Rayon Dyer, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The residents of Cotter-wood in deep rural St. Elizabeth have something to smile about. Having been without piped water for many decades they received the precious commodity last Thursday. The project was made possible by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Five Star Development Benevolent Society.

Located north-west of the parish capital Black River, Cotterwood and surrounding areas have over the years experience very little in the area of development. Among the concerns of the residents are bad roads and poor housing facility in some districts.

"The Rural Water Programme (RWP) is one of the positive things this country is currently experiencing in the area of community development. The Cotter-wood water supply system is a typical example of how important it is for community groups to be a part of the development of these areas," said Dr. Fenton Ferguson, State Minister for Water and Housing, while giving an overview of the project. "This community should be very proud today, because they have help in the process to achieve the goal of having potable water in their pipes," he added.

helping hand from benevolent society

The Cotterwood water supply system, which started just over a year ago, was facilitated under the Government of Jamaica/Inter-American Development Bank Rural Water Programme (GOJ/IDB). The IDB's contribution was United States $1.5 million, which represents 80 per cent of the overall cost of the project. However, the other 20 per cent was made possible by the Five Star Development Benevolent Society.

Delivering the keynote address Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, said that on a national basis the percentage of households with piped water has risen from 61 per cent in 1990 to 71 per cent in 2001. She said that households relying on water from springs and ponds and those using pit latrines have declined significantly.

"It is for this reason that the Government has sought to pursue an aggressive policy for the water sector. And to this end, the aim is to provide potable water to every household, who were still using untreated water or relying on standpipe for water", Mrs. Simpson Miller said. "With the establishment of the rural water programme, we have sought new collaborative and integrated approaches to community water supply in Jamaica. Our national goal as set out in the Jamaica water sector policy, strategy and action plan of 1999 is for access to water for all Jamaicans by 2010," the Prime Minister added.

Representing the society was Ms. Juddy Powell, who noted that things were rough prior to getting the water project for the community.

"We at the Five Star Development Benevolent Society can be proud of our contribution to this project ... Residents of Cotterwood and its environs now have water in our pipes, something that we never had for many years," she said.

'We at the Five Star Development Benevolent Society can be proud of our contribution to this project ... Residents of Cotterwood and its environs now have water in our pipes, something that we never had for many years.'