THE EDITOR, Sir:
FOLLOWING THE devastation of Tropical Storm Lilli, the water supply to the little rural district of Moravia, situated on the Clarendon and Manchester border was disrupted due to broken and damaged pipes. My farm depends heavily on a regular supply of water and as such I decided to pay keen attention to this matter.
After numerous complaints and phone calls to the office in Christiana to no avail since July, in October I decided to contact the Community Relations Manager (CRM) in Mandeville who politely took my telephone number and promised to investigate the matter. Within minutes I was contacted by the Regional Zone Manager who advised that the matter would be dealt with. Two weeks later, no results.
Again I call the CRM who directs me to the Regional Manager who also politely takes my telephone number and promised to investigate the matter. Within minutes she calls and informs me that there was some difficulty in transporting pipes which has now been resolved. Two weeks later, still no result.
Now being December, I frantically call the Regional Zone Manager seeking assistance from the Rapid Response Unit. He too politely takes my NWC account number and promises me assistance after the holiday. Two weeks later, still no result. Now it is January and I am now left hopelessly watching as my livestock die before my very eyes, while a state agency drags its feet in providing a critical commodity to its paying customers.
I have sought out of desperation permission to replace the pipes at my own expense, but have been denied as I would be deemed to be trespassing on the works of the NWC.
I have always had hope in this little rock called Jamaica, and when my fellow professionals left in droves, I always had hope. Now I believe it's time to join them before it's too late.
The daily rhetoric about production and agriculture is a sick joke. What makes me even sicker is the Public Defender's letter in your newspaper today (Jan 6). Mr. Defender, many of us are trying to feed this nation, but state agencies must play their role. It is not as simple as you may think.
So while my animals and investment die slowly, the state agency still fulfills its core mandated function of sending me an estimated monthly bill, I now await the arrival of the private contractors in disconnecting my supply due to non-payment which they no doubt will prove to be more efficient than restoring our water supply.
'Water is life' try telling that to my dead animals.
I am, etc.,
ANDREW SINCLAIR
Engineering Unit
North East Regional Health Authority
