In defence of Cascade’s representative

THE EDITOR: In Peter O’Connor’s column of Sunday August 22 he wrote an excellent article on our community’s strong opposition to a plan to establish Briggs Private School on the main road in Cascade. Our group, the Cascade Hillside Action Group, had a cordial meeting with officials of the Town and Country Division two weeks ago where we presented our objections to the location of this school, and we now anxiously await their decision to act in the interest of the community, by rejecting their application.

It is not a public school that will serve the interests of the Cascade community; its intake will come largely from outside the area and whose additional 150 vehicles will create a traffic nightmare that our tiny community is definitely unable to withstand. The main purpose of this letter however is to refute Mr O’Connor’s allegation that our parliamentary representative, John Rahael “has not been seen since the last election.”  I called Mr O’Connor to correct this assumption on his part and informed him that I will write Newsday to refute that statement. On behalf of the Cascade community, I wish to outline the following things that we are aware of, to demonstrate Mr Rahael’s active involvement in ascade and St Ann’s.

(1) He attends meetings of community groups throughout the constituency.

(2) He actively supported our medical clinic — located at the Ministry of Community Development, St Ann’s, by — (a) finding a suitable location, and (b) almost single handedly outfitting it through donations. This is a Saturday afternoon clinic for children and the elderly, manned by a roster of volunteer doctors from the community, under Dr Michele Monteil that has been in operation about a year and a half now; the result of an appeal made at a Town Meeting held at Chinese Association a couple years ago.

(3) The Police Mobile post located opposite Queen’s Hall, to compensate for the closure of the Belmont Police Station.  He promised and delivered.

(4) Cascade Road, our main artery was recently scarified and re-paved. He promised and delivered.

(5) When the same re-paving project started some weeks ago, it omitted about a 1/4 mile of road into Casablanca village. He was informed that morning about justifiable rumblings from the community. He visited the area and immediately made arrangements to have it included in the paving operation.

(6) Jointly with our Group he arranged sponsorship for the La Famille Sports Club of Foncette Road with their football team’s efforts for the past three years — by providing uniforms and equipment.

(7) Recently, there was a major issue in St Ann’s where some residents were being badly inconvenienced by a developer through indiscriminate bulldozing.  He rushed to the scene, the same day and rectified the matter.

(8) He is in constant touch with community groups — including non-political ones like ours and has always made himself available every Thursday to meet and treat with constituents.
Mr Rahael is by far, the most active, dependable, approachable Representative our community has ever had.

DEREK JOHNSON
Cascade Hillside Action Group