Clarifying the issue
published: Wednesday | May 14, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I FEEL compelled to respond to an article written in The Gleaner on Thursday, May 18, 2003, entitled 'More Standpipes for West Rural St. Andrew'. This article quoted Dr. Carol Archer, the PNP caretaker for the constituency. The article is misleading as it states that Dr. Archer, along with the PNP councillor caretaker, had negotiated the reconnection of standpipes in the constituency.
The truth is that when several standpipes were disconnected recently, I spoke to the senior management at the National Water Commission (NWC). I reminded them that water is life and that the residents were suffering great hardship because of the sudden disconnections. They explained to me that it was no longer government policy to pay for standpipes and that the citizens needed to apply for service at the NWC. I then asked if they would reconnect the pipes which had been disconnected for a period of time, to allow the residents from the affected areas to make their applications.
After I made this suggestion, we came to the agreement that the standpipes would be reconnected for a period of two months in some areas and one month in other areas. It was felt that this would be enough time to allow the residents to regularise their service.
I immediately called the JLP councillor caretaker from the Lawrence Tavern division, Mr. John Myers and Mr. Answered Ramcharan, the JLP councillor caretaker of the Red Hills division, and advised them of the agreement, so that they could advise the residents in the affected areas. I was very surprised to find out that Dr. Archer had written a letter to The Gleaner taking credit for the work that I had done in negotiating for the temporary reconnection of the standpipes in West Rural St. Andrew and I hope that this letter will clarify the matter.
