Holness says water will be a priority for a JLP government
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Holness, says that completing water supply investments for Jamaicans will be a priority for a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government.
He said that some US$2 billion (J$242 billion) is needed to complete the programme, and a JLP government would immediately commence the process to make the investment.
“The same way we found the financing to complete the North-South Highway, we are going to find the investments to complete water supply investments in Jamaica,” Holness told hundreds of cheering JLP supporters at a rally in Lionel Town, Clarendon last night.
“We did a study when we were the government, and it was estimated that we needed approximately US$2 billion, to ensure that Jamaica has adequate water supply and distribution. We are going to start that process of making investments in water. I have already consulted with the experts, and the experts tell me that Jamaica has enough water to last us for 20 years at the current rate of consumption,” Holness said.
The Opposition Leader said that Jamaica does not have a water shortage problem, but rather a water management problem.
“We lose almost half of our water to leaks and mismanagement of the resource. We don’t put in enough pipes to take the water to where you live, and we don’t build enough irrigation to carry the water to your field,” he stated.
He said that the JLP would be very strategic in making the investments in water, because those investments are a three-for-one deal:
“You get the benefit of your own domestic comfort, but you also get the benefit of increased productivity in agriculture…and when we make the investment in water, we are also making an investment in housing and construction,” he said.
“That is what we call the growth triangle-water, agriculture and housing and we have many more of those, because growth and growing the economy is not a mystery to the JLP,” he stated.
The rally marked the end of an all-day motorcade through the parish of Clarendon by the JLP leadership.
Balford Henry
