Manchester Parish Council frustrated with NWC
MANDEVILLE, Manchester – The state-owned water supply company, National Water Commission (NWC) was again put under the spotlight at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Manchester Parish Council, as councillors voiced frustration at what they perceived to be a lack of urgency in addressing the parish’s ongoing water supply problem.
Councillor Brenda Ramsay (PNP – Bellefield Division) told the meeting that infrastructure for water supply had recently been installed on Clark’s Town road in Porus, but no water was being supplied to that area.
However, Claude Grindley, water production manager for the parishes of Manchester and St Elizabeth had no knowledge of pipes having been laid on that road and could not predict when the area would receive water.
“I don’t know about or have any information on those pipes,” Grindley told the meeting. “I’ll have to look into it further,” he added.
Councillor Clinton Dietrich (JLP – John’s Hall Division) asked Grindley for an update on the status of the $115 million promised by minister of state Harry Douglas two years ago for the improvement of the greater Mandeville water supply. Again, however, Grindley was unable to answer definitively.
“I do not know the status of those funds,” Grindley said.
Areas in Manchester that continue to be affected by the NWC’s insufficient supply of water include Cobbla district in northern Manchester, which recently experienced a water supply shut-off for up to two weeks, Hanbury Road, Hopeton District and Ingleside.
Other matters discussed at the meeting included the allocation of 172 street lights to the parish by the Jamaica Public Service (JPS).
Councillor Leroy Mitchell (JLP – Walderston Division) told the meeting that no street lights had been allocated to Christiana, the parish’s second largest town, as well as Walderston and Craig Head district. He complained that the JPS had “deliberately overlooked” the North Manchester area.
“I have been at the council for over three years now and only 13 lights have been installed in an area that needs over 500 as we speak,” Mitchell told the meeting.
