St. Elizabeth Parish Council to get Additional Sum to Truck Water

he St. Elizabeth Parish Council is to receive an additional $3 million to assist in the distribution of water to drought stricken areas in the parish.

This was announced by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, at a meeting of the Council on March 21.

With sections of the island suffering from drought conditions, concern was expressed by councillors about the availability of water in the farming areas of St. Elizabeth, both for farming and domestic consumption.

“The drought situation requires at this time immediate action, so we have been able to find a small sum to assist you within the next two days,” Mr. Arscot told the meeting.

He noted that $70 million was made available by the Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change for the trucking of water nationally, adding that the St. Elizabeth Parish Council received some $4 million late last year for that purpose, but the chronic situation in the parish now requires an additional sum to help in alleviating some of the problems.

The Minister said he is also seeking some funds to assist in refurbishing some of the community tanks throughout the parish and to acquire an additional water truck for the parish.

Mr. Arscott called on the farmers of the parish to continue to conserve water.

Other Councils visited by the Minister include Portland, St. Thomas, Portmore, St. Catherine and Clarendon.

By Bryan Miller, JIS Reporter