Businesswoman turns Pedro Cay’s challenges into success

For decades, Pedro Cay has been a hub of resilience and resourcefulness, but few embodies this more than Shernet 'Nadine' Linton.

Arriving on the cay at just 17, Linton's journey from selling box drinks to becoming a business powerhouse is nothing short of inspiring.

Hailing from St Elizabeth, Jamaica's breadbasket, Linton brought her deep-rooted connection to food and commerce to Pedro Cay, shaping not only her own future, but that of her family. Initially, she sold box drinks, chocolate milk, and orange juice. But life on the cay wasn't easy. "Until life got a little bit better, I stopped selling and went into fishing," she recalls. Soon, her hustle expanded -- she bought a boat, employed workers, and eventually ran a thriving shop that sold everything ,from ground provisions to rice, flour and pig's tail.

Linton's shop is a lifeline on the cay, offering products at competitive prices despite the remote location. But running a business on the cay isn't without its challenges. "Sometimes we don't even make much," she admits, citing high costs for fuel, boat captains, and labour.

Balancing business and family life, Linton has funded her children's education through her success on the cay. "I have a daughter graduating from UTech (University of Technology, Jamaica) in November. Pedro Cay paid for that," she says proudly.

"One leave Knox, Pedro Cay [funded it]; one leave Black River High, Pedro Cay [funded it]," she proudly notes.

Meanwhile, Linton said the costs of living and working on Pedro Cay are often exaggerated. "Number one, that's false," she states firmly, debunking myths about sky-high prices.

A pound of flour is sold for $200 and cigarettes go for $100 per stick.

"You can be coming with the flour and the flour wet up," she explains, demonstrating the challenges of transporting goods from the coast of St Elizabeth to the cay, which is 60 miles away at the closest point.

Linton's commitment extends beyond mere business. She actively engages with her community, offering credit and support when needed.

"I check up on my customers. I have a couple of customers here when if they drop off, I am the one to do like Auntie Donna -- I walk around and I beg money to assist them.

"One of my friends got poisoned by barracuda and was to do a CAT scan, and I walked around and begged $40,000 and got him treated, and then he is up and running on the bank again. So, customers are in favour of Miss Nadine. I know I'm one of their favourite shopkeepers," she said.

Weathering storms, both literal and figurative, is all part of life on the cay. Reflecting on Hurricane Beryl, she recalls the terrifying night before the storm was expected to hit. But by morning, the weather had calmed, and Linton was back to business as usual.

"I could never move the Monday night. But the Tuesday morning, God willing, the weather go down calm, calm, [it] got very calm. But definitely, I give God thanks, not even breeze don't blow over here to how I see it. Just a little north wind come up on that side and full up the cay with a little sand," she said.

Looking to the future, Nadine plans to retire soon, with hopes for a comfortable life.

Encouraging others to use Pedro Bank as a means of financial stability, Nadine offers practical advice.

"Come with good behaviour ... and save" said Linton while emphasizing that those who seek a livelihood can earn it on the cays.

"This bank weh mi deh is the biggest bank inna Jamaica," she said of Pedro Bank. "If you have this," she says, while touching her head, "You will find your food."