Water Minister Outlines Several Initiatives to Tackle Persistent Drought in Sections of the Island

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, has outlined several government interventions aimed at mitigating persistent drought conditions affecting parts of the island.

Speaking at Wednesday’s (September 30) Post Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House, the Minister noted that while dry conditions continue to affect the eastern section of the island, the western parishes have been benefiting from some rainfall.

“And it’s important to note that, as we’re seeing in the east dryness, we’re seeing moisture in the west. And that is actually a blessing, because if we’re experiencing these conditions islandwide, our situation would be far, far more complicated,” Minister Samuda said

He informed that the Government has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to instal wayside tanks in communities, so residents can have access to water.

“We’ve already installed some 30 wayside tanks that reduce the pressure of trucks to go into really mountainous terrain and go at the community level, so we fill the tanks and persons are able to go and get water as they need… . We expect to put in place approximately 100 in eastern Jamaica over the coming months,” he announced.

The Minister also highlighted that the Government is in the process of bringing on 12 new loading bays for water trucks across the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine, and St. Thomas.

Additionally, the Ministry has engaged with private-sector partners who are able to connect with the National Water Commission (NWC) system or allow trucks to be filled using their infrastructure to reduce the impact of the drought.

“One of those engagements, for instance… is with Can-Cara. Can-Cara has interconnected with the NWC system now in Portmore, and we are bulk buying four million gallons [of water] a day to supply Portmore, which has reduced the pressure on the Tulloch Springs, and that has allowed us at NWC to put four million gallons [of water] into southern St. Andrew,” Minister Samuda explained.

In the meantime, Minister Samuda noted that Cabinet approved $550 million for drought mitigation.

Members of Parliament received $200 million to intervene in cases of the most vulnerable and where they have challenges in their constituencies, and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development received $150 million for Municipalities.

The NWC also received $150 million to support schools, health centres, police stations and other places of critical national importance, while the remaining $50 million has been allocated to the agricultural sector for water storage and irrigation.

He cautioned that if short-term rainfall predictions remain low, all public and private entities must practise strict water conservation.