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COPTIC FARM

A GROUP of Coptic Church Family poses in front of their buildings on Coptic Farm compound operated by the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church at White Horses, St. Thomas. They are also part of the supervisory staff in charge of some 500-odd workers employed from surrounding areas. In front are three of their children.

(Reprinted from THE WEEKEND STAR - Friday, December 8, 1978, Kingston, Jamaica)

From an outlay of well over $3 million, Coptic Farm Enterprise, sprawling over two properties embracing some 700 acres at White Horses, St. Thomas, provides regular employment for over 500 people and relieves considerably, the unemployment problem that plagues Yallahs, White Horses and Morant Bay en- virons.

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Described by its leaders as "human self- Government, Self-development effort" political and non-religious, yet based on Christianity, the movement which is an affiliate of the American Coptic Enterprise, operates at the farm under the umbrella of "Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church".

Employees are not forced to participate in the movement's daily convocation which takes place at 3.00 p.m. in a modern edifice built on the moun- taintop of what was formerly part of Creighton Hall. Apart from "The Family of Church Leader" headed by Elder Walter Welles, an ebony-hued Jamaican, the worshippers join in the proceedings only if they wish.

Agriculture

The enterprise produces several kinds of agriculture products, the chief among these being bananas, plantains, grains, yams, vegetables and beef cattle and chickens in its animal husbandry sections.

Not dependent on Government, Coptic has paid to carry electricity about a mile off the main to its farm belt. And last month, when interviewed, it was steam- rolling over two miles of roadway which as a Parish Council road, it has improved at is own expense into a drive way to be Barber-Greened.

It has therefore relieved the Government of the expense of improving this two-mile stretch of road, at considerable expense to itself blasting, grading, ballasting and finishing and leaves it "in better condition for the use of man," its leaders said.

Modern Houses

At the farm itself, modern houses have been built and others are going up. Farm machinery, of the most modern type, are owned and operated by the Coptic group. These include tractors, conveyors, bulldozers, diesel equipment such as trucks and gas consuming motor vehicles, road-making equipment, all of which may be repaired at a garage operated on the premises, away from the Tabernacle compound.

The church under Elder Welles, uses the King James version of the Holy Bible, but analyses and interprets each statement and command in a manner upholding Coptic teachings.

Sharing

"One command governs all our actions: that is Love," one of the family teachers said. "For that reason we are non-violent. And we share."

An example of sharing is that when a cow is slaughtered at weekends, each employee going home with a pay-packet, is given a free piece of beef, or chicken, along with food of her or his choice.

A large number of women work on the farm. They do the less arduous jobs. The men undertake the harder chores, such as building retaining walls on the gully-sides of the the road, and opening up of the

road, and opening up of virgin land for farm extension or the production of certain types of crop. No futher fertilizer of any kind is used.

A farm supermarket is being established on the main, about the middle of the farm-belt.

Spiritual Leader, Elder Walter M. Welles, as he is addressed, has appended his signature to a brochure bearing the history of the Coptic Church. The brochure lauds Ethiopia of old, and carries a broken rainbow on its cover, as an emblem.

Police Raids

The church family at this interview, complained bitterly against what they termed, "police oppression". They said their compound, though under tight security, has been raided no fewer than seven times since this August.

"We have lost in their seizure, such things as money, articles of jewellery among other things". they said. "Each time they come fully armed, they find us at prayer in the church. But they swooped down upon us with drawn guns.

The police raids were often in search of ganja. Although the church leaders had not much to say about the "weed" one speaker said, "It may be used only for fellowship here, and only by anybody who wishes to participate when and if at all we use it."

He added that the accent of the movement is not on ganja. "It is on Coptic principles: one which seeks to develop the spirit as the better part of the man."

Whatever is their business, Coptic has transformed what was a wilderness of interior White Horses into an amazing agricultural activity. The roadside portion of the property at Roselle on the main road to Morant Bay, only shows off its pasture with grazing herds. But the slopes and mountain, a backdrop of the coastline, are buzzing with activity. And in White Horses, proper, a large concrete building is under construction to become another outlet for farm goods.

Said most of the workers spoken to: "They have helped us really and the people are glad for the work.' -W.H.

[“Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church is the Bible meaning of human history in the present generation. Equal rights and equal justice. Goud moral law. Brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of Goud. The voice of the people is the voice of Goud. From Sorrow pain and toil from sin we must be free. Let perfect louv and friendship reign through all eternity.”]