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170 Residents Submit Applications to Connect to New Water System in St. Thomas

October 24, 2007

The Full Story

Some 170 residents of White Horses, Botany Bay and Pamphret in St. Thomas have submitted applications to be connected to a new water supply system established under the Government’s Rural Water Programme.
Chairman of the White Horses/Botany Bay/Pamphret Development Benevolent Society (WBP/DBS), Leonard James speaking at a meeting held on Monday (Oct. 22) at his offices in Botany Bay, said the residents will soon be connected to the water system.
He noted that although 170 forms have been received by the WBP/DBS, only 71 persons have completed the application process and is therefore encouraging applicants to visit the WBP/DBS office with proof of ownership of their premises and a valid identification in order to complete the process.
He said the office will be open on weekdays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The WBP/DBS office will also be placing notices in the three communities to remind residents of the need to submit their applications, Mr. James said.
The Chairman explained that once the residents submit their applications, they will receive a payment voucher which they should take to the National Commercial Bank (NCB) at Morant Bay, to pay connection and other fees. He said that as soon as the application process and the payment of fees are completed, persons will be connected to the water system.
In an interview with JIS News, Mr. James pointed out that residents in some informal communities were having difficulty completing the applications as they did not have land titles.
He said persons with this problem have been advised to visit the Benevolent Society’s office with a view to finding a solution, while noting that the “main focus of the project is poverty alleviation.”
According to Mr. James, members of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will be meeting with the Squatter Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture before making a decision on accepting applications from residents of informal settlements.
Among the other topics discussed at the meeting, which was attended by Programme Director for the PIU, Ian Gage were: the start up schedule for the project; recruitment and training of trainees; water service applications; and payment collection arrangements.The Whitehorse/Botany Bay/Pamphret water supply system is one of four projects funded under the US$12.5 million Government of Jamaica/Inter-American Development Bank (GOJ/IDB) Rural Water Programme.
The project is being managed by the WBP/DBS.

Last Updated: October 24, 2007

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