Fire on JISCO over water - Truckers lash Chinese in water dispute

The more than 70 truck drivers who draw water from the JISCO/Alpart bauxite plant in St Elizabeth for commercial use across several communities in Essex Valley have labelled as unfair and insensitive the decision by its Chinese operators to restrict access to the plant’s water station.

The dispute sparked a demonstration near the plant on Monday as truck drivers protested that the decision would negatively impact their income as well as deprive communities of access to water.

In addition, they are maintaining that the Chinese have dismissed previous “arrangements, which could be legally binding,” to offer unfettered access to water with which to service the nearly 50 communities in and around the Nain-based bauxite plant.

A document that was issued to the truckers by the plant’s managers, a copy of which The Gleaner has seen, stated that “due to the increase in places where Alpart currently needs water, but the water capacity is limited, we have to control the water-supply station by making a schedule”.

Those reasons are being questioned by the truckers, who argued that the plant’s managers were being unreasonable because no activity is taking place at the factory that would require vast amounts of water.

Still incensed, they are planning another protest to drive home their concerns.

“There’s no processing going on now at the plant, none whatsoever. They don’t need that much water, so then why the resistance?” questioned Vincent White, president of the Lititz Production and Marketing Organisation.

STEPS TO CONTROL WATER

Several of them showed WhatsApp messages purportedly sent from the Chinese outlining steps to be taken for the control of the water station, including the setting up of schedules.

Drivers were asked to submit photo identification, a tax registration number, as well as the tank volume. Those who refuse to do so will be barred from “entering the Alpart water station to receive water”.

“This is very bad for us,” Martin Vincent, who has been providing water to Nain for several years, said yesterday.

“We, as private water suppliers, cannot be treated like this. It is free water, and because of those greedy Chinese, we are now forced to pay thousands of dollars to get water elsewhere to sell the residents.”

Vincent said it is costing some drivers between $2,000 and $3,500 daily to fill up their tanks from a private well at Cheapside, a nearby community.

But that comes with a problem. Truckers may be forced to pass on increased costs to customers, who are already hindered by the lack of work as the bauxite factory was shuttered for renovation that is expected to last two years.

Vincent, who also worked inside the plant, said he is aware of a longstanding arrangement dating back decades that guarantees access to the water with which to service the surrounding communities.

“There has always existed an arrangement with Alpart to provide the general Essex Valley with water, including Nain, Myersville, Comma Pen, and Lititz, because there is little National Water Commission infrastructure in these parts,” Vincent explained.

Attempts to reach the Chinese operators at the plant, as well as sources who would have intimate knowledge of that arrangement, were unsuccessful.

Joseph Rochester told The Gleaner that correspondence was sent by the Chinese at Alpart indicating that each driver was permitted one load per day. At the same time, the Chinese have hired two trucks to deliver water to the community per day on their behalf.

“That is ridiculous for them to issue that statement because some are getting two loads per day. Plus, their drivers were given four loads per day, and even that is not enough for the communities. So can you imagine us?” he asked.

“We do not have anyone in our corner. We talked to the member of parliament and he’s not saying much,” Rochester said of Franklyn Whitter.

“The Chinese not listening to us, and we are here in the middle wondering what’s next.”

paul.clarke@gleanerjm.com