KINGSTON, Jamaica —The National Water Commission (NWC) is encouraging micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to take advantage of its amnesty, which has been extended to December 31, 2025.

The initiative is intended to give these entities an opportunity to clear their outstanding water bills and restore their accounts with the commission.

It was originally scheduled to last from September 1 to November 30, 2025.

“We know everybody is feeling some kind of effect from Hurricane Melissa, including small businesses… .  It is our way of giving back,” said Content Creation and Development Manager at the NWC, Andrew Canon.

“We are encouraging small businesses to apply for the NWC MSME amnesty to have some kind of arrears write-off, or some kind of a reprieve,” he said.

Canon was speaking with JIS News at the National Emergency Operations Centre at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM)  in Kingston on Monday.

Under the programme, a 50 per cent write-off is being offered to small business customers with accounts that are inactive and disconnected for more than three months; and active accounts with debts of more than $30,000 for over 180 days (six months).

In addition, accounts that qualify will be granted up to three months to clear the remaining arrears without disconnection. In special cases, the NWC may also approve negotiated settlement terms.

Customers who qualify for the amnesty will also receive a 100 per cent waiver on reconnection fees where applicable.

“There are details to this, and [persons] must go to our website or contact the NWC for further details because conditions do apply. It is not like a blanket kind of amnesty for all MSMEs, but once they have any arrears, they have the potential for that to be dealt with under the amnesty,” Canon said.

— JIS