Left: One of the many booths on display at the Fish and Beer Lyme at the Palisadoes Bay Seaside Park.   Right: Barry Rattary (right), the pioneer behind the Palisadoes Park concept, speaks with advisory board member, Robert Wright, last Friday at the Palisadoes Bay Fish and Beer lyme, on March 30. - Hugh Stone photos

BY deportee

These streets don't love you like I do' the park whispered as it took on the personality of Tanya Stephens.

Palisadoes Bay Seaside Park is the re-emergence of Harbour Head which began in 1960s but which was closed in 1980s due to the poor quality of the water, according to director of the park, Robert Wright.

"What we plan is for this park to host fairs, bazaars, weddings and most importantly we will be working with the churches to complete this mission," Wright said.

"The development will be done in stages and what you are seeing now is the baby stage, the first stage, many more improvements are left to come."

The sea breeze floated on land, tugged at shirt tails and skirts. The many trees were forced in a beautiful way to do the 'dirty wine' as they bowed to the pleasure of the wind. The lamp lit area was the perfect ambience for a fish and beer lyme as the music complemented and complimented the settings.

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Trade, Phillip Paulwell, opened the proceedings and he was pleased that Jamaican investors were doing a lot for the country.

The 19 tents proudly stood, their white canvases gleaming in the night. Offering shelter to crafts and souvenirs and food, they were altars of treasure. The aroma of roasted and boiled corn wafted upwards. Steamed fish married with okras and bammies swam around tickling the nostrils with aroma. To the right of the lushly grassed park stood a solitary wooden building, looking as quaint as a Westmoreland house. It was aptly named Nanny's Craft Village which was being administered by Things Jamaican.

The main man behind the symbiotic relationship of the green area and the sea is Barry Rattray. "I always wanted to create a green area where people could lyme, even long before Emancipation Park. Two years ago, we leased this land from Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) on along-term lease and here we are," he said.

The Fish and Beer After Work Lyme is a test run organised by the Jamaica Business Development Centre. From March 23 to Saturday April 28, there will be somewhat of a 'housewarming'. There, however, will be nightly entertainment and, admission is free.

"What we want to create is not just a park but a relationship with the sea. We want people to come here and have a drink on the water, have their fish with the waves lapping gently beneath their feet," Rattray said.

Perfect for tourism. This could be a rest stop for tourist as they make their way from the airport.

With the 'wright' combination of Rattray and Wright, it surely will be more than a park.

"Water has a calming effect and there's history to this place. This was where the road to the first airport ran through," Rattray said his words crashing with sentiments akin to the sea in the foreground. I just love to transform sites into beauty."

Beauty it was and the union of the tranquil surroundings and the raging fire made for a wonderful marriage. As it was time to leave, the park morphed into Tanya and cooed

I wish you woulda treat me like your yacht, keep me wet while the waves dem a rock

It wasn't just a Rebelution but a perfect revelation!