Danger lurks outside gates of Green Island High in Hanover

Western Bureau

With the start of the 2023-2024 academic year just days away, several parents and teachers in the Green Island area of Hanover are expressing concern over what is being described as “a clear-and-present danger” for students of Green Island High School when that school reopens.

The concerns surround the parking of a number of motor vehicles along the roadway from the school’s gate to about 100 metres along the main road. The vehicles, which belong to workers, now employed at the Princess Hotel, which is under construction in the vicinity of the school, can be seen daily blocking the entrance to the school, the bus stop in the area, and parked along the sidewalks, which the students have to use, getting to and from school.

“The students will have to walk out in the road when school reopens, as the sidewalk on both sides of the road are blocked daily,” one concerned parent said, in bringing the matter to the attention of The Gleaner.

On visiting the area, several types of vehicles could be seen parked along the roadway, with no drivers in sight, as the vehicle-owners were all on the construction site of the hotel property.

Police Inspector Mervin Hodges, who is in charge of the Green Island Police Station, which has responsibility for patrolling that area, told The Gleaner that he was also concerned about the situation, and has contacted the project manager at the Princess Hotel about the matter.

“[The project manager] has promised to remedy the same by Monday (today), so I expect to see some changes by Monday,” Hodges stated.

He argued that if the needed changes do not take place as promised by today, he will be having dialogue with the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC), as it is the corporation that grants permits for the construction of the hotel.

“I see the challenge coming up during next week when the school (Green Island High) has its orientation,” the police inspector stated.

Meanwhile, Marvel Sewell, councillor for the Green Island division in the HMC, told The Gleaner that he too was very concerned about the situation, as what is happening along the roadway at present, with the parking of vehicles on the sidewalk on both sides of the road, cannot be allowed to continue.

“The present situation is courting danger. The children will have to walk out in the road, as the sidewalk area is all taken up by vehicles, and we all know the speed with which some vehicles drive along that roadway, even though it’s a school zone,” he stated.

“I have already reported it to the mayor and the chief executive officer of the HMC, and I have spoken to the deputy superintendent of roads and works in the corporation, for a letter to be written to the project manager at the hotel about the situation and the danger that it presents,” Sewell argued.

He added that “it just cannot work that way, that situation should have been corrected from two weeks ago”.

Sewell explained that, as far as he was aware, the situation in which the workers parking their vehicles on the roadway has arisen, because the hotel has changed the entrance gateway to the property. He said the vehicles were normally parked within the former gateway entrance.

“My suggestion is for the hotel to lease a piece of land adjoining their property, to turn it into a car-park for its workers,” Sewell noted.

Mayor expresses concern

Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels pointed out that he was fully aware of the situation, and he too has great concern about what pertains now in that area.

He stated that he has invited the school administration to write to the HMC about their concern towards the situation, while also pointing out that the National Works Agency (NWA) should have some input about the situation, as it is taking place along the main road which is the responsibility of the NWA.

“The soft shoulder is really an area for pedestrians, and the situation as it stands now, pedestrians do not have access to it,” he said, while emphasising that the situation cannot be allowed to continue.

He referred The Gleaner to the CEO of the HMC, David Gardner, for a statement as to what will be happening with regard to the situation.

When contacted, Gardner was adamant that the situation could be easily remedied by the police, as the vehicles are being parked along the sidewalk which is a no-parking area.

“Parking, especially along the main road is a police matter. It’s not a corporation matter. Parking arrangements on the main road is definitely a police matter,” Gardner insisted, adding that the vehicles are being parked in an area where they are not supposed to be parked, which gives the police clear jurisdiction to deal with them.

The concerned parents, guardians and teachers wait with bated breath to see if anything will be done to make the environment safe when school reopens

in a matter of days.