THE GOVERNMENT, in conjunction with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), will spend US$2.6 million ($132 million) on a feasibility and development programme aimed at improving the efficiency of the state-owned National Water Commission (NWC).
Donald Buchanan, Water and Housing Minister, made the announcement yesterday at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
He also said he had not yet received a copy of a KPMG Peart Marwick audit of the water utility's operations, but said: "That report, when it is received, is going to inform the future structure and arrangement within the NWC and will be subject to the necessary consultations with the workers and workers' representatives."
The Government last year wrote off $6 billion of the NWC's debt. Yesterday, Mr. Buchanan said Cabinet had approved the contract for the consultancy service for the Kingston Water and Sanitation Project, which has been awarded to the Australia-based Haliburton KBR.
He explained that the Government had requested the technical and economic assistance of agencies such as the IDB, to develop a comprehensive programme to improve the efficiency of the NWC and to rehabilitate the potable water distribution system, as well as the wastewater collection and treatment facilities of the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA).
An engineering firm is to be selected by the NWC to provide services to develop a "technically, economically and financially feasible development" in the Corporate Area.
The plan, according to the Minister, would also consider the NWC's institutional capacity to implement the programme of investments, as well as to adequately operate and maintain the resulting infrastructure. He said this represents phase one of the major reorganisation and rehabilitation of the Corporate Area's water supply system.
With millions being spent to improve the level of service offered by the utility company, Mr. Buchanan warned that the Commission would be going all out to collect from delinquent customers. "With respect to those who are not paying... we are going to be unrelenting in our demand for all and sundry who receive the water to pay for it," he said.
A US$310,000 ($15.5 million) for consultancy services for the Jamaica Water Supply Improvement Contract was also awarded to Montegomery Watson Harza (MWH Americas Inc.). Funding is being provided by the United States Trade Development Agency. Under the agreement, the Stony Hill water supply system is to be improved, water treatment plants rehabilitated and wells developed in selected areas.
The Minister also disclosed that Cabinet had awarded a contract, in the sum of $23.5 million, to Beaverdam Construction Ltd., for upgrading work on the Huddersfield-Mango Valley/Fellowship Hall water supply system. The contract period is three-and-a-half months.
The scope of work includes the excavation and laying of transmission pipelines from Salt Gut to Fellowship Hall; the interconnection of the pipeline with existing distribution lines; and the installation of new service connections.
M&M Modern Sewer and Drain Service has been awarded a $29 million contract for the supply and installation of mini self-contained sewage pumping stations in the resort towns of Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.
