Rags to riches stories are a dime a dozen and can be found virtually anywhere and in any sphere of our society. But what about a story about a man once destitute who has now fulfilled his destiny? A man determined to make his mark, not only in his chosen field but also on the lives of young people who are solution-oriented and unafraid of hard work. For Kevin Frith, it is not about giving handouts but giving a hand up; about reaching back to pave it forward and make a difference in the lives of Jamaica’s youth, especially those who know only too well the pangs of hunger and the anguish of being homeless. Frith, the brainchild behind the much talked about Sun Coast Beach Club Development that has transformed the hillside of Twelve Miles in St. Thomas, is not a man of mystery. Indeed, he has shared his journey before, and his tale is a compelling one that resonates with Jamaicans who understand what it is to go from having nothing to achieving something.
Indeed, Frith had it harder than most, which makes his particular journey even more dynamic because it is a testament to the power of faith, a strong work ethic and tenacity. For Kevin Frith getting to his present state is not only a huge accomplishment but
a major milestone for a man not yet middle age hence he can appreciate the fruits of his labour while he is still young enough to enjoy them.
BUZZZ Magazine caught up with Frith at his gorgeous model home in St. Thomas that boasts all the bells and whistles of a modern contemporary dream complete with a master closet that is truly extraordinary, not to mention as Jamaicans would say ‘big and boasy’. This is not your budget home but a lavish luxurious ‘staycation’ type abode that puts a capital ‘S’ in the word stylish. After the incredible house tour, we wanted to know about the concept behind it and what it took to transform it from all that virgin St. Thomas landscape to where it is today. The question is: what inspired Kevin Frith to take a chance on the former forgotten parish and step up with an excavator and a blueprint to make beautiful homes for people who appreciate the finer things in life?
Frith articulated that given his lifelong penchant for hard work, venturing into construction felt like a natural progression, especially considering his family background his grandfather had a history in the field. “I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey at just fourteen,” he reminisced. “During the Reggae Boyz World Cup qualifying season in Kingston, I seized the opportunity to print bandanas, which local vendors purchased wholesale from me to sell outside the stadium.” This hustle was just one among many during that period, driven by the need to make ends meet, even when connecting the dots seemed challenging at times.
Even as a mere child, Kevin Damion Frith had to overcome many struggles that seemed so insurmountable, that the average kid would probably have given up and given in to the call of the streets. Raised by his grandparents and aunts, instability was the order of the day as his home address would continually change as he grew up. When other children were secure in the fact that childhood was a time for fun and frolic, he had no such luxury. His efforts were spent hustling as even at that tender age, he understood the value of an education.
At fourteen his family had to flee Jones Town because of escalating violence, and they relocated to a family member’s home along Waterloo Road near Devon House, Kingston. This solution unfortunately became temporary as shortly after his grandfather died, the family was uprooted again. After going to the family court, Frith became a ward of the state and was sent to the SOS Children’s Village. He ran away after only three days. His aunt who lived in Cassia Park took him in, but her abode was a small studio and she already had three children housed there. Frith quickly realized that it was too cramped for comfort and approached the landlord and asked to be the handyman on the premises in exchange for room and board. The landlord agreed and the room where he was boarded was a small storeroom that happened to have her deceased husband’s hospital bed in it. “Every night duppy hold me down in there. It got to me man; I couldn’t stay there any longer.”
A stroke of good luck landed him a job at Red Stripe as his aunt vouched that he was eighteen when in fact he was just fifteen. Thompson Haulage had a contract with the liquor lords to deal with the production line workers and Frith was happy to be employed and quickly signed up to work two shifts daily. After a while, he realised that if he worked the evening shift he could hide on property and sleep in one of the storage rooms between 10pm and 6am.The storage space was literally filled with thousands of empty bottles and he would use cardboard to spread a makeshift bed on top of the bottles and try to sleep, but it was far from comfortable. “I used to drink the beers at night just so that I could sleep. How it was done then is that you can drink as many beers as you want; you just cannot leave the property with any of it. One night I drank so many beers that I vomited all over myself. I woke up covered in vomit. I decided then that I couldn’t sleep there anymore.”