IRWIN, St James – INSTEAD of running away, Rose Marie Logan is digging in, literally and figuratively, as she seeks to rebuild her swimming pool at Swim Place in Irwin, that was destroyed by vandals last week, in an early morning attack.

Already she has received several offers from both local and international sources to replace the six lane 25-metre vinyl pool that was imported from Korea in 2009 at the cost of J$2 million, and which has been the home of the Blue Marlins.

Logan, who was quoted in some parts of the media as saying she had given up and wanted to leave the island, laughed when asked yesterday what were her plans, explaining, “That reaction was just reacting to the shock of what happened. I am a patriotic Jamaican, I am not going anywhere; I have left many times but always return. Things might seem tough now, but I don’t think we will ever go completely under.”

The Kingston native who moved to the west some time ago and planted firm roots there, told the Observer West yesterday that, “everyone wants to see a competition 25-metre pool in this area…” “There has been a strong response from the diaspora and I am awaiting the help to start the rebuilding process”.

She said, however, that this time she would not be seeking another ‘above ground’ facility, but rather a conventional pool, one that was set in the ground, noting that the owners of the property where she has set up — former Member of Parliament Arthur Nelson and his wife Barbara — have given her their blessing.

She said she has yet to put a figure on what the new pool would cost, but added that her plans was for more than just a swimming pool.

“They have synchronised swimming and water polo at the prep school level in Kingston, and I think it is only fair that our children here be given those options as well,” Logan told the Observer West.

What she has in mind, she said, was a complex where there would be stands for spectators, an area for timekeepers, as well as changing facilities.

Contributions to the project, she said, should not be limited to money. “What if someone has access to a backhoe that can help clear the land and help dig the hole for the new pool, that would be just as helpful,” she explained.

According to Logan, training has continued despite the destruction of the pool, adding that she is now finalising plans to take eight swimmers to the Neville Alexander meet in Kingston this weekend, and is looking forward to taking some younger swimmers to another meet next month.

The swimmers, she said, are using the Cornwall Beach complex to prepare, adding that although it is not the ideal situation, it is one they had to settle for right now, until the situation improves.