Sent and shared with all my friends that visit Negril.
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Sent and shared with all my friends that visit Negril.
Thank you Todd and rjonsun for your help and assistance!
Done
Email sent!
E Mail sent
Thank you Blue, Jer and 72 O, we really need these emails. The new regional manager of the NWC promised at 6am that the West End would have 5 hours of water starting at 7am. It is 8:42am and not a drop.
https://youtu.be/CHgUN_95UAw?si=2t_iDpOVabAVxrdI
Done
Done
Done.
Email to Minister Bartlett sent
Thank you S&J, Harley, Cel and John! We are grateful for your support and are continuing to ask others to join in our email campaign.
The Minister incharge of water is having a meeting today mostly with hotel owners. I am sure he doesn't want to meet with a bunch of irate residents who haven't had a shower in God knows how long. I don't expect squat from this meeting, just lip service.
Several higher ups from the NWC went to the Westland Mountain tank, which holds about a 6 hour reserve of water for the West End. The valve feeding the community was closed off about 97% of the way making it useless.
Their brilliant idea is to use the reserve tank as our main water source. Which sounds all good and nice until that 6 hour supply drops to about 4 hours and the pressure drops.
They tried it yesterday since the tank was full and closed off. Places near to the main road got water as well as places down hill, but even with the slightest grade no one was receiving water. Apparently some need a refresher course on the difference of flow and pressure.
All in all it was a two steps forward, two steps back kinda day.
And still zero water on the West End...
Rob,
Has the Gleaner or other Media outlets in JA covered the events and situation that Negril / West End is facing? Not knowing exactly how the politricks are being played these days I have no idea what the best approach is for getting relief?
We will be starting phase 2 later is Samuda doesn't have a concrete solution for the water mismanagement today
Stay tuned
Rob, how did this situation get so dire, so quick?
We sent an email to Minister Bartlett at info@visitjamaica.com.
Done.
Dear Minster Bartlett,
We have been to Jamaica 8 times and 7 of these visits were to Negril.
Until the Government can provide continuous water to the residents of Negril we will not be returning.
Shame on the Government for not providing their citizens the basic necessity of water!
Alright, after digesting what came out of the meeting on Thursday where Minister Samuda (in charge of the water) and the NWC (National Water Commision), it seems like Jamaica is taking several steps backwards. After removing the PRESS from the meeting, Minister Samuda proposed that the short term solution is gifting of 2000 black water tanks to selected homes and to have ALL WATER FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS MINIMUM be trucked to each household individually and ADDING MORE WATER TRUCKS to the roadways.
The long term plan, which will take two years minimum to complete is to secure water for Negril from the Roaring River Water Plant.
So Negril is to be served for the next two years by countless water trucks running continuously, with their weight doing more damage to the roads and their exhaust putting more greenhouse gases in the environment.
I really don't know what to say to that. But any home that does not have a tank for whatever reason will have no water for at least 2 years. That is the solution Prime Minister Holness, Minister Samuda and Minister Bartlett have come up with for Negril.
In addition to emailing Minister Bartlett about the water crisis in Negril, we need to turn up the heat a little by asking you to get your comments also to the Gleaner and Observer. The Gleaner is the easiest, all you have to do is forward your email to Bartlett directly to them, with an introduction stating that you sent this email to Minister Bartlett. The Gleaner email address is letters@gleanerjm.com.
The Observer has a form they use. So you will just copy and paste your email to this form address: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/feedback
As I said, I really don't know what to say about this "solution". Its like the government doesn't even think about the ramifications. Not only is it much more expensive and unsightly to have all those vehicles move every ounce of water, but with totally unnecessary damage to the environment, it would not surprise me if the UN, US, EU, Canada and the UK all stop giving grants to Jamaica because of this environmentally hostile way of delivering water, a substance that literally flows on its own.
We are in dire need of your help! You email campaign caused an emergency meeting on Tuesday morning which resulted in a surreal no press allowed public meeting on Thursday afternoon.
