Government Commits to Ensuring That All Communities Have Access to Potable Water

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the Government is fully committed to ensuring that communities throughout Jamaica have access to potable water.

Mr. Samuda, who has responsibility for water, environment and climate change, told stakeholders and business interests at the opening of the National Water Commission’s (NWC) new commercial office in Falmouth, Trelawny, on May 2, that he was very pleased to see residents of Braco in the parish receiving the commodity.

“We believe in Jamaica… and we believe that the water should be flowing. We can’t, however, ignore the impact we have been having by the effects of climate change. We are affected by the changing weather pattern, where you see longer, more intense and hotter droughts,” the Minister said.

“Last year, at the end of March, when they added up the six months preceding that, which would have been October 2022 to March 2023, it turned out to be the driest cumulative period in Jamaica’s history,” he added.

Mr. Samuda said that considering what has been happening, the Government has been proactive in tackling the situation head on, knowing that while it will not be a walk in the park, it is a commitment that must be made to mitigate the water challenges communities have been experiencing.

He further pointed to the millions of dollars of investment, through the NWC, which the Government has made to address the water problems in communities such as Braco, adding that it will be an ongoing process, with the end goal being that the problems are addressed and where residents are able to have water at their disposal.

“Our problem also, and we should not forget, that there was little to no investment for about 20 years in the NWC. There was a chronic level of disinvestment, meaning we have allowed the depreciation of assets. Now we are in recovery mode… and this recovery is being led by the hard-working men and women of the NWC,” the Minister said.

He noted that what has occurred in Braco, Trelawny, where residents now have access to potable water from the NWC for the first time, is further testament of the Government’s commitment.

This, he said, was done through a $90-million NWC in-house project and is expected to benefit 400 residents in the farming community.

Mr. Samuda added that the community’s water will be supplied by the nearby Martha Brae Water Treatment Plant, noting that the NWC has connected the distribution pipeline to the 20-inch transmission main running from Martha Brae to St Ann.

Meanwhile, he said the Government has focused its effort on helping communities in Western Jamaica struggling with the effects of the drought.