Manchester councillor calls for trucking of water to areas experiencing dry spell

By Kimone Witter    

 

With the island experiencing reduced rainfall and some sections a dry spell over the last two months, there is a call for the National Water Commission to truck water to affected communities and institutions.

 

Councillor for the Bellefield Division in Manchester, Mario Mitchell, says several schools are facing a water shortage.

 

He says political representatives have been assisting the institutions and he expects the calls to increase this week. 

 

"Right now, presently, I have the basic schools, the primary schools would have called seeking assistance. So I know this upcoming week, the members of Parliament, the councillors are going to have to give assistance to our schools, to our health [centres] and towards the police station. So I'm making an urgent plea to the minister for the trucking of water for the parishes of Manchester and I would even go as far as to say St. Elizabeth also, and wherever else the country may be experiencing this dry spell," he pleaded.      

 

Mr. Mitchell also cautioned residents of Manchester against the unnecessary lighting of fires, especially during this dry period.

 

"We ask our farmers to see how best they can minimise the lighting of or clearing of lands. It is a dry spell. This is also a windy time. So we're asking that the persons take precautions across Manchester itself and the belt because, you know, agriculture is a staple and it's an important aspect of livelihood of the people of Manchester."