Thank you for anything you can do - and if you know anyone in the major media circles, please let them know what is happening in Jamaica.
The Gleaner has had a press conference with Minister Samuda:
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/...oreland-samuda
And from the Observer:
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024...x-negril-woes/
And thank you Kold and OUV for your support!
Done.
Emails sent to both places
Done and done.
Also sent emails.
We returned Saturday from Country Country and it was disheartening hearing from the employees how they have zero water at their homes.
I felt fortunate that while CC did at times shut off the water late nights it was a very minor inconvenience compared to those suffering like our housekeeping, security folks etc. At least we always had water during the day.
Done. It takes less than a minute to send an email. Do it for the fine people of Negril!
First letter to the editor has been published! Keep them coming!
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/...is-bad-tourism
Hey, that's my letter - I've been published!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Done.
Rob- do you have a fact sheet or a link to an article explaining the situation. I know a number of folks in the CT West Indian community who might be able to help as well.
I will be down at the end of the month- I look forward to coming down yet again
Does this work? Tvj newscast...Quote:
Originally Posted by Sand gravity
https://youtu.be/fjq_P8Zo8Zo
Rob, sent to Min. Bartlett and forward to the Gleaner:
Minister Bartlett, I?ve been coming to Jamaica annually since 1999. I?m boycotting this year because my favorite Negril restaurants can?t get water on the West end. You should be ashamed of this and I?m contacting the news here in the U.S. to tell them I wrote to you about this issue. I read your comment on another board that water ?wasn?t your problem,? but it?s going to be.
Respect,
Jeffrey A. Willams, Ph.D.
As soon as I locate the email address of the travel reporter for the Insider online newsletter, I?m alerting her about this issue, as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Thank you man!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jdub
Bchang@businessinsider.comQuote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Hi Brittany, I?m hoping you are interested in a travel story about Negril, Jamaica. It?s my annual travel spot and we are saddened by the inaction of government officials related to the lack of water in an island surrounded by water. Jamaica welcomes over one million U.S. visitors annually (I don?t know the actual numbers but I?m certain it?s many more) and the lack of water for residents and visitors is unconscionable, unhealthy, and unethical. I attached the above link to a tv report about this issue. The Jamaica Gleaner also did an article but we are hoping that you can print an article since it?s travel related. Thanks for your consideration.
Respect,
Jdub,Quote:
Originally Posted by Jdub
Thank you for everything that you are doing. Hopefully your email to Brittany will help!
Once again - thank you!
**Done**
Minister Bartlett, My family has been travelling to Negril for over 45 years, multiple times a year. Out of all the places we COULD travel to we pick Negril. We bring multiple new people each time. We are coming next week with a group of 15 people to enjoy Negril and praying we don?t have a water issue.
The lack of water for residents and visitors is unacceptable, not to mention unhealthy and inhumane. This has been a large turn off for multiple people in our group. They have major concerns, some have cancelled their trip.
Please install the pipe that has already been purchased in 2018 to increase the water supply to Negril.
People ask why I always keep coming back to the same place and I explain to them how Negril is unique and such a wonderful place. Then I tell them, when it's not ?such a wonderful place? anymore, I will try someplace new.
If the water issue is not resolved quickly, unfortunately our group will look elsewhere for future trips ? Just wish we really don?t have to. Thank you for your time and hoping for a fast resolution before too much damage is done.
Letter to the editors of the Observer sent today. Its appalling that we have to go to this extreme to fix a simple government issue as basic needs of water.
Thanks BB and S&J. Appalling seems to be a good word to describe it!
Email response:
Dear Dr. Williams;
Your recent correspondence was forwarded for the attention of the JAMAICA Tourist Board. Thank you for taking time out to pen these concerns for our attention. Our hope is that all visitors to JAMAICA enjoy best services and departs with memorable experiences, and as such, anything deterring this is a cause for concern, especially when it relates to the basic needs of our visitors and residents alike.
