Haven in the hills Mountain community built on faith and purpose

High above the bustle of Kingston, tucked away in the cool hills where the air feels lighter and the pace of life slows, is a community built around faith, purpose and self-sufficiency.
Priest Dermot Fagan, leader at Rasta Camp, says the journey to the Haile Selassie School of Vision is itself a test of intention.
“No person without a purpose or valid reason would come up here,” Fagan said.
This writer could not help but reflect on those words while taking on the challenging 30-minute trek to reach the community nestled high in the hills. The winding climb up concrete and makeshift tyre steps demanded several stops to catch a breath, while Rastafarians carrying heavy loads on their heads moved effortlessly along the steep path as though the incline was nothing more than a casual walk.
“If you don’t have a reason, why would you want to come up here? Why would you just want to walk this high hill? It must be for a reason, a purpose. I like our way of life because, though we are not segregationists, it still affords the space of separation,” Fagan said.
At the top, the reward is a peaceful settlement surrounded by nature and a sweeping view of Kingston below.
“We don’t have no one coming here a break in a house, rob, rape, or do all of them evil things up here. You must have a reason to be here,” Fagan said.
This October, the camp will mark 30 years since it was established. Today, it is home to about 100 people, including children, who have created a community rooted in Rastafari principles.
“I think the more careful way to say it is that it is by the appointment of His Majesty, Haile Selassie I, that we are in this space,” Fagan said. “October this year will mark 30 years of our occupation. We choose to say occupation to differentiate ourselves from squatting, because that would be below our dignity as Rastafari.”
For those who call the camp home, the settlement is more than a physical location; it is a space where faith, discipline and community are woven into everyday existence.
“This is where we behave churchically, where we religiously keep the commandment, and it has become our way of life and livity,” said Fagan.
The tranquility of the camp is immediately noticeable. The crisp mountain air, clean surroundings and a handmade bush broom neatly placed in one corner reflect a community where order and simplicity are part of everyday living.
The settlement has embraced farming, with crops including cabbage, banana, avocado, pepper and plantain grown on the hill-top property. 
The community is powered by solar energy and generators, while fresh water flows directly from Catherine’s Peak.
Beyond its homes, Rasta Camp has a basic school, a museum featuring paintings, sculptures and other artwork, as well as an intake centre that welcomes visitors from across the world.
Among those who welcomed THE WEEKEND STAR was Blane Alexander Walker, whom Fagan described as the camp’s most senior resident.
“When I came here, there were hardly any roads. I know the prophecy and started preparing for it, so I am living a healthy and peaceful life.”
Walker acknowledged that the lifestyle at the camp is not always easily understood by outsiders.
“Some people come and joke it out when they visit, but there are some who take heed.”
Holding a container with freshly made ackee patties, Walker explained that contributing to the community is a way of life.
“This is what I do for a living and I also do farming. We have to make sure we have our own provision.”
He also pushed back against misconceptions about Rastafarians and their relationship with scripture.
“We don’t burn out the Bible, like others. We love the Bible and we are Bible scholars.”
The community’s peaceful atmosphere has also resonated with visitors. An American visitor, AP, who plans to stay at the camp for six weeks, said the experience has already left an impression.
“I’ve only been here two weeks, but I already love this place. I’ve been appreciating the camp and everybody has made me feel welcome. The peace here is different, and the Rastafarians are knowledgeable.”
For Fagan, welcoming visitors is part of the purpose of the School of Vision.
“School of Vision is not academical. It is a theological order. The first thing would be, you would be having an opportunity to hear the word of the Almighty God. That is my priority, and that is why I’m here.”
The camp has hosted visitors from places such as America and Germany through its guest house, with opportunities for hiking and camping also available.
Far removed from the noise and rush of city life, Rasta Camp remains a place where residents say they have found purpose, peace and a way of life shaped by faith and connection with nature.