KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jul. 16, CMC – The Andrew Holness led administration has announced a J$350 million drought mitigation plan aimed at alleviating the growing water crisis across the island.
With rainfall levels falling below predictions, Acting President of the National Water Commission (NWC) Garth Jackson on Wednesday confirmed that 44 of the commission’s 450 systems have been impacted, with 23 currently operating at less than 50 per cent capacity.
“Eastern parishes have about 40 systems which are affected by the dry season whereas the western parishes have about three which are affected. The rest of the systems, all are operating larger at capacity currently,” he explained.
In response, the Government’s mitigation strategy will include J$150 million in water trucking, distributed through Members of Parliament. An additional $50 million has been allocated to assist with further trucking support to the NWC to service critical infrastructure, and $50 million will go towards the purchase of additional water tanks.
Speaking during a press briefing, Minister with responsibility for water in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda, emphasised the urgency of the situation.
Meanwhile, sections of Jamaica are on red alert amid shifting climatic conditions that have disrupted the country’s 30-year rainfall pattern.
Evan Thompson, Principal Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, said the observed disruption is expected to cause drought conditions during the usually wet period between May and November.
“In the early wet season between May and June, drought conditions were detected for St. James, while significant dryness was detected across St. Thomas, Clarendon, Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Ann and St. Mary,” he said.
Thompson added that southern parishes should brace for dry conditions in the coming days, which is expected to last from July through to September.
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