I am a proud resident of the Lower Maraval area and have a vested interest in the planned location of these private primary schools to the area just around the corner from my home.
First off, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the Diego Martin Regional Corporation, our MP Mr Colm Imbert, our local councillor Mr Kern Solomon and the Director of Highways in their support for the residents of Maraval and environs. These institutions and individuals have been put in place, or have been elected, to represent and protect the interest of their tax paying constituents.
As it relates to the Arbor and Rosewood primary schools a number of residents of the community, upon hearing of the planned relocation of these schools to our community almost a year ago, expressed disapproval as this would continue a further erosion of our residential community. The above mentioned institutions and individuals took notice of our objection and agreed that the location of the schools on the thoroughfare of Long Circular Road was ill advised.
As this issue has progressed over the last 9 months these institutions or individuals have been unjustly vilified in some form or fashion through the various forms of media for trying to do their jobs in support of their tax paying constituents. These parties have no hidden agendas as has been suggested by many, their only agenda is doing the jobs for which they are paid.
As an individual with a great love for this country it saddens me to see the vitriol being spewed against certain institutions and individuals who are merely trying to stand up for their rights and ask that the safeguards put in place to protect them against special interests are preserved. My fear is that at the end of the day where these processes allow for exceptions and the ability to overrule decisions the rights of the selected few will always win out over the interests of the no name, unconnected, taxpaying common person.
And lest we not forget that this whole problem was created by a small group of individuals who made the unilateral decision to relocate a private enterprise to a clearly unsuitable location in a residential community and believed that it was their right to impose their will on others and that the sea would be parted to facilitate such.
Regardless of the outcome I would once again like to thank the Diego Martin Regional Corporation, Messrs Imbert and Solomon and the Director of Highways for their ongoing support and I have been encouraged to see that at least for nine months the checks and balances put in place to protect citizens have been able to withstand this special interest onslaught.
Scott Collins
Maraval