FALMOUTH, Trelawny — People’s National Party (PNP) standard-bearer for Trelawny Northern Dr Wykeham McNeill has warned that the constituency must not be left out of the early stages of the recently launched Western Resilience Water Project.

The $67.5-billion project is aimed at improving the water system in the north-western parishes of Jamaica — Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

The project, which was launched during a ground-breaking ceremony in Trelawny last Friday, will be implemented in three phases. The first leg, which commences this August, has a $28-billion price tag.
A few hours after the Government launch, the PNP coincidentally had a spot meeting in Water Square, Falmouth, where Dr McNeill made it clear to his supporters he is not against the project.

“As you know, I have been calling for it. But I am telling you that in phase one, if they don’t have the conditions in there to resolve the water problems that we have in North Trelawny, they are going to have problems with me,” he said to cheering Comrades.

“You can’t be developing all of this water out of the source of Martha Brae [Treatment Plant] and the people in [the nearby communities of] Bounty Hall, Daniel Town or anywhere, they don’t have water. They must give water to North Trelawny!” he insisted.

He urged Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness to take another look at the proposed project.

“I am calling on the prime minister, wheel and come again and look at the contract in phase one and make sure that water is provided for the people of Trelawny,” urged Dr McNeill.

The spot meeting in Falmouth’s Water Square was the culmination of the first leg of the PNP’s two-day Jamaica Time Come For Better Islandwide Bus Tour which started at Heroes’ Park in Kingston. The tour continued from St James and ended with another spot meeting in St Elizabeth last Saturday.

The Falmouth meeting was chaired by St Catherine East Central Member of Parliament Natalie Neita-Garvey, who wittily encouraged McNeill not to be perturbed. She predicted that the JLP will not be the party in power when the water project is implemented.

“Dr McNeill, you are going to be joining us on Duke Street when we march up together with [Prime Minister Mark Golding] in front ah wi. You will be right beside me because you ah mi rumpanion for a long time,” she said to him.

She then addressed the crowd of orange-clad supporters.

“Him mek one mistake ah little while. Yuh nuh haffi worry ‘bout di wata project because dem nah deh yah fi put in dat deh water project. Ah Prime Minister Mark Jefferson Golding ah put in dat deh wata project and Trelawny ah guh get di wata!” assured Neita-Garvey.