Minister without portfolio in the economic growth and job creation ministry, Matthew Samuda, says while Jamaica is not currently experiencing a drought, the government is concerned about the declining rainfall.
Speaking yesterday in the Senate, Mr. Samuda said there have been reductions of between 10 and 30 per cent in rainfall across the various parishes over the past 60 days.
He said the meteorological service has projected that there is a 35 per cent risk that this could continue over the next 90 days and could become a drought.
Mr. Samuda said the National Drought Management Committee is being convened just in case.
“We are monitoring the systems very closely, we are not in drought but the declining rainfall is a concern so we will manage it very carefully. The Hermitage system is just under 70 percent and the Mona system is just under 80 but to be preemptive, I’ve gotten permission from the Prime minister convene the national drought management committee to start planning should the weather trends continue,” Samuel said .
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