‘Let there be light’

WESTERN BUREAU:

After more than three decades of grappling with poor lighting conditions, students and staff at the Maroon Town Basic School in southern St James are now basking in bright, consistent light, thanks to the installation of a $1.3-million solar energy system by their councillor, Anthony Swaby.

According to Carmen Campbell, principal of the school, with electric light the school is now able to embrace the transformation which was long overdue, after years of failed attempts.

“We waited so long, and this morning when I woke up and heard that they installed the solar panel yesterday, I could not wait to have my breakfast; and I rushed down and opened the school,“ said Campbell, following a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony on Labour Day. “It was about 12 times that I turned on the light, just to be sure it was there and working.”

According to Campbell, the Maroon Town Basic School, which became operational in 1960, originally operated from the community square. However, it has since relocated to its current site, which is next door to the Maroon Town Community Sports Complex.

“I really appreciate Councillor Swaby’s effort in initiating this. We have been struggling; sometimes we had to close school early because we couldn’t see,” said Campbell, who has served at the school for 51 years.

The installation, which includes solar panels and modern lighting fixtures has effectively modernised the learning environment, enabling the school to use electronic devices and extending classroom hours.

“We have printers and television sets, but we couldn’t use them,” said Rose Hines, a parent who spoke on behalf of the school’s parent body. “Now that there is electricity, the children will benefit more. They learn from what they see, hear, and touch.”

According to Hines, prior to Swaby’s intervention, several attempts were previously made to get electricity at the school, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

“The parents are glad when they hear that we now have light. They have gone through so many processes to get electricity at the school. [At] one time they said we failed, another time they said we needed something else. We’ve had help over the years, but nothing ever worked, until now,” she said.

Swaby, who is currently one year and three months into his first term as councillor, revealed that upon making inquiries, he was told that the lack of a lightning rod, costing between $300,000 and $500,000 was the key reason why electricity had not been installed at the school.

According to Swaby, who spoke at the school’s graduation ceremony last year, upon hearing of the situation, he promised to find a solution, and was therefore happy to deliver on that promise.

“As community members, we need to take a keen interest, because this is where the foundation is laid for future generations,” said Swaby, who also spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I decided that whatever mountain I must move, it had to happen. I took on that journey and spoke with my colleagues….and encouraged them to contribute whatever they could, and it came to fruition.”

Swaby outlined that in his drive to make a difference, he reached out to every chef he had trained across Jamaica and abroad, sharing the school’s story and seeking donations.

“I even travelled to the US and offered my services as a chef, catering for events hosted by members of the Maroon Town diaspora, just to ensure that this school could finally have a solar energy system,” he said.

editorial@gleanerjm.com