THE Government is moving to increase water storage, particularly for schools and businesses in Hanover and Westmoreland, over the next four weeks to help alleviate worsening drought conditions.

According to minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Senator Matthew Samuda, the strategy is being undertaken under an assessment by Rural Water Supply Limited in partnership with his ministry as well as the education and youth ministry.

Samuda told a press briefing at his Dominica Drive office in St Andrew on Monday that the assessment is at the behest of Prime Minister Andrew Holness who gave the directive that morning.

“The projections for increased rainfall do not paint the picture we would like. As such, we will be intervening to ensure that all of our schools have adequate storage,” he said.

Samuda said he has also had discussions with Acting National Water Commission (NWC) President Kevin Kerr about increasing the monitoring and rate of trucking to educational institutions.

In addition, he said a troubleshooting network will be set up via a WhatsApp group and an e-mail line dedicated to schools, to ensure that they are not disrupted.

“Schools are paramount, and we do not intend to cause any learning loss,” he said.

Samuda said he understands the frustration of businesses in western Jamaica that are reeling from the drought, pointing to the hotel sector in particular now anticipating peak occupancy leading up to the USA’s Memorial Weekend in May.

“I want to assure the hotel sector that I met with Mr Kerr earlier this morning and there is a safety net that will be put in place to ensure that hotels from western St James, all the way into western Westmoreland at the tip of the West End, will be protected and their business will not be disrupted,” he said.