(so) I went with dem too.”

Hearing Grizzle’s story, Dairy Industries General Manager Andrew Ho agreed to do his best to help, saying his company’s decision to help was based on its policy of recognising individuals who contribute to the upliftment of the Waterhouse community.

“Mr Grizzle has also agreed to use the weed whacker to maintain the yard of the Drews Avenue Primary School nearby,”added Ho.

Grizzle explains the satisfaction gained and why he has continued to perform this task despite the challenges.

“… People tell me over and over seh dem wouldn’t do it cause a government someting and dem nah get pay fi do it, but I seh to myself seh I know what is beautification and I know Jamaica is my country and I know when Boulevard was nothing… And we get the Boulevard build up…Well, I decide to do something and I enjoy it.”