Dear Claudienne

I live on Hillview Terrace off the Red Hills Road. Periodically, residents of sections of Valentine Gardens, Hillview Terrace, Sunrise Crescent and the environs near the St Richard’s Primary School are without water, sometimes for extended periods, and when it returns the pressure is very low and there is barely a trickle. The area has been without water from Friday June 13, and up to the time of calling you on Monday June 16, there is still no water in the pipes. What does the National Water Commission (NWC) expect us to do? I have not been able to bathe for days. The drought cannot be the reason why we are not being supplied with water for this extended period as in other sections of the Corporate Area, though there are water lockoffs, they are scheduled.

Could you kindly find out from the NWC the cause for this situation. The residents are now desperate.

BD

Dear BD

When Tell Claudienne called the NWC on Monday June 16, they were not aware that several communities off the Red Hills Road had been without water since Friday June 13. After conducting an investigation, the NWC sent us the following statement:

“Following investigations, the National Water Commission is to advise that, other than reduced pressure at nights, it currently does not have water supply restrictions in the Hill View Terrace, Sunrise Crescent area. The lack of water experienced from Friday, June 13 was as a result of a broken line on the Ferry System, which augments the supply from Constant Spring– both of which contribute to serve the area. Water was restored on Tuesday, June 17.

Water supply across Jamaica may be interrupted at any time for several reasons which may include: burnt motors, broken mains, improvement and maintenance works, drought, turbidity, project works, vandalism, electrical and mechanical problems, power outages as well as theft.

During interruptions, customers may experience low or no water conditions, which may last for hours or into days. Customers are generally advised via news releases when these occur.

Whenever a main gets broken, it could be as a result of the age of the pipeline as well as built-up or fluctuating pressure, direct contact with the pipeline, or even earth movements. If provided with specific accounts and addresses, the NWC would be in a better position to investigate these claims of no water or reduced pressure going forward to be better able to bring about a solution.

At the same time, the NWC continues to remind its customers that as the dry hot summer months approach, there may become a need to implement more stringent water restrictions in the Corporate Area.”

Good luck.

Dear Claudienne

I am an only child. On June 15, 2010, I submitted documents to the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP) with the hope of obtaining a title for a lot of land that my deceased father owned in Old Harbour. I paid a fee of $10,000 and was told that the documents appeared to be OK and that the title should be ready in eight to ten months. Periodically I would check the LAMP office, but in 2013 I decided to go the Titles Office where they did a search and told me that they could find nothing on file for me.

I went back to LAMP earlier this year and they gave me forms to fill out and to have a Justice of the Peace sign them. In February I got a call from LAMP requesting the tax certificate and valuation number for the lot. They sent me to the National Land Agency (NLA) where I was told that in order for the title to be prepared, the St Catherine Parish Council would have to identify the original valuation number that was assigned for the unregistered portion of land on the diagram.

I went to the Parish Council and spoke to a clerk at the front desk, but I left there confused and I don’t know what to do.

I would appreciate your help.

PR

Dear PR

We spoke to the Secretary Manager of the St Catherine Parish Council on Tuesday June 24. He said that he would be willing to advise you on the matter. Please go to see him on any Friday morning and he will guide you as to what must be done for you to get a title for the lot. It would be useful to call and arrange an appointment. Take along copies of the documents that you submitted to LAMP, including the receipt for the fee of $10,000 that you paid.

Good luck.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.