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Eloise Panton, Vice President of the Mount Edgecombe Citizens Association; North West St. Ann MP Krystal Lee; and Richard Williams, Regional Manager for the NWC
By Nakinskie Robinson
Residents of Mount Edgecombe housing development in Runaway Bay, St. Ann staged a protest on Wednesday, demanding a solution to what they describe as a persistent water crisis affecting their community since 2020.
The residents expressed frustration over the monthly bills received - which they said are paid - despite not being supplied with water daily.
Vice President of the Mount Edgecombe Citizens Association, Eloise Panton, argued that the current system where water is occasionally trucked into the community is insufficient and ineffective.
"We've been having water trucked into the community, and in order for us to get that, we have to call NWC to make the request. When you call, sometimes you're put on hold for over 20 minutes, and then the call just disconnects. So, if when the truck comes in, if your name is not on the list, you don't get any water."
She said several recommendations were made to the National Water Commission but not one has been successfully implemented.
"When I asked about the water station that is already in Mount Edgecombe, if we couldn't get our supply from that instead of Trelawny, I was told that the water there is not sufficient because of the number of communities that are benefitting," he outlined.
The residents say they are yet to hear from their member of Parliament, Kristal Lee, noting that this is adding to their frustration.
But the North West St. Ann MP, who spoke with Radio Jamaica News, said she has been in contact with the relevant parties to have the water issues affecting the Mount Edgecombe housing development resolved.
"I have been consistently making representation as the Member of Parliament, and it is through representation that last year June, the Minister without the portfolio Honourable Matthew Samuda would have done an opening of the upgrade of the Martha Brae facility, which would cause an increase of water coming into our very same communities," she noted.
She said the NWC has advised that the pumping unit in the Runaway Bay area is down, but the entity is working assidiously to get the unit back in operation.
Regional Manager for the NWC, Richard Williams, also responded to the concerns of the residents, telling Radio Jamaica News that the situation will be resolved permanently by getting consistent water from the Martha Brae, which is the source.
"There was, however, a challenge with the relief that supplies directly Mount Edgecombe phase four community just before Christmas, and that was removed for replacement. We have now gotten a replacement, so after which we will do an assessment to see how adequately it is serving the community," he said.
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