$795 million allocated to provide water in rural communities

The Government has allocated $795 million in the 2019/20 fiscal year to provide water in more rural communities.

In his 2019/20 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday Prime Minister Andrew Holness indicated that the figure “is seven times higher than the previous allocation”.

“Depending on how our revenue targets look, we could very well consider an addition to rural water, as the people deserve it. When I go around rural Jamaica and see what they go through, they deserve it,” Holness added.

Among the parishes that will have their water supplies addressed under the initiative are St Mary, St Andrew, Portland, Clarendon, St Elizabeth and St Ann.

Additionally, Holness said the project will benefit the Rainwater Harvesting in Schools initiative.

Last year, The Rural Water Supply Limited completed projects at Charlton Primary and Fort George Primary Schools in St Ann; Knockalva Agriculture School in Hanover, and Garlogie Primary School in Manchester.

Additional school projects completed by the company include Rock Primary; Ashley Primary and Mt. Airy Primary Schools in Clarendon, and Wait-a-Bit Primary and Lowe River Primary Schools in Trelawny.

Holness noted that the 2019/20 fiscal year will see more schools being equipped with rainwater harvesting systems.

He said in that regard a comprehensive survey will be undertaken for all rural schools that “currently have little or no potable water supply, with the view to install rainwater harvesting systems”. 

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