THE approach of Hurricane Matthew did not stop business nor the regular Sunday fun at Hellshire Beach in St Catherine yesterday.

The boats of fishermen were secured, but entertainment flowed throughout the various fish and lobster shops that lined the beach, while some people enjoyed swimming in the sea despite the strong waves.

When the Jamaica Observer asked some if they were not fearful that the storm would catch them at sea unprepared, most said ‘no’.

Celine Williams, owner and operator of Celine’s Fish World, said she was only expecting a little rain to affect them. “No storm not coming. We ah get a little breeze and rain, but nothing serious. It will just give a little effect, but it’s business as usual,” she said, as she pointed to parents and children enjoying themselves.

Carlington Clarke, a customer at Williams’ businessplace, said his reason for being at the beach was to celebrate his fiancee’s birthday and “stake out” the hurricane.”We came out to see Matthew come in, but he’s not here yet,” he said.

Christopher Mitto said it was business as usual for him, and if the hurricane destroyed his business he would just build it back.

“Ah di works ah Father God, so me nah mek no preparation fi secure anything. I prefer to make some sales. Right now if it blow down me just build it back,” he said.

But, at approximately 2:00 pm, when the wind picked up and the sea became rough, accompanied by rain, the actions of these same patrons were opposite to their previous utterances.

“Ah it this now. A long time mi work here. Unu come go home. Mi live near but lots of people live far. Ah it this now,” Williams said, while advising some of her colleagues to make their way home.

Meanwhile, at the Port Henderson Fishing Beach fishermen were seeing playing a game of dominoes and relaxing as they had brought in their vessels and secured their engines and other boat parts from damage should the hurricane hit our shores.

“Mi not going to stay down here. I’m just relaxing now, and later I’ll be moving my family to higher grounds. Everything is on land. It’s not if the storm is coming, it’s when it’s coming. I’ve been a fisherman for more than 30 years and the sea has changed. So mi just a hold a little ‘meds’ until mi ready fi move out,” said a fisherman who gave his name as ‘Cerasee Tea’.

Leon McCarthy, another fisherman, said he had done all he could do and “just awaits what is to come”.

Said McCarthy: “Mi draw in me vessel, buy up mi food, sandbag and nail down mi zinc.” But he said that he can’t move to higher ground as he feared the looting which may take place at the little building on the fishing beach which he calls home.

“If we leave it (house) wi not coming back come see it,” he said.

Fishermen Carlton Williams and Alvin Reid could be seen placing barriers to prevent water from entering a storeroom which contained engine parts.

Williams said he would lose more than $100,000 which he makes per week if the storm hits, so he had to secure his tools and try to be safe. “It’s the works of God, so you can’t fight or question is. Better to be safe than sorry,” he said.

Members of the nearby Port Henderson Church of God turned out for worship in numbers, saying they saw the need to be praying at this time.

“We came out to pray and we ended service early today,” Ruth-Ann Jones said.

Pastor Calvin Jones added that they also used the time to move the church equipment and furniture to higher ground and secure the perimeter with sandbags.

However, Bishop Lloyd Hamilton said, despite all they’ve done, if the hurricane should hit, the water will still go inside.

“We will just have to bail it out. The last hurricane came over the shops, took off the roof of the buildings on the shoreline and destroyed houses around us. the good thing is that the rostrum is elevated,” he said.

Hamilton and Williams said they also looked to the sea for signs that bad weather was approaching.

“Look at the tide, the colour of the sea. From you look out and see the white things forming it’s an indicator that you are going to get weather and by that we mean lots of rain and breeze,” they said.

Hamilton, however, appealed to members of his church, as well as residents of Port Henderson, to move to a safer place as his church is not suited to be a shelter.

“They always run to this church to shelter. But it’s too close to the sea. It is not safe, so please go to a higher ground and protect yourself if needs be,” he said.