THE EDITOR, Sir:OVER THE years, I have witnessed the continual degradation of the roads, schools and other services to the people of Claverty Cottage in Portland.
The village was recently cut off by flooding that destroyed the road and helicopters had to be utilised to provide basic food and necessities to the people.
At present, the road to Claverty is nearly impassable and is difficult to travel even with a four-wheel drive or truck. The people in the community have been struggling to make do with the terrible and
dangerous condition of the road which has been unpaved for at least six years.
With regards to the schools in Claverty, the administrators of the primary school have been asking for funds to repair the electrical system for the
computers for quite some time with no response from the
government.
I just donated US$500 to the school to complete the repairs and I will be sending computers and additional funds within the next months to ensure that the children have an opportunity to learn at the same level as the well-funded schools in the larger towns in Jamaica.
The basic school is in a deplorable condition and is currently operated out of a former community centre building which has a dirt floor and no electricity. Even under these
circumstances, the wonderful and dedicated teacher still has the children learning the basics required to move on to the
primary level.
I have also donated US$500 to the basic school to obtain a suitable property and construct a proper school building.
One solution to educational funding and reconstruction is to impose a $10 per night tax on all hotel rooms for a special fund devoted exclusively to schools and road construction in the rural areas.
I am, etc.,
RONALD W. SHRACK,
Lemont, Illinois, U.S.A.
