MIKAEL Phillips, the Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western, on Tuesday pleaded for help for Mile Gully High School, the only secondary education institution in that rural constituency.

“One of the most vexing issues is our educational facilities and their infrastructure — mainly the Mile Gully High School — and the condition of our primary schools across the constituency,” Phillips told Parliament during his contribution to the State of The Constituency Debate.

“In 2014, after making representations to WINDALCO bauxite company, we were able to get access to 40 acres of land near the current school, for a new home for Mile Gully High. We have had every minister of education visit the physical school plant and visit the proposed new site. The Ministry of Education has confirmed that they do have possession of the 40 acres. I cannot count the number of times I have heard in sectoral presentations that the process of building a new high school will begin that financial year; well, we are still nowhere near that reality,” Phillips told the House.

“Mile Gully High is the only high school in the constituency of North West Manchester with a capacity of 730 students; a school plant of 1200 to 1500 students is needed. We only have six habitable classrooms for the 730 students. Four years ago two buildings were condemned by the health department and the Ministry of Education; and let us not even mention the staff room which has been leaking like a sieve, the bathrooms are not fit for the students, what we call the canteen is a joke — neither fit for the cooking staff or the students,” said Phillips.

Two makeshift classrooms, he told the House, were constructed by teachers and students with some materials donated by him, the school, and other interested parties. However, the MP said the infrastructure is not fit for a high school.

“I am again pleading for the Ministry of Education to look at Mile Gully High School as a priority. We are desperate to hear something positive about our new school plant.

“I have been trying to figure out the Ministry of Education’s and the Member of Parliament’s responsibilities when it comes to school infrastructure. If it is fencing we hear, ‘Call the MP’; if it is paint, ‘Call the MP’; if it is canteen repairs, ‘Call the MP’; if it is potholes in the school yard, ‘Call the MP’; if the school is out of water, ‘Call the MP’; if the roof is leaking, ‘Call the MP’; if the school needs a staff room, ‘Call the MP,’ ”said an obviously frustrated Phillips.

“Why are schools in rural communities treated as if they are not to be centres of learning for our children? Most of our school infrastructure has not changed over the past many decades; the classrooms are hot, and the infrastructure is woefully inadequate for teachers to teach and our students to learn, and this needs to change,” said Phillips.

He, however, recognised all school boards, principals, teachers, and most of all the parents and students in his constituency. “Despite all the challenges, you continue to make the best of a difficult situation. The time has come to do better for education.”

Phillips also expressed concern about the poor state of roads in the constituency.

“Over the past few weeks taxi operators and other residents have shown their frustration with the continued use of the main thoroughfare by trucks hauling bauxite from Mile Gully to the bauxite company’s facility in Clarendon. The condition of the [narrow] roads, riddled with potholes, poses a danger to the travelling public, especially those who walk along the roadways.

“I have had many discussions with the management of the bauxite company, as far back as five years ago, expressing my concern about the prolonged use of the main roadway with their large and overladen trucks, and I have insisted that they develop a haul road to bypass the small town of Mile Gully, the Mile Gully Primary and high schools, the SL Blake Early Childhood School, and the Mile Gully Health Centre. Five years later, no haul road has been developed; I even sought the intervention of the Minister of Agriculture and Mining.

“Madam Speaker, let me make it clear: The bauxite company is not breaking any laws by using the main roadway; various government bodies, including NEPA, have given them permission to use the Mile Gully main road, all the way to Clarendon.

“My position, and that of many residents, is that the bauxite company should perform periodic maintenance of the roadway, including periodic bushing, while using the public thoroughfare.

I also care about the condition that the community will be left in once the bauxite company has extracted all the bauxite it needs. As has happened in many communities, the people will be worse off than when they found them. We are not rich, but we will not be left poorer,” said Phillips.

The bauxite company, he insisted, needs to develop the promised haul road as soon as possible, and he urged the company to have dialogue with its haulage contractor about the speed and attitude of their drivers, who he said pose a danger to road users.

“We will not relent until the haul road is developed,” said Phillips.