both Elizabeth and her husband loved Jamaica, and they bought four lots on the waterfront in Mammee Bay," Smatt said
"When they got divorced, I visited her in Monte Carlo, she was on board her yacht, at the time she was with Richard Burton, I spent a day with them, and at that time she told me that in the divorce settlement with Eddie, the property in Jamaica was awarded to her," Smatt said, adding that he later purchased the property from Taylor who had offered to sell it to him.
Smatt remembered Taylor as a very humble and caring individual who, he said, never behaved as the famous, successful person she really was. In fact, in her private life, she was very unpretentious, Smatt said as he pointed out that people who knew her couldn't help but love her because of her modesty.
He recalled how several paparazzi and local residents would flock his house whenever she was around, trying to get a glimpse or photograph of the actress and her husband.
"We used to go to a theatre in Ocho Rios called the Cove. We used to go there all the time to the movies and we used to choose to go out when there was a cowboy movie," Smatt told the Sunday Observer.
He said that in recent years, he didn't have much communication with Taylor, even though they kept in contact.
"I called her on a number occasions when she was sick and she never complained about anything. She said 'I'm fine', and I know at some time she was really sick," said Smatt. "I am really saddened by her passing."
An outside view of a section of Smatt’s beachfront house at Mammee Bay Estate in Jamaica where Elizabeth Taylor stayed several times. (Photos: Alesia Edwards
This pair of diamond-studded golden skis was a gift to Smatt from Taylor
Ernie Smatt at his Shaw Park Beach Hotel in Ocho Rios.
"When they got divorced, I visited her in Monte Carlo, she was on board her yacht, at the time she was with Richard Burton, I spent a day with them, and at that time she told me that in the divorce settlement with Eddie, the property in Jamaica was awarded to her," Smatt said, adding that he later purchased the property from Taylor who had offered to sell it to him.
Smatt remembered Taylor as a very humble and caring individual who, he said, never behaved as the famous, successful person she really was. In fact, in her private life, she was very unpretentious, Smatt said as he pointed out that people who knew her couldn't help but love her because of her modesty.
He recalled how several paparazzi and local residents would flock his house whenever she was around, trying to get a glimpse or photograph of the actress and her husband.
"We used to go to a theatre in Ocho Rios called the Cove. We used to go there all the time to the movies and we used to choose to go out when there was a cowboy movie," Smatt told the Sunday Observer.
He said that in recent years, he didn't have much communication with Taylor, even though they kept in contact.
"I called her on a number occasions when she was sick and she never complained about anything. She said 'I'm fine', and I know at some time she was really sick," said Smatt. "I am really saddened by her passing."
An outside view of a section of Smatt’s beachfront house at Mammee Bay Estate in Jamaica where Elizabeth Taylor stayed several times. (Photos: Alesia Edwards
This pair of diamond-studded golden skis was a gift to Smatt from Taylor
Ernie Smatt at his Shaw Park Beach Hotel in Ocho Rios.