Alligator Pond residents rush to clean up their ‘breadbasket’
Published:Friday | October 31, 2025 | 12:07 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Although disheartened by the damage Hurricane Melissa caused to his property, owner and operator of Little Ochie Seafood Restaurant in Alligator Pond, Manchester, Evrol ‘Blackie’ Christian, finds solace in the overwhelming support from his community.
On Wednesday, residents of the coastal village worked together to clear away debris and seaweed washed ashore by the storm’s powerful waves. The surging tides destroyed several sheds along the popular seafood restaurant’s property.
“Little Ochie is the heartbeat of Alligator Pond, so everybody just come and giving a helping hand. Is a community love and a community vibe, and I am very grateful,” he told The Gleaner.
However, despite the outpouring of support, a sombre Christian said the restaurant had still not recovered from the damage caused by last year’s Hurricane Beryl, which left him with more than $8 million in losses. Now, Hurricane Melissa has added roughly $15 million in damage.
Christian, who has owned and operated the restaurant for 36 years, recalled the terror he felt as Hurricane Melissa – a Category 5 storm – devastated the island earlier this week.
“Hurricane Melissa is a lesson to be learnt and is an experience. I have never seen nothing like this in my life. I was here 3, 4, 5, 6 o’clock [Wednesday] and what I saw was unbelievable,” he said. “I see waves up to 20 feet high. I see waves break from way out and drop way in land, and I reach a point where I have to just leave and go home because there was nothing more I could do.”
When he returned, five out 12 sheds on the property were ruined, and seaweed stacked about knee height was strewn across the property.
“Our loss is great, but there is no life [lost], and that is very important,” he said.
As the morning progressed, about 50 Alligator Pond residents turned up to help clean up Little Ochie.
Positive impact
Christian told The Gleaner that their willingness to assist is because of the positive impact he has made in the community over the years.
He employs 36 people, 32 of whom are from Alligator Pond. Additionally, he said his business directly supports the livelihood of many fishermen in the community.
“We show the love and growth in Alligator Pond that other people can benefit from, and that’s what we reaping now. You see a fisherman pushing the [wheel]barrow there,” he said, pointing. “Everybody sell Blackie dem fish, so the quicker I get up, the better for them, and that’s the love I have in Alligator Pond.”
Robert Barnett, a chef of more than 10 years who was on hand to clean up the seaweed, agreed. He told The Gleaner that the business is essential to the community.
Fisherman Owen Dixon described it as the community’s “breadbasket”.
“We also get benefit from the restaurant, so we have to help the restaurant,” he said. “Mi feel bad, but weh wi a go do. We have life, and dat a di greatest.”
Simone Richards travelled from Plowden in south Manchester to help out with the cleaning of property. She said she had been working at the restaurant for eight years as a bartender and went to help out so she could get back to work.
“It’s [my] source of living, and Mr Christian is a good man, and you want to see the place continue,” she said.