Some 3, 500 residents of the community of York Street in Treadways, St. Catherine, and adjoining areas, now have access to potable water.

This follows the completion of work on phase two of the John Groyne water supply system, at a cost of $13 million. Completion of the second phase comes two years after the first segment was concluded at a cost of $9.6 million.

The project, undertaken by Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), an agency of the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change, entailed the installation of pipelines to channel water to York Street, Palms Crossing, Bermaddy, Palms, Mingle Lane, Farm Yard, and Red Pond Lane. It also saw the installation of two chlorination facilities at Dawkins Bush.

Residents, inclusive of students of the York Street Primary School, who turned out on Friday (June 21) to witness the official commissioning, erupted in tumultuous cheers as Portfolio Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, who is also Member of Parliament for North West St. Catherine, turned on the supply system.

Mr. Pickersgill noted that prior to the project’s implementation, householders were being served by a St. Catherine Parish Council-operated system, “which could no longer supply the growing population.”
He commended the RWSL for “working to bring this water to you. This means that they are fulfilling their mission statement by implementing rural water supply projects and ensuring the highest standards and adherence to time schedules and budget.”

He stated that the entity, which was established in 2004 to, among other things, develop new water systems island-wide, is “serious” about providing potable water for residents, particularly in rural communities.
In his remarks, RWSL Director, Bishop Omar Oliphant, noted that the provision of water is “most critical” for development “as it is not a convenience, it is an absolute necessity for life and health.”

“That is why the Rural Water Supply Limited has been mandated by the Minister of Water…to ensure that residents, who live in the rural areas, receive an adequate supply of this life saving commodity. We take great pride in our mandate of designing and developing engineering solutions for the delivery and rehabilitation of potable water systems in rural areas island-wide,” he said.

President of the National Water Commission (NWC), which has direct responsibility for the system, Albert Gordon, informed that the commission is “formulating a comprehensive plan” for York Street and adjoining communities “to ensure that everybody has access to safe drinking water, and that the supply is reliable.”

“We also want to commit to maintaining the system. We are endeavouring to provide the resources, so that…over time…the water supply can meet the growing demand for the community,” Mr. Gordon assured.
York Street Primary School Principal, Lennox Davis, described the commissioning as a “momentous occasion.”

“It is a wonderful day for York Street and adjoining communities, which are going to benefit from this new system. It will bring a more reliable and continuous supply of water to the communities, and we are grateful for this,” he said.

Mr. Dixon urged the beneficiaries to pay their bills to ensure that the system can be properly maintained to provide a steady supply of water.

The school’s Vice Principal, Alicia McLeod, and resident, Moya Blake, indicated that they too, are appreciative of the new water system.
By Douglas Mcintosh, JIS Reporter

Member of Parliament for North West St. Catherine, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, unveils sign with Principal of TyDixon Basic School, Mrs. Marie Campbell, on Labour Day (May 23). The school was refurbished as the Labour Day project.

The promise by Rural Water Supply Company Limited (RWSL) to refurbish the TyDixon Basic School, in North West St. Catherine, was fulfilled on Labour Day, May 23.
Managing Director of RWSL, Audley Thompson, told JIS News that the company has had an eight-year relationship with the school, which can accommodate 20 students.
“We saw that the school needed to be refurbished. The roof needed to have some repairs done, some sections of the outer walls needed to be rendered and painted, the toilet needed fixing and the kitchen had to be repaired,” he said. Financing for the project, which costs approximately $150,000, was obtained from the consultancy service of the company.  Mr. Thompson noted that this is part of RWSL’s corporate responsibility.

Meanwhile, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, in whose constituency the school is located, told JIS News that beautifying the school was a good idea, which would uplift the community and the children who attend the school.

“The administration is zeroing in on basic schools and you can’t go wrong if you focus on them, giving them a good start,” the Minister said. Member of Parliament for North West St. Catherine, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, paints a wall at TyDixon Basic School, as part of Labour Day activities, on May 23. Mr. Pickersgill pointed out that it was money well spent and he was sure that parents and teachers would be appreciative of the effort.

For her part, Principal of the school, Marie Campbell, said she is elated to see the work being carried out at the school, as it was well needed  “When I saw the working going on, I felt so good. I have to thank God and Rural Water Supply Limited, the community and all the other people involved in getting these things done for the children,” she told JIS NewsLabour Day activities were carried  out under the theme: ‘Lend a Hand…Build Our land’.

Contact: Rodger Hutchinson

JAMAICANS in rural areas, who are still without access to clean drinking water, are being assured that the Rural Water Supply (RWS) Limited is working hard to bring the commodity to them. Managing Director of Rural Water Supplies Limited Peter Clarke said the company intends to meet and exceed the standard for access to water set by the United Nations as part of its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “The MDGS have, as one of the major aims, access to water for all people worldwide. We have endeavoured to meet the challenges of the MDGs and recognise the need to provide access to water,” he said.

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