We understand that the water situation in Negril is ongoing and have recently been assured that the National Water Commission, the agency mandated to provide high quality potable water, has been working assiduously to have the situation rectified. In an effort to ensure that the Negril Area has water whilst long-term resolutions are being implemented, efforts are being made to truck water to the different communities. We are cognizant that the supply is not at the capacity that visitors/residents desire, however, as we face severe drought conditions across the entire island due to climate changes, resulting in changes in weather patterns and reduced rainfall, all viable options are being explored to ensure potable water is available. Notwithstanding, we will be sharing your complaint with the agency, for their information, as they work towards improving the water supply service.
Thank you once again for penning these concerns for our attention. We appreciate your continued support for choosing Jamaica as the destination of choice for your vacation over the years. It is hoped that you will reconsider choosing Jamaica for your next trip and trust that your visit will be pleasant and memorable.
Regards;
Ericka Clarke-Earle
Visitor Relations Officer
JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD
Montego Bay Convention Centre
Rose Hall, Montego Bay
Jamaica W.I.
Direct: (876) 952-0040 | Office: (876) 952-4425
URL: www.visitjamaica.com
Jdub,Quote:
Originally Posted by Jdub
Thanks for posting this. As the government here uses their doublespeak to answer you, a couple points of interest need to be pointed out.
Yes, the water situation is ongoing because the governement failed on their promise to resolve the problem 6 years ago by connecting the Roaring River to the Logwood Water Treatment Plant and instead did nothing. We wouldn't be having this conversation if they had done what they promised 6 years ago.
And if the "severe drought" is being caused by climate change, how does needlessly adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere from the 100's of trucks doing multiple trips each day to provide water to different communities make any sense. Water literally flows on its own once started. If you have ever had to siphon gas out of a car - you know water will even run uphill against gravity once started.
The drought is an interesting concept along with trucking. If there is no water for Negril and different communities in the pipes, where are the 100's of trucks getting multiple loads of water every day? I thought there was a drought...
I got the same email as JDUB
Done!
I'm trying to find the Logwood water treatment plant on Google maps, but not having success. Help!
Email sent:
For the attention of The Hon. Minister Mr. Edmund Bartlett: Serious concerns about environment, pipe water supply and road condition in Negril
Dear Sir,
As a long term regular visitor of Jamaica and Negril since 1995, I am addressing you regarding the dire situation encountered in Negril during my last stay in March of this year.
We were in Negril with a group of 10 family members and friends, staying at small hotels along Norman Manley Boulevard (Charela Inn, Idle Awhile and Cocolapalm). During the first days of our stay we encountered the burning of the Great Morass with ashes raining all over Negril as far out as on the Westend for a couple of days. I heard residents discussing a project for which Jamaica has been accorded funding by the UN in 2018, which has not led to any tangible results so far which could have helped to prevent such long-lasting and severe fires as the recent ones. This is a shame!
Then we learned about the severe water situation which the inhabitants of Negril have had to endure especially on the Westend for a very long time now. We also noted the deplorable condition of the Westend Road, a road on which many tourists travel each day to either reach their hotels and more particularly the main attraction Ricks Cafe. I felt ashamed taking my friends on this road! But I felt even more ashamed as well as appalled by the dire situation faced by the people of Negril with not having a basic commodity as pipe water available to them. With all the development and achievements of Jamaica in the past couple of years, I am struggling to understand why this matter apparently has not been properly addressed to prevent the current situation. An urgent upgrade of the infrastructure - seemingly also in the pipeline since 2018! - is required as the present trucking of water to hotels and residents is not a sustainable and affordable solution. In addition, the onslaught of heavy water trucks is not helping the road situation at all. It would have seemed logical that the ongoing construction of big new hotels should have been accompanied by measures ensuring water supply for all.
I am seriously considering to cancel my next visit planned for this summer and will not recommend travel to Negril to any of my friends anymore until residents will have water again!