Mount Ward Primary Gets Water Tank from Courts Ready Cash

The Mount Ward Primary School in Hanover has received a 1,000-gallon water-storage tank from Courts Ready Cash.

The item was handed over at the school on Thursday (February 15).

This marked the seventh such donation by the company to assist schools located in areas affected by drought.

Senior Education Officer at the Ministry of Education and Youth, Region Four, Jacqueline Gardiner, expressed gratitude to the company for the tank, noting that the donation was much needed, as several schools in the region have been experiencing water shortages.

Mrs. Gardiner outlined that while the Ministry assists by trucking water to schools in the region, several challenges persist.

She also outlined the typical water usage among children, noting the importance of ensuring that schools have good water supplies.

“The minimum amount of water a child uses per day is two gallons, and that is just to wash their hands and to drink. Should they use the bathroom, it now moves to seven gallons per child per day, and I am not talking about them using the bathroom more than once. If it is several times, it goes beyond seven gallons,” she said.

She noted that with this in mind, Mount Ward Primary, which has a population of 152 students, requires some 1,064 gallons of water per day to operate effectively.

Principal of Mount Ward Primary, Paula Chambers-Morris, thanked the company for their donation.

“We are delighted that we found our way in someone’s heart to be considered for this token. This gift will undoubtedly mitigate the water woes with which the school is plagued. All the stakeholders will be beneficiaries of your generosity,” she said.

For her part, Brand Manager for Courts, Tamonie Ford, in remarks delivered by Public Relations and Marketing Officer for the company, Toni-Ann Latty, noted that the organisation seeks to provide relief to schools in parishes hardest hit by drought conditions.

“[We] started with Clarendon, St. Thomas and St. Mary and we will continue with Portland and St. Catherine, and here we are in Hanover. Our initiative aims to improve water harvesting and storage opportunities to select primary and secondary schools,” she said.

“The endeavour is not merely a response to a crisis; it is a proactive step towards mitigating ongoing drought conditions and ensuring a sustainable future for our communities and ensuring that the school will never again be disrupted due to a lack of vital water supply,” Ms. Ford added.

Schools that have also received water tank donations are Brixton Hill Primary and Infant and Kellitts High School in Clarendon, Duckenfield Primary School in St. Thomas, Gaynstead High School in Kingston, and Clonmel Primary and Infant School and Bromley Primary in St. Mary.