SMART ISLANDS: Communities of Brooks Hill, Lynval, and Green Hill, requested "smarter" sidewalks building
The Raizal Development Center Corp. (RDC) is structuting an initiative for the islands of the Archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence and Santa Catalina, to start to venture into better habits of communal lifestyle, to advance into a real better quality life for the people on this territory. This is in line with the growing global trend of SMART ISLANDS (SMART CITIES AND COMMUNITIES). It has to do with the wise embracement of technologies of all sort for the edification of a city/island; we include in this, the good manners and respect of the people reflected through their capacity to live in community, caring for each other; being responsible with the common goods and installed urban/rural facilities; being grateful and careful with our natural resources and environment; using and enjoying all these things in a sustainable way; in a harmony that doesn't disrupt the peace and tranquiility of the people and their territory.
"A SMART ISLAND IS ... the insular territory that embarks on a climate resilient pathway, combining climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, in order to create sustainable local economic development and a high quality life for the local population by implementing smart and integrated solutions to the management of infrastructures, natural resources and the environment as a whole, supported by the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), all while promoting the use of innovative and socially inclusive governance and financing schemes".
These islands should no longer be planned solely for tourists and visitors. Islands should be built with the local population in mind first, and visitors should be welcomed to respecfuly enjoy our lifestyle, culture, and territory. Islands are home to locals, who should enjoy every corner of them. Locals should be the primary "tourists" that governments and planners should keep in mind when working for the islands.
"Our main priority at this moment ... is that we can decide our priorities"
We like to recognize a very interested and respectful request made by members of the neighborhoods of Brooks Hill, Lynval and Green Hill (from the section of The Hill), in which they are asking the Departmental Government to adjust the ongoing project for the construction of the sidewalks, for it to be built with cobblestones ("adoquines"). They are aware that the decision to build the sidewalks out of concrete (and not with cobblestones) is not coming from the current government, instead it is a bad habit practiced by various past governments that haven't show the respect to the communities, in advising and consulting the population with dignity, when making projects for them. Be aware that "to socialize" a project with tthe community is not the same as "to consult" it with them.
We transcribe the letter here, which speaks clearly about the benefits and advantages to build sidewalks (and even roads) with cobblestones ("adoquines"), and it highlighted the historical and cultural patrimony of this section of the island. The letter has attached a long list of signatures.
San Andres island, January 12th, 2025
Dr. Nicolas Galardo
Governor
Archipelago Department of San Andres
REF: Requesting that the sidewalks to be built in the neighborhoods of Brooks Hill, Lynval, and Green Hill, be done with cobblestones (“adoquines”).
Dear Mr. Governor, we wish you lot of blessings, and we pray that you may be strengthened to manage these islands, which we know are not easy works.
We, the communities of the neighborhoods of Brooks Hill, Lynval, and Green Hill, who for many decades have been awaiting decent treatment, to have our streets and sidewalks in proper living condition, are finally being favored with the construction of these collective public facilities, nevertheless, we are not pleased with the sidewalks build out of concrete. Instead, we are here demanding sidewalks built with cobblestones (“adoquines”), this, in equal rights and benefits as the other neighborhoods of the sections of North End, San Luis, and The Hill, whose communities received sidewalks built with colored, textured, and demarcated cobblestones.
We are aware of the disadvantages of the construction of sidewalks in concrete; we know of the great benefits of having sidewalks built in cobblestones, such as (1) the beautiful appearances and aesthetically pleasing looks that they give to our public spaces where we pass much of our time and life; (2) they are incredibly robust and long-lasting; (3) they are weather resistant; (4) they are easy to install and to uninstall; (5) they are easier to clean and maintain – whenever we need to make any new intervention on or under the sidewalks; (6) they are easier to replace (a characteristic that we don’t have with sidewalks build with concrete) – this lower the overall expense of maintaining a cobblestone sidewalk; (7) they can be tactile paved to aid handicap people, such as blind.
We don’t want concrete sidewalks that may be destroyed and deteriorated in a few months when the same government comes around to break it to do maintenance on other public services infrastructures, like maintenance or new installation of water pipes, sewerage, etc.
We highlight additional values and importance of our neighborhoods, which form part of the surroundings of: (1) the Big Pond - a historical natural patrimonial community (and tourist) gathering site; (2) the Morgan Cage – another historical patrimonial and tourist attraction site; (3) the historical Brooks Hill Bilingual School; (4) the old Baseball Field of The Hill; (5) the area of the island with the most historical and richest fountain of water, known by its ancestral natural wells. Unfortunately, for the last decades, our neighborhoods have served basically to receive the installation and operation of public facilities that other neighborhoods don´t want to have, such as the island Garbage Dump, the Light/Energy Plant, the Garbage Incinerator, the island Penitentiary, etc.
For the sake of our human dignity, of our ancestors, our children, and our grandchildren, we attach our names and signatures to this kind and respectful request. We are available for a community assembly meeting at the Lynval and Cove Baptist Church, as soon as possible to deal with this issue.
Dear Mr. Governor, may God's blessings and guidance remain with you. Yours truly,
SMART PLANNING:
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