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.
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Originally Posted by Rob
