Ministry downplays concerns about sinkholes at Red Hills All-Age

Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Education is downplaying claims by Member of Parliament-elect Paul Buchanan that the grounds of the Red Hills All-Age School in Belvedere, St Andrew, are unsafe.

It has been reported that the school has been built on three sinkholes, which could pose a danger for the children.

Buchanan made the disclosure to The Gleaner during an interview on Tuesday.

"I spoke to the engineer on the project. There are three major cavities, or sinkholes, that the school is being built on," he said.

"I will be having a community forum to outline the situation in detail to the residents of the area so that they can make a decision as it relates to their children attending the school."

Buchanan argued that mitigation efforts have been put in place to ensure that the worst does not happen but argued it was still not enough.

"There is a danger which had to be corrected. They did the best that they could do. They poured the cement in and they tried to fill up the cavity. The engineers would say they put in the measures that are recommended to offset the situation," he said.

"The truth is, it is not the best place to put a school. Why there when the citizens actually point to a different place long before I came there, but they still put it there?" he asked.

Area safe

However, acting permanent secretary in the ministry, Grace McLean, dismissed the claims. She said the technical engineers have checked the area thoroughly to ensure it was a safe area for the school to be built.

"There is really no truth to the matter based on discussion with the technical engineers at the ministry. They have done all their checks, all their reviews. They have tested the soil and based on their assessment, nothing is wrong with the side that they are using to build the school," McLean added.

Buchanan said he was in the process of putting together a report to be sent to the newly appointed Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, outlining the implications of the construction.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com