PORTMORE WEBSITE e-News Publication Date: June 12 - 5:26 pm Editor: Kennedy Reid (876-320-7343) Reply to: webmaster@portmore.org TO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER SEND A BLANK E-MAIL TO: portmore_e-news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE: 1) Something is Wrong at the MOE and Dunbeholden 2) Portmore Pines Lab - Mavis Brady 3) Development Plan Launched - Colin Fagan 4) Nuisance neighbour in West Cumberland 5) East Ascot Neighbour SPONSORED BY: WhatsWhatJamaica.com http://www.WhatsWhatJamaica.com 'Real Jamaicans, telling you how things really go' Dr. Errol Williamson "Working for St. Catherine Southern." http://www.thejlp.org/candidates/candidatepdfs/ewilliamson.pdf email : errol_williamson@yahoo.com Call him at 817-0592 Oasis Christian Community http://www.occvision.org 1) ############################# Friends, Something is wrong at the Ministry of education. First, they send officers out to tell Portmore parents that the 'top' children will be going to a new 'top' school to be constructed. (This fact can be attested to by the Principals of Portmore! One called me the day before GSAT came out and in the conversation made it clear that what I was saying WAS what they were told!) Next, the MOE cancels all the meetings they were having with parents and said nothing more. The next thing we discover is that the top students from Portmore were sent to the schools of their choice and that the Dunbeholden school was shelved because it did not have the permission of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA). Finally, the MOE still went ahead and placed 250 lower performers at the none existent 'top' school! Is this the way to go about development in Jamaica? People in authority seem to feel that we are all idiots who must be forced into the brighter future... are we in Cuba or China? On Friday, when GSAT results came out, there were very unhappy children at Ascot Primary and Good Shepherd (the schools I know of) because they were assigned to Dunbeholden High. The authorities should meet with these hurt little Jamaicans and apologise! Tears were in my eyes Friday. If the parents of these children want to protest, I shall be out there with them! Kennedy PS. In case you are interested, my daughter did not get her first choice ( which was the school of her mother and father - Ardenne). Instead she is going to St. Jago. We are happy with that. ############################# Conliffe Wilmot-Simpson wrote: Kennedy, You need to be calm and think clearly about this one. There is a quote from Macbeth that reads "tis the eye of childhood that fears the painted devil". There in nothing in the news out of the MOE that suggests that this is the worse possible thing that can be happening to the children of Portmore. Rather than getting ready to start a protest, let us sit quietly and think. There may be great opportunities for the children of Portmore in this idea of a new school. Think of all of the disadvantages and costs of travelling daily to Kingston. Is there any reason why the new school cannot be a centre of excellence even greater than the schools that we head to in Kingston? What makes the Kingston schools great? Is is because they are located in Kgn or because of other factors. Are we forever going to think that there can never be a top class high school in Portmore. There may very well be the need to raise holy hell, but you need to arrive there by a logical process. You are already there with the use of (deceived, tricked, outrageous, hide), which is implying deliberate and considered action by the MOE to harm us in Portmore. Is the school being built overnight and did we not think that the school would be for our children? Schools typically take years to come on stream. Were we asleep? Are we now awake and ready to correct everything that happened while we slept? Let us not block the road first and then think of what else we are going to do. Take Care, Conliffe KENNEDY'S REPLY ============================== Conliffe, The Kingston schools are attractive BECAUSE they have good facilities and traditions.... computer labs, science labs, music rooms, air condition staff rooms, maths labs, stocked libraries, sports programs, golf, orchestras, School challenge rooms, meeting halls, etc. etc. The students go to Champs, Manning Cup, Penn Relays, etc. etc. You have kids... would you not want YOUR children to go to the best schools that Jamaica has to offer? As a tax payer and citizen of Jamaica I have the right to ask that our children have a chance to go to the best schools in Jamaica. What the MOE was proposing was to USE children to create a top school instead of first BUILDING top facilities. I strongly object to this foolish method! Once I was told that Portmore children (and my own daughter) were to be robbed of their opportunity I put on my war shoes! An' I have NO shame about defending the children!!! You bet your bottom dollar that if the plans for the new school are no more than a Chicken Coop and do not match the top Kingston schools, we are going to demonstrate! I urge PORTMORE to insist that we get a 'top' school, but not at the cost of our children's future! We are watching the MOE. Conliffe, Macbeth says in the same section you quoted..."The attempt and not the deed Confounds us." Hence the fighting words! I am ready to fight for our children... are you? Kennedy ############################# Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 16:44:10 -0700 (PDT) From: Ms. M (Name coded) Subject: Re: Portmore E-newsletter : Portmore's children deceived and tricked by the MOE To: portmore_e-news-owner@yahoogroups.com hi Kennedy I see your concern but this government is sure of themselves so they do any thing they wish. It happened last year where some children had no school to go to. I would come if it would make a difference but the only thing I believe will frighten them is withhoold our votes. Might be we need to swap black dog fi monkey and watch the dogs wine and pine. Keep us posted they must be want all our children to dons and donnetts. KENNEDY'S REPLY ============================== Ms. M, Frankly, I do not think that it is the government's fault as much as the fault of the people running the Ministry of Education. Thankfully, when I called Minister Fitz Jackson and Mayor Lee they were most concerned and wanted to have more information. I also called Dr. Williamson and Mr. Hinds called me. They too were very supportive and concerned for Portmore kids. We should ask all our politicians about this matter when election debates come around. If any of them have sat down and have NOT demanded the BEST for the children then we should not vote for them come election day. THANKS to all the persons who called me and were willing to help demonstrate. I can not tell you all how much I appreciated your support. Now let us support the parents of the children sent to this school. I have not heard from them yet. ############################# http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story.php?category=0&story=36651 Fri Jun 8, 2007 Several students to be reassigned to other schools in St. Catherine More than 250 students who have been placed at the new Dunbeholden High School in St. Catherine will have to be reassigned to three other schools in Portmore. The children, who were placed after sitting the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) will have to await Ministry officials to decide specifically where they will be placed. The results of the GSAT examinations were made available to schools Friday morning. The Ministry said there are plans to expand facilities at the three Portmore schools that will receive the students. According to the Ministry, the expansion will be completed before September. Plans to construct the school in Dunbeholden have been put on hold based on advice from the National Environment and Planning Agency. 2) ############################# Subject: Portmore Pines lab Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2007 13:21:43 -0400 From: "Mavis Brady" To: kennedyreid@yahoo.com Hello, I am interested to know if there is a business in Portmore called "Portmore Pines" this is supposed to be a lab for xrays and ultra sounds. If there is, would you kindly assist me with a phone number or e-mail address. Thank you Mavis Gaithersburg, Maryland 3) ############################# Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2007 07:58:48 -0700 (PDT) From: "coln fagan" Subject: Re development Plan Launch To: kennedyreid@yahoo.com Hello Kennedy I will be launching a series of consultation and presentation of a Development Plan for the constituency of South East St, Catherine on Sunday June 10 2007 starting @4 pm . You are invited to attend and cover . Looking to see you Colin Fagan KENNEDY'S REPLY ============================== Dear Deputy Mayor, Sorry I saw this notice too late. I hope all went well. Can you send us some of the information? Regards, 4) ############################# Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2007 03:10:01 -0700 (PDT) From: (Name withheld as requested) Subject: Nuisance neighbour To: portmore_e-news-owner@yahoogroups.com Hail kenedy, Keep the info flowing. Could you or one of your readers attached to the municipal office share ideas on how I might get assistance to control a nuisance neighbour. I moved into West Cumberland and felt that it was a good place and have inveted in my home only to be hit by a neighbour who is not an owner but has started a shop and pan chicken thing and is a constant nuisance. He is now being abusive when asked to curb his radio noise. This added to the toll charge is making my portmore paradise a Portmore punishment. please no email or name on this one In all things give thanks. (Name withheld as requested) 5) ############################# Subject: map of greater portmore Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:36:27 -0500 From: JI To: kennedyreid@yahoo.com Howdy neighbour I didn’t know you designed web sites, the Portmore one is very interesting. However, what I am enquiring about is a map of East Ascot is it possible to access one from the site THE END) #################################### PORTMORE WEBSITE Editor: Kennedy Reid Phone: 876-320-7343 Subscribers: 327 Reply to: webmaster@portmore.org Web site: http://www.portmore.org To Join this e-news send an e-mail to : portmore_e-news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com