Review proposed Mile Gully High School site

THE EDITOR, Madam:

This is an open letter to the Minister of Education, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon

Dear Dr Morris Dixon,

The approval and construction of a new plant for the Mile Gully High School, Manchester are in the news again. We know that you are actively looking at the matter, and this gives us an ideal opportunity to discuss with you some lingering issues with the proposed location.

Several concerned residents, including community organisations and past students, do not agree with the proposed new location at Hasty Good, near Mile Gully.

In the mid-1990s, the preferred site was established near the town centre. Technical work was done by the Ministry of Education, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), the Social Development Foundation (SDF), and other state agencies, as well as board chairman Hugh Nash. However, there were concerns at the time that bauxite deposits might exist beneath the land, so the land was not transferred to the education ministry.

However, those claims have since been proven untrue because the very high levels of impurities in the land would make it commercially impractical and unwise to mine the area.

Here are some compelling facts that we think are critical in considering the original location:

– The land is owned by the government of Jamaica.

– The entire section of land comprises more than 75 hectares.

– JSIF, SDF and the National Land Agency conducted extensive preliminary work on the site.

– The land is mostly level.

– The Cottage Police Station, Mile Gully is adjacent to the land.

– The land borders the Greenvale Railway Station.

– The school would be within walking distance (approximately two km) of the Mile Gully town centre.

– Parents would not be burdened with additional taxi or bus fares.

– No new roads would have to be constructed, as the Mile Gully and Lamberth main roads are on the periphery of the property.

– Easy access and egress to the school campus would minimise infrastructure costs.

As you contemplate the construction of our new school, we are asking that you engage a wider group of stakeholders and perhaps ask your technical team to conduct a site visit, investigate the matter, and make an informed decision regarding the ideal location for our new high school.

CONCERNED MILE

GULLY RESIDENTS