After 60-year wait, Salt River rejoices over piped water
Published:Monday | November 22, 2021 | 12:09 AMCecelia Campbell-Livingston/Gleaner Writer
Clement Lewis has been living in Salt River for more than 60 years and never thought the day would come when he could enjoy a shower in his bathroom.
On Saturday, he rejoiced at the experience as water gushed from his pipe.
Lewis generally spends only weekends at his home because of the water-supply inconvenience, but is now planning to “tek him time move back” to the southeast Clarendon community.
Underinvestment in water-supply infrastructure is widespread throughout Jamaica, especially in rural communities like Salt River.
It is one of the factors fuelling urban drift, said Lewis, explaining that many persons migrated from Salt River in the hunt for better amenities.
“Majority of people overseas from Salt River, one of their major problems why they don’t want to come back and stay here is because of the water problem. Now if you look on my Facebook page, everybody is happy now that water is in Salt River,” he said.
He thanked political representatives who started the first few steps on what has been a long journey, among them May Pen Mayor Winston Maragh and Hayes division Councillor Scean Barnswell.
Sheila Walters Patten, who was the lone crusader in the community cussing and complaining while mounting a placard at her gate about the lack of piped water, was overjoyed on Saturday.
She recalls spewing rage at Clarendon South East Member of Parliament (MP) Pearnel Charles Jr during a political campaign tour of the area.
“Missa Charles come and a beg mi seh mi fi go out go vote, and di way how mi angry di day, mi tell him seh mi not coming out until when mi see water,” said Walters Patten.
Now that her wish has been granted and after enjoying a long shower until her legs were white, she shared her gratitude with Charles on Saturday, pledging that when the next time elections come around, she will be emblazoned “in green from head to foot bottom”.
Green is the colour of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), with which Charles is affiliated.
Charles and members of his team were specially invited by the residents on Saturday to express their gratitude.
Two-phase project
Charles, who first won the South East seat in a by-election before romping home in the September 2020 general election, said the water works were a two-phase project.
The first phase included the erection of standpipe in 2020 to give residents immediate access to water.
Although it was described, he said, by critics as a”‘retrograde step”, the Clarendon South East MP said he focused on how happy it made those who were beneficiaries.
“Phase Two was to get the water from the pipes to the homes and today we can say that has been completed and it is a team effort and we are grateful for it. Everybody now is saying, ‘Shower! Shower! Thank you for the showers!’” he said, referencing a slogan associated with the JLP.
Charles pledged that more infrastructural works will get under way to ensure that Salt River can become a source of economic power and tourism for domestic and foreign investors.