CDF Brings Water to Benin/Brown’s Town

MONTEGO BAY — Over 500 households in Benin, Browns Town, St. Ann, now have piped water, courtesy of a project involving the town's Community Development Committee (CDC), the National Water Commission (NWC) and Member of Parliament for North West St. Ann, Hon Othneil Lawrence.

The project, which came out of requests from the community, at a Social Development Commission (SDC) organized "Pon Di Korna" community meeting, was implemented at a cost of approximately $4.2 million.

Mr. Lawrence, who is also Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works, contributed through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Speaking at the commissioning of the system, he acknowledged that the need for water in the community, as a priority, was communicated to him at the community meeting, and commended the residents’ initiative.

Mr. Lawrence encouraged Jamaicans to stop simply blaming politicians for what is done or not done in their communities, but to come together and share their concerns with the agencies of Government to get things done. He also noted that “a new day has dawned in the Benin community”, as the commodity is no longer difficult to access.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government, Hon Shahine Robinson, brought greetings and commended the collaboration between the (NWC) and the CDF, for which she has portfolio responsibility, in implementing the project.

"Turning on this water project is proof that the CDF indeed works, and has worked for all the people of Jamaica," she stated.

President of the Brown’s Town CDC, Pauline Tomlinson, expressed a sense of accomplishment with the project, and promised that the CDC will continue to listen to the residents’ concerns and make the necessary representations on their behalf.

By Bryan Miller, JIS Reporter