Water Shop Opens in Marlie Hill, Manchester

A water shop was opened in Marlie Hill, Manchester, on May 14, by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. “There is a need, and we are responding to that need,” the Minister said at the ceremony.

Mr. McKenzie explained that the Ministry is utilising water shops as a way to immediately address the chronic water shortage across the island, especially in the southern parishes of Manchester and St. Elizabeth, which have traditionally suffered from severe drought conditions.

He said that the next water shop for Manchester will be erected in the Bellefield division of the parish.

The Minister said consultations were held with the Councillor for the division and residents of Marlie Hill and its environs.

Members of the community played a big role in the Marlie Hill project. Sisters, Sonia and Monica Beckford donated a parcel of family land for the water shop.

Sonia told JIS News that they made the donation because “we want the water shop”.

“I know that water is life. Without the water, we had to go through some very hard drought down here, so having the water shop helps us a lot,” she said.

Ms. Beckford said there was no problem in making the donation, as the siblings talked among themselves and they all agreed.

Meanwhile, a farmer from the community, Peter King, said: “We feel good about this water for the community; it is beneficial to everyone.”

He plants melon, scallion and other crops and had to depend solely on rainfall before the water shop was constructed.

The residents have been using the water shop for four weeks prior to the opening, and Mr. King said there are no restrictions on the number of times they can fetch water from it.

Also at the opening were His Worship, the Mayor of Mandeville, Donovan Mitchell; Councillors in the parish as well as Acting Custos, Stanley Skeene.