KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby is questioning the timing of a report highlighting a $150 million debt owed by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) to the National Water Commission (NWC) amid a decision by the NWC to cease providing water quality results to the corporation.

“It is quite interesting that this matter only came to light after we raised concerns in this council about the accuracy and transparency of water quality data provided by NWC just a week ago,” Swaby said, referencing a radio report that publicised the outstanding money.

He added, “I’m not making any accusations, but I do believe it’s worth asking whether this sudden public focus on the KSAMC alleged debt is purely coincidental.”

Swaby pointed to the recent concerns aired by the KSAMC and what he described as the resulting change in operations between the two entities.

“During my first 100 days, we entered into an agreement to engage openly with stakeholders, including the National Water Commission in frank discussions. At no time was any mention made of outstanding debt, not a word,” Swaby said, adding “However, since the council passed a resolution on the matter of water quality, the NWC has not attended the Public Health and Sanitation Committee meetings and has since formally indicated that they will no longer be providing water quality results to the corporation.”

Swaby said the debt had been present from the previous year when the Jamaica Labour Party headed the KSAMC.

He says $138 million of the $150 million was attributed to a single building on Pechon Street for which the KSAMC has a private arrangement and has been trucking water to for over five years. The mayor also stressed that a team had been created to assess the validity of the $150 million charges.

“Since the claim came to my attention, I’ve directed the chief executive officer to establish a team to properly investigate the claim.  This team will engage the National Water Commission directly to verify the accuracy of the figures, and where debt is confirmed, agree on a structured plan to resolve it.”