Dear Editor,

The community of Mafoota in St James and its environs have been without running water since approximately the third week of March 2016. This has been due to a defect in the pump, which I was made to understand was sent to Kingston for repairs.

Numerous attempts have been made to receive updates on the matter from the National Water Commission (NWC), but to date we have not had a satisfactory response. Multiple communications have been made to the regional manager, Mr Roach, but alas, his hands are seemingly tied as he is only able to estimate, based on the information he has received.

I reached out to the NWC’s corporate office on numerous occasions and made contact with a Mr Buchanan who promised to follow up the matter, but he has not kept his promise. To add insult to injury, the NWC had the audacity to send me an estimated bill when they know that the pump is out.

Sadly, we have no representatives, as the MP and the councillor, who are both Kelliers (Derrick and Martin), seem to have washed their hands of this community. A letter was written in 2014 about the state of the community, but to date we have received no response.

I am concerned that the NWC is unable to “afford” or make available a substitute pump to be used until the defective pump is repaired. This is therefore my desperate public plea to the NWC to resolve this matter now.

Victoria Lowe

vlowe_jm@yahoo.com