Minister of

Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, says that

municipal corporations will be equipped with new water trucks during financial

year 2020/2021.

“We are going to be providing right across the country, in the new financial year coming, at least one water truck for every municipal corporation in Jamaica to assist in the distribution of water to the people who desperately need water,” he said, while addressing the recent opening of a water shop in Top Hill, St Elizabeth.

McKenzie

said that the trucks will help alleviate water shortages across the island,

particularly in parishes such as St Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon and

Portland.

He said that

the Ministry will also provide minor water systems to communities where such

shortages exist.

In the meantime, McKenzie maintained that privately-owned water trucks must be sterilised and certified in order to deliver water.

He noted

that the Government has to take the health of citizens into consideration,

“because you don’t want a truck that is pulling sewage or chemicals to be

delivering water for you to drink and to cook with”.