Gov't plans to invest millions to improve water delivery in KSA

 

The government says it intends to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the coming months to improve the delivery of water to residents in Kingston and St. Andrew (KSA).

 

Water supply in the Corporate Area has been a major issue for residents for many years, with the National Water Commission being forced to impose water restrictions to conserve consumption.

 

Speaking Tuesday at the Commissioning Ceremony for the Port Royal Pipeline Replacement Project, Water Minister Samuda promised that Corporate Area residents will experience improvements in their water supply due to the investments made by the government.

 

"In 2015, we required 55 million gallons of water in Kingston and St. Andrew to service your daily needs.... Today, we require 37 million gallons per day.... So 17 million gallons saved because of the work and investment of this government into the water network of Kingston and St. Andrew," he touted. 

 

"When you contemplate all of the high-rises, all of the development, all of the significant investment that has gone into Kingston and St. Andrew, we're using significantly less water. In fact, we have moved from what we call non revenue water, which is water which is leaked or stolen, from being at 70-72 per cent to being at approximately 38 per cent in Kingston and St. Andrew. So what that means is that Kingston and St. Andrew is significantly more water resilient," continued the minister. 

 

Mr. Samuda added that the NWC is on the cusp of supplying water to its customers in the Corporate Area over a 24-hour period.

 

He said other projects are now in the pipeline. 

 

"The next round of investments includes some critical transmission mains. Starting next month, we will start the work on the second phase of bringing to life those lines along the Washington Boulevard, which will move from Sandy Gully Bridge all the way up to Molynes Road, Prime Minister. Now, this will significantly improve water delivery to constituencies like West Central St. Andrew, and indeed, like North West St. Andrew, and will impact water delivery for 30,000 Jamaicans. And this will benefit from an investment of some $200 million as we bring that line up to speed...for the drought, which we know starts in February." 

 

The Port Royal Pipeline was constructed at a cost of $533 million. 

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness on Tuesday defended his government's policy of paying down its debt and managing public resources.

 

The administration has been coming under criticism from economists for focusing two much on paying down its debt and ignoring investments in the economy to improve the livelihood of Jamaicans.

 

But, speaking at the Port Royal Pipeline commissioning ceremony, Dr. Holness boasted that the government is able to fund projects without borrowing due to its fiscal policy.

 

He said the electorate must decide whether to give his government another term in office to continue its fiscal programme. 

 

"This government is committed to develop Jamaica without depending on borrowing. That commitment depends on a wise electorate. That commitment depends on a wise electorate. Jamaica can easily go back to the point where we are an indebted country. And these facilities that we are now launching and opening and showing off about, they stop. In fact, the reason why we are in the position we are in is because we try to develop by borrowing. We must though turn the leaf in that book of our history and go to a new chapter where we develop by growing," he urged.