Houses on the move

When one thinks of 'moving house', the expected scenario is that belongings are packed and shipped by truck or van to the new abode.

However, in Westmoreland, Linval James, 72, takes moving house literally. James and his brothers, all from Strathbogie in the parish, make a living by moving persons' entire homes to new locations. With many dwellings in the parish made from board, James explained that with the right equipment, it can easily be done.

"Yes, man. Mi tractor set up in a one special way, and mi use a special Jack, so wi just jack up di house pon di special frame, strap it down, and all you have fi do is just tell mi the location," James stated. "Right now a mi move all the house deh inna Westmoreland. Mi even move four-apartment house. If the house small, mi can move it wid even you and you family sit down inna it. But when it big, mi remove the furniture and just transport the house." James said that he uses routes that do not have heavy traffic to make his hauling easier for everyone.

Against his initial wishes

He said he was introduced, against his initial wishes, to the job by his father, Ralph James, otherwise called 'Sweet James', who also moved houses in the 1960s. He said his father was contracted to the Poor Relief Department, taking homes "all over the parish".

"My old man was di talk of the parish. Him an him two brothers dem was professional pon moving a house in Westmoreland," he said. "Tings is a little different wid mi, because right now mi all haffe a employ people fi work wid mi, because mi have six pickney, three man, and three woman, and none a dem don't tek up dis yah work, although a it send dem go a school."

James also acts as a bailiff, and at times his job is to pick up houses which have been ordered to be seized by the court. He said that currently there is high demand because there are many family feuds in Westmoreland, and whenever a family member wants to relocate from a piece of land that is at the centre of a dispute, he is the man that they all turn to for assistance.

James told THE STAR that he can transport up to two large houses each day, dependent on the distance. He also said that he charges less than a removal truck, which only transports furniture.