Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer
MANDEVILLE, Manchester:
WATER WOES continue to be the order of the day for farmers of south St. Elizabeth, especially for those living in Comma Pen and Baseda districts.
The farmers, who were attending a Jamaica Agricultural (JAS) meeting at the Comma Pen Church of God of Prophecy last Tuesday, said they were very displeased with the level of service they were receiving from the National Water Commission (NWC).
They contended that they received irregular water supply in the pipes once per week, yet they were getting huge bills, which did not reflect the true dollar figure of the water they had used.
RUNAROUND FROM NWC
One farmer said although she had not received water in months, the bills kept coming and when she sought redress from the NWC, she was given the 'run-around'. Another, Mrs. Channer Morgan, said that Government on a whole paid them little attention as small farmers, although they are the ones who produced the thyme, scallion and other produce for the export markets. Echoing the sentiments of the other farmers, she said, "We are not looking any freeness, just some help with the water for without it we can do nothing and this has been our only hindrance for years."
ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS
However, some farmers who spoke to The Gleaner outside of the meeting put some of the blame for their water problems squarely upon the shoulders of some of their colleagues. They said there was a small number of large farmers who illegally tapped into the NWC system and diverted the water to their farms, which in turn deprived others of the commodity.
These farmers, they said, did not pay for the water and one even charged others to access the illegal system. They questioned why the NWC had not moved to shut down these connections, when it was almost impossible for the agency not to be aware of such illegal activities.
However, Mr. Trevor Green of the St. Elizabeth NWC office told The Gleaner that his agency was aware of the problem, but it was hard to catch the water thieves in action. He said the NWC had mounted several operations in conjunction with the police to remove the illegal connections, but as soon as they left the area, they are promptly reconnected.
Lenworth Blake, Member of Parliament for the area, told The Gleaner that he, too, was aware of the problem and had met with the NWC last Wednesday to try to come up with solutions.
He said on the matter of farmers receiving excessive water bills, he too had similar experiences. He recently received a water bill for $11,000 for an unoccupied premises and the NWC could not explain where that water had gone. Mr. Blake said that he, along with Government, was working to alleviate the problem, and as a result, a new water supply system was commissioned last week.
This new system will supply a portion of the area, including the town of Junction. Mr. Blake also said an irrigation system to assist the farmers should come on stream within the next two years.
