Jelly man brings island vibes to Palisadoes strip

For the past 20 years, Adrian Wilson has stood proudly on the sun-kissed Palisadoes strip, just minutes from Norman Manley International Airport, offering more than just sweet, refreshing coconuts.

With a broad smile, a Jamaican flag waving above his cart, and an unmistakable love for his country, the 54-year-old Wilson has become a symbol of the island's warmth and charm.

"A lot of visitors who mi see come here on plane, dem nuh wah go back a dem yard. Dem tell mi say dem wish dem could stay here," Williams told THE STAR.

"The way mi proud to be Jamaican it shows on mi face," he beamed

Wilson's 'All Natural'-branded cart is a beacon of Jamaican authenticity. Though he started his business journey in 2005 with little more than determination and a car full of coconuts, Wilson has built something truly special - an enterprise that not only sustains him, but serves as a cultural touchpoint for visitors landing in the capital city.

"One day, I just drive come out this side and decide I am going to do business because mi nuh wah work with nobody. I sell natural products like honey, mango and other fruits but coconut is my main product," he told THE STAR.

Through his work, Wilson has met people from all corners of the world, many of whom find in him not just a vendor, but a storyteller and friend.

"The amount a important people mi meet at this place nuh normal. Mi meet almost everybody enuh, from local to international," Wilson said. "Mi is like people diary too, because a lot of stories mi hear right here suh," he said between laughter.

Wilson's passion goes beyond coconuts. He's also a registered tour guide, a farmer, a fisherman, and a man deeply connected to the land and sea.

"Most of the products I sell, I grow them," he said. "Mi is also a fisherman, and if people want to jump on the boat and go to Lime or Maiden Cay, then mi can give dem the tour and mi license to do that."

Born in rural Jamaica and now living in Port Royal, Wilson insists that "Jamaica is the place to be - from the water go right back," he said.

"The food is fresh and we have it all. We have sunshine and the good ganja that needs to be fully legalised because people come here just for that. Mi couldn't wah live anywhere else," he beamed.

With a firm stance against migrating permanently, he added, "Mi have two visas, but mi nah go back to any other farrin unless it's just to visit. Mi love Jamaica."