NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Three of six donated water storage tanks were delivered to Negril Primary School on Wednesday as well-wishers rushed to replace the one stolen on April 1.

Politicians and members of the Negril Entertainment Association (NEA) competed to be the first to help. The NEA had been first out of the block, raising funds from members to purchase a black tank and making it known it would present it at an 11:00 am ceremony. But shadow minister for water Ian Hayles used the school’s early morning devotion to hand over two water tanks, beating NEA’s planned handover. Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Western Morland Wilson also contacted the Jamaica Observer Wednesday to say he intended to gift the school a tank. He later opted to donate water after learning that there was no longer a shortage of tanks at the school.

Other stakeholders have promised to donate three other tanks in the days ahead.

“Out of evil good has come,” was the reaction from Vice-Principal Patrice Phrame after the overwhelming show of support.

NEA member Sean Greenfield also had high praise for members who quickly responded to the call for help.

“We couldn’t have done it without them. Just from a human and social point of view, the school is the background of the future, and we know water is life and we’re in a water crisis,” he said.

“When we saw the [ Observer] article about it and we read it, we just saw it fit as members of the community where we do business to purchase a tank,” Greenfield added.

He revealed that the support had been overwhelming and they raised enough funds to also purchase a water pump for the school.

Vice-Principal Phrame was elated and grateful for all the support.

“We have gotten two and we should be getting four more, which we are happy for. Because if this matter should prolong we will need water,” she told the Observer.

She said her students were overcome with joy when they got news that the tanks were coming.

“They screamed and they jumped because they didn’t want to go back home [if school had to be halted],” she said.

She said the impact that the water shortage has been having on area residents was obvious, with the school having to provide a parent with the commodity yesterday so a student could get ready for classes.

Hayles, whose two tanks cost $100,000, stressed how important it is to ensure the community has water.

“Councillor [for the Negril Division Arthel] Colley and I saw it fit to replace the tank. If water is life, we have to start off these young ones with a good life,” Hayles said.

In addition to getting water tanks, efforts are also being made to increase the height of the section of the wall that was breached to steal the tank. Hayles said he will be contacting the Government on the school’s behalf to lobby for help with its security concerns.

“If they can take away the water tank, it’s only a matter of time until they come and take a child,” he warned.

School chairman Owen James said the school has been seen as an easy target in the past but that will now change.

“A light has been shed on the school; we have called in personnel to look at the fencing, so we can beef up security,” he said.

As for the donated water tanks, he said plumbers have been called in to have them retrofitted.

He said while the school received more tanks than it had bargained for, they will all be used as they continue to keep an eye on the water situation. Black tanks have become a symbol of Jamaica’s struggles with a reliable supply of potable water as climate change makes long periods of drought the norm.