World-class water systems needed

THE EDITOR, Sir:

JAMAICA IS known as the land of wood and water. Why should we have a water crisis in the first place? All year round we read and hear about people being washed away by flash floods in low-lying areas. What we need to do is ask ourselves, 'How can we put this God-given water to use?'

research

It is simple. Each parish must do a study of the levels of rainfall received each day, month, and year; tabulate and document the research; tender the services of a geologist or an engineer to map out areas of the highest altitude in each parish stable enough to build a reservoir; and build dams and reservoirs around a central point of rainfall in the island. When we have the blueprints in place, we should request a loan from the Chinese EXIM Bank to build a world-class water facility. This facility should accommodate any future growth in the population and should be built to withstand any natural disasters. We should ensure that the Government of Jamaica has at least 51 per cent ownership of its water resources and outsource the maintenance of the dams and reservoirs to an established environmental and water-facility company.

Water is a basic necessity of life and we cannot exist without it. For us to be a First-World country, it is only necessary that we ensure that all the basic economic needs are satisfied to the highest standards; then we can talk about industry and technology.

I am, etc.

Andrew Lawe

Kingston